clean bass strings?

billy m · #1 07-11-2009, 02:25 PM

this recession has got me tryin to save on bass strings.back when i started out in the mid 70's we would boil our strings every couple of months to get another month of use out of them,coz they cost more then than they do now,my question is did we put anything in water before we cleaned them? just water or add alcohol, or ????? thanks

RTL · #2 07-11-2009, 02:37 PM

A lot of folks use "de-natured" alcohol to clean their strings (typically soaking them in it overnight). While some say that boiling them in straight water is the way to go.. I'm not sure how either of those methods works with the strings of today, but all those diehard RotoSound guys seem to swear by them.

Personally, I wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water every single time before touching my instrument, and as a result, my strings last forever. The DR nickel LowRiders on my Roscoe have been on there since October, have seen at least 150 gigs, and still sound fantastic. I will be changing them this month, but that's only because I'm going back to SunBeams.

Kevinmach · #3 07-11-2009, 02:59 PM

Hey, even without a recession, I personally like clean, bright tones and find myself not liking my strings just after a month or two if I am playing a lot. Who wants to drop $40 on rotos 6-8 times a year?

I haven't actually tried it, but there is a really good article (easy, straightforward, and with pictures here:

http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/ho...s_strings.html

That article does say, however, specifically not to use water because it will cause them to rust. But like RTL says, some guys do it.

On a positive note, it does say that if you keep cleaning your rounds, they will pretty much last forever.

I am going to try it soon, I've got a set on my back up bass that are hurting.

**BLDavis** · #4 07-11-2009, 03:08 PM

I've been boiling nickel rounds in water with a drop of dish wash liquid ( a very SMALL drop) for over 25 years. Never had them rust. Boomers, D'darrio XL's, EBall and Fender to name a few. Boil 'em after every 8-10 gigs and they last 6 months easy. And, I use Finger Ease like it's free. No problems there either......YMMV...................B.

Stinsok · #5 07-11-2009, 03:18 PM

Denatured alcohol for me. I use a Mason jar to soak strings in. This last batch had cleaned about 5 or 6 sets and looked cloudy. I poured the alcohol through a coffee filter and was amazed at all the crap that came off just those few sets.

electracoyote · #6 07-11-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLDavis

I've been boiling nickel rounds in water with a drop of dish wash liquid ( a very SMALL drop) for over 25 years. Never had them rust. Boomers, D'darrio XL's, EBall and Fender to name a few. Boil 'em after every 8-10 gigs and they last 6 months easy. And, I use Finger Ease like it's free. No problems there either......YMMV...................B.

+1

Except I use a few drops in a small pot, and then a "rinse cycle," boiling again in fresh water.

I am also an obsessive string-wiper-downer, and that really improves the lifespan of my strings.

Kevinmach · #7 07-11-2009, 04:09 PM

Boiling sounds easier than the denatured alcohol thing-how long do you boil them for?

What about strings that have the threading at the ball or at the top? Will denatured alcohol or boiling them effect that?

FYI- I asked about this topic a while back and few people suggested Duck Wax, but I can't say I was thrilled with the results. It may have cleaned them a little, but I didn't find it to be all that noticeable. I wasn't entirely thrilled with it as a cleaner either-left an oil film on the guitar that wasn't very noticeable to me, but attracted every stray piece of dust and dog hair in the house.

electracoyote · #8 07-11-2009, 04:11 PM

I dunno about BLDavis, but 15-20 minutes used to do the trick for me. Never had any problems with rust or deterioration with the strings I used. That thread is pretty tough, and on there pretty good.

billy m · #9 07-11-2009, 05:38 PM

yea i was thinkin it was just water for 15 or so,dryem with a cotton cloth,let em sit for a few and put em on ...the string was never a problem,but the results were a new set for free.if i remember they didnt last as long as new but it was a savings any way you picked or plucked it ...

Greevus · #10 07-11-2009, 11:16 PM

Been boiling my rounds in straight water for over 20 years. When they finally give up the ghost of brightness or I break them, then I change them. I sometimes will wipe them down with alchohol on a towel immediately to get the extra grease off, but a towel drying is all mostly. I've never had any rust either. I keep the ones I remove in bags of each string after boiling. Makes great backups on the fly, especially at rehearsal in summer. The biggest problem I have with re-using is the flat spots from fret banging. I still play 'em til they break though. I prefer the cheap rounds without cloth wrapping too.

**BLDavis** · #11 07-12-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

I dunno about BLDavis, but 15-20 minutes used to do the trick for me. Never had any problems with rust or deterioration with the strings I used. That thread is pretty tough, and on there pretty good.

I use an egg timer on 15 minutes. If you ever forget and leave them on till the water boils away you'll know why.
And don't use mamma's favorite pot either ( another lesson learned the hard way) get an old one to use just for strings. I use a 4 qt aluminum pot I bought for .50 cents at a thrift store.
B.