Dead out of the Package???!!!

[slap_man]

Ok, I'm trying to figure out what strings have great reliability. My strings die fairly quickly, though I have been cleaning them with some rubbing alcohol, I made an old set (2 month dead set) sound new, and they stayed that way for 5 additional months (cleaning them everytime I was done). So, the other day I went and bought some new strings just for the heck of it, some ernie ball super slinkies, after hearing great things about them. Well let me tell you, they sound great but, the "A" string seems to be dead and the others have that nice twang I crave. I bought another set thinking I had a dud, and the same thing. ***??? I gave it another try and went for some GHS bass boomers, normal gauge. Worst mistake ever, this time it was the "A" and "G" strings. Anybody had any similar experiences? What I've noticed is that I seem to have this problem only with the "A" string. What strings DON'T have the tendency to do this, any recommendations? I heard DR strings are good and are of good quality never heard anything bad as far as dead out of the package "A" strings go. Strings are so expensive, and nobody should have to keep buying strings over and over because of this. Any comments and suggestions appreciated, keep on bass'n!

[ilikeindie]

Maybe your bass?

I doubt it but I know that twang sound those slinkys have and I never ever get a dead one.

They go dead very soon though.

[slap_man]

Gee, that's weird. I've had the strings on for only about 4 days, and the A string was dead as soon as i got it in tune. The others have been fine so far and play like a dream, the last set I had on before this were also some slinkys and it was the same thing. I had those strings on for almost five months and they all sounded great, minus that one A string. Like I said, i'm getting the same result here. By the way, I'm playing an American Fender Precision, great bass with great tone. I had it strung throught the body, might that have anything to do with it? Thanks!

[jakusx]

Those strings are what drove me to flats all around

[slap_man]

Yeah, but see the problem i have with flats are the fact that there is absolutely no slap tone (or a decent one at least). Don't get me wrong, they sound great for finger style, but unfortunately not for slapping, which is my type of thing.

[singlemalt]

Hey, yeah I've had duds right out of the box, I take them back to the store and they exchange, or I shop elsewhere. No big deal for most stores. I'd keep the reciept. the offenders were Roto sound rounds. Also the Cold steels, I forget the brand.

Another trick, take the whole set off, throw them in a big pot of boiling water, come back in ten, drain, cool and re-install. Its quick, down and dirty, but if you employ this method, carry spares, you'll break more strings. They will sound like new for a while.

I do this with all my strings when I get a new set, and keep the boiled ones for spares. Good to have a pre-cut, pre wound, LABELED string that goes right on in a couple minutes, all nice and neat.

Oh yeah clean the pot before you cook food in it.

[slap_man]

What I do is just wipe the strings with some of those alcohol swabs, you can get those at the pharmace for like a buck in packs of 100. My strings can last months and months before I decide to change them. One time I had a set of slinkys on for a year and a half, wipind them with the swabs after every use, and my friends always thought I changed my strings every week. Without wiping them, I kill them between three and five days, no joke!

[phunku]

Originally Posted by slap_man

What I've noticed is that I seem to have this problem only with the "A" string.

mate, ive heard of this b4! it might even be ur bass, like the nut slot on the A string may be sharp or jagged, and causing it to go dead, or the Bridge saddle where the A string resides may be sharp and is causing the string to go dead there!

id say get ur bass a good set up, c if they can find the problem