Cold and Warm Strings

RhythmBassist01 · #1 10-18-2005, 06:16 PM

I've been experimenting with the difference in tone between cold and warm strings.

Generally I like the sound of cold strings, even though my fingers get a bit chilli, still prefer that sound. To me, the tone seems to be alot more "crisp".

Anyone else notice the difference?

Unchain · #2 10-18-2005, 06:44 PM

Yeah. To me, LaBella Deep Talkin' are nice warm and round, while say GHS Rounds are edgy, crisp and cold. I like them both, they both have their times.

tappel · #3 10-18-2005, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RhythmBassist01

I've been experimenting with the difference in tone between cold and warm strings.

Generally I like the sound of cold strings, even though my fingers get a bit chilli, still prefer that sound. To me, the tone seems to be alot more "crisp".

Anyone else notice the difference?

No.

bluemonk · #4 10-18-2005, 08:30 PM

WillBuckingham · #5 10-18-2005, 09:12 PM

Ok RhythmBassist01, I think that you're talking about letting your instrument get cold or warm, and then playing it. This is bad. Short term, it will mess up your intonation and neck relief, but it can also permanently warp your neck.

Obviously this is unavoidable to some extent, but if you can, leave your instrument in the case if its been sitting in the car in the cold when you bring it inside so it will warm up more slowly, and vice versa.

RhythmBassist01 · #6 10-19-2005, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillBuckingham

Ok RhythmBassist01, I think that you're talking about letting your instrument get cold or warm, and then playing it. This is bad. Short term, it will mess up your intonation and neck relief, but it can also permanently warp your neck.

Obviously this is unavoidable to some extent, but if you can, leave your instrument in the case if its been sitting in the car in the cold when you bring it inside so it will warm up more slowly, and vice versa.

No. you've got it wrong.

What I mean is, removing the strings, put them in a plastic bag, then put them in the freezer until they are nice and cold. about 5 minutes.

Then when they cold, put them back on the bass.

There is a significant tone difference between cold and warm strings.

metal expands when it's warm.

Low E Louie · #7 10-19-2005, 03:11 AM

Weird!!

How long does it take before they are back to normal?

This does not sound very practical, how often can you put your strings in the freezer before a gig

HMZ · #8 10-19-2005, 04:10 AM

You have too much time on your hands.

fretlessrock · #9 10-19-2005, 06:40 AM

Tell it to my sig.

Low E Louie · #10 10-19-2005, 08:06 AM

Do the stay in tune for more than one minute?

*feeding the troll some more*

wulf · #11 10-19-2005, 09:14 AM

How are you experimenting? You've mentioned taking the strings off and putting them in the freezer but how do you measure the temperature once they're back on? How quickly do they return to room temperature?

As a control, do you notice a sound diffence if you take all the strings off and then just put them straight back on?

And, since I seem to be full of questions, how are you objectively measuring the difference in tone?

Wulf

Unchain · #12 10-19-2005, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessrock

Tell it to my sig.

Mine too.

dougjwray · #13 10-19-2005, 12:23 PM

Personally, I prefer to hold my hands in the freezer for a while before I play. The difference is noticeable, and it's easier than restringing a bass.

RHFusillo · #14 10-19-2005, 01:47 PM

Doesn't metal warm when you stretch it? Or is that just rubber? Or do I have it backwards?

I was never any damned good at materials science.

JimmyM · #15 10-19-2005, 02:15 PM

Why not just bring a freezer to your gig and stand in it when you play? Or get one of those Mr. Freeze suits?

The logistics of doing something like taking strings off, freezing them, then putting them back on is enough to put me off the whole process. Maybe they do sound better, but who cares after all that work?

Dan1099 · #16 10-19-2005, 02:22 PM

That, and it would return to room temperature in oh, 10 minutes or so.

phat5 · #17 10-19-2005, 09:33 PM

Why not just rub your strings down with some "Icy Hot"?

BurningSkies · #18 10-21-2005, 09:53 PM

I just saw this silliness.

You can't have any consistent tuning while strings are going from below freezing to room temperature. Just a few degrees of change will mess with your tuning...I know...I tune slightly sharp for every show, and within a song (five minutes) my strings have dropped into pitch...and that's going from room temp to the temp of my skin.

Beyond this, physics tells us that to make a structural difference in steel, or similar metals you need a heck of a lot more or less temperature to make a difference.

Physics is your friend.

bluemonk · #19 10-25-2005, 10:00 AM

I think we are taking him seriously and he is not serious. Unfotuately, it wasn't particularly funny, either, so we tried to figure. Silly.