D'Addario Pro Steels (Why...)

[KrisWarrington]

I've used D'Addario Pro Steels for about 3 years now. I love how bright the strings are (Brand new). Now the problem is after a week they lose that brightness and just go flat sounding. Are there strings out there with the same brightness of pro steels but retain that sound lounger

[allexcosta]

Yep. Fodera Steels.

[mmbongo]

DR FatBeams, baby.

Fodera should be good too, I've just never used them. They make quality stuff.

[Spfairchild]

I use ProSteels too, but I don't experience the "one week deadness" you mentioned. It might have to do with how much you play, how you play, or the chemistry of your own body/sweat. Mine stay bright for a very long time, so it may be the case that any string you try will deaden that quickly under your current playing conditions.

[FunkMetalBass]

Wiping down strings after you play is a good habit to get into to help prolong them. Also, build yourself a string cleaning tube and toss them in for 24-48 hours every few weeks. It should help restore the brightness and get you a few more uses out of each set.

[Spfairchild]

That's true, actually. I did that for a few years. Just get some 1" or 3/4" PVC pipe, screw a cap to one end, fill it with denatured alcohol. completely immerse your strings in there with another cap screwed/pushed onto the top end and let em sit for a day or two! Actually does make a notable difference with steel strings (nickel not as much, in my experience). Give it a shot!

[pstyle]

I use ProSteels as well and have experienced that they stay bright for a long time. I personally prefer them as they start mellowing out. I've had a set on one of my basses for 3 + years and they are still bright and zingy.

[stflbn]

Same input on the string cleaning tube and denatured alcohol.

I have 2-3 sets of strings for each bass that I rotate between bath times. IMHO it works great.

[pstyle]

Originally Posted by Spfairchild

That's true, actually. I did that for a few years. Just get some 1" or 3/4" PVC pipe, screw a cap to one end, fill it with denatured alcohol. completely immerse your strings in there with another cap screwed/pushed onto the top end and let em sit for a day or two! Actually does make a notable difference with steel strings (nickel not as much, in my experience). Give it a shot!

this too.. works wonders.

[jjk2007]

Originally Posted by pstyle

I use ProSteels as well and have experienced that they stay bright for a long time. I personally prefer them as they start mellowing out. I've had a set on one of my basses for 3 + years and they are still bright and zingy.

+1. It takes about 2 weeks of playing on my prosteels to get them where I like them. And that's playing almost every day in that time frame. I usually don't go more than 2 months on a set (sooner if I have more on the gigging schedule), and that is for both my 5 string basses. Not sure I could make it 3 years on a set!!

[allexcosta]

I used to use D'Addario Prisms, which were replaced by ProSteels and really liked them. The ProSteels are a bit mid-scooped to my taste and feel a bit rough in the hands. When the Prisms were gone I switched to Fodera Diamonds and never looked back.

[KrisWarrington]

Well I do play my bass a lot but I take care of my strings. I like they tone the produce straight out of the package, bright and snappy. They just seem to sound different after a week or so, I've never tried the denatured alcohol method. Thats a good idea though.

[allexcosta]

The alcohol is good when your strings are really old and you need them to sound good for a gig. It changes the physical properties of the strings and they intonate, vibrate and behave differently.

[KrisWarrington]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

The alcohol is good when your strings are really old and you need them to sound good for a gig. It changes the physical properties of the strings and they intonate, vibrate and behave differently.

That works

[Turock]

Definitely not my experience with Pro Steels. For me, they hold their brightness for a very long time; as long or longer than any I've used.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

The alcohol is good when your strings are really old and you need them to sound good for a gig. It changes the physical properties of the strings and they intonate, vibrate and behave differently.

To clarify, the denatured alcohol isn't what causes that. That's a byproduct of working them in for a while, taking them off, and then re-installing them. If done correctly, any tonal differences from removing and re-installing strings should be moot.

[dmusic148]

I have a bass that does this. Brand new Blue Steels will only stay bright on it for a few days. I can then take them off and put them on a different bass, and they sound brand-new again.
In my case, it's the bass. It's just naturally dark-sounding.

[allexcosta]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

To clarify, the denatured alcohol isn't what causes that. That's a byproduct of working them in for a while, taking them off, and then re-installing them. If done correctly, any tonal differences from removing and re-installing strings should be moot.

My experience tells me otherwise...

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

My experience tells me otherwise...

So if you take a rag with denatured alcohol and rub your strings while they are on your bass, you notice a difference in the way it vibrates?

[allexcosta]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

So if you take a rag with denatured alcohol and rub your strings while they are on your bass, you notice a difference in the way it vibrates?

No, if I leave them in alcohol for 2 days, yes...