denatured alcohol for strings.

shirtforbrains · #1 04-18-2007, 05:34 PM

Friend of mine just got me a gallon of that stuff for 14 bucks at lowes. Does it really work or is just a wate of my time.

thanks, Brian

ehque · #2 04-18-2007, 06:05 PM

strings forum.

it works.

SpectorBass308 · #3 04-18-2007, 06:07 PM

what does denatured alcohol do to strings?

meev991 · #4 04-18-2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpectorBass308

what does denatured alcohol do to strings?

its a solvent

removes crud off strings

also takes off nail polish X]

will NOT get you hammered

toxic

SBassman · #5 04-18-2007, 06:15 PM

Not worth it. Will give your strings temporarily relief and then accelerate them to end of life.

dcr · #6 04-18-2007, 06:29 PM

I LOVE IT!

dcr

PilbaraBass · #7 04-18-2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

Not worth it. Will give your strings temporarily relief and then accelerate them to end of life.

I respectfully disagree...my experience for denatured alcohol (methylated spirits) cleaning is limited to nickel roundwounds...

but...IMO...they will NOT accelerate the strings to end of life...

I have 3 sets of D'addario XL rounds that I rotate around between two basses...I've been using the same sets for almost 2 years...
on my main bass, I change strings out about every 3 months...the strings, while not as bright as brand new, retain at least 90% of that new character...(when they require replacement, they're down to
about 70%)...of course, I'm just trying to quantify something that's completely objective...

but cleaning strings in alcohol definitely works...

you don't need a gallon (nearly 4 litres) of the stuff, however...I use a small plastic container (holds about 2 cups)...I re-use it...haven't had to change it, yet...

How do I know my strings need changing?...simple...when I find myself maxing out my tone knob playing fingerstyle...(I usually play about 1/2 rolled off)

maurilio · #8 04-18-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

Not worth it. Will give your strings temporarily relief and then accelerate them to end of life.

I don't agree, boiling the strings in the other hand is useless, that I agree!

I've been doing it for years now and it work wonderfully. I soak the strings in a container filled with denatured alcohol for a couple of day or three, take them out and DRY them... sound like new and last like new.... IME!

M

maurilio · #9 04-18-2007, 06:55 PM

Hey PilbaraBass, you are too fast fella

!

M

James Hart · #10 04-18-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

Not worth it. Will give your strings temporarily relief and then accelerate them to end of life.

not for me. I can get 8 months or more out of a set of Stainless rounds by giving them a weekly rub down

NKUSigEp · #11 04-18-2007, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurilio

I don't agree, boiling the strings in the other hand is useless, that I agree!

I've been doing it for years now and it work wonderfully. I soak the strings in a container filled with denatured alcohol for a couple of day or three, take them out and DRY them... sound like new and last like new.... IME!

M

I have yet to try denatured alcohol but I'll agree that boiling strings doesn't work (at least for me). I've tried it a dozen different times with different types of strings and different time-lengths and everything. No luck.

boomboom-man · #12 04-18-2007, 09:38 PM

I have never tried the alcohol thing yet. I will have to try it. Thanks for the heads up! I have been buying the cheap Musician's Friend strings--they are called Premium 4s at $7.99! Then, I buy the bulk (comes in 3 per pkg) B strings from Musicain'f Friend. I think these bulk ones are Rogue strings. Been working pretty good for me. Didn't like the Premium 5 B string--tried 2 sets of those at about $10 bucks. I go through a set every 2 to 3 weeks. Thats about all I can get before one or two of them deaden out. Of course, I am playing at least 12 two hour shows a week. I was surprised how long some of you guys can go on a set of strings. Wow! If the alcohol treatment works, it would be a big money saver for me. Thank you!

Planet Boulder · #13 04-18-2007, 09:42 PM

I absolutely SWEAR by this. I only buy new strings on a whim anymore (not because I go into a store seeking them) and I have basses that have had the same strings on them for WELL over a year because I routinely soak the strings in denatured alcohol.

Try it out. It won't hurt anything and, if your results are like mine (and plenty of others on this board), you'll save a lot of money.

RJMiller · #14 04-18-2007, 10:04 PM

Anyone soak or rub down nylon tapewound strings?

Since they are completely smooth (my RotoSound are, not sure about Fender or other brands), there can't be a build up of gunk between the outer windings so they shouldn't go dead from dirt just from use? That is, they will last indefinately?

Thanks for any and all replies.

RJM

boomboom-man · #15 04-18-2007, 10:55 PM

Anybody tried Dr. Stringfellow cleaner? I used to apply it regularly. Still keep some in my case. But, I have not used it for awhile now. Seemed like the effects are short. But, it is nice at the start of the set anyway...

PilbaraBass · #16 04-18-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJMiller

Anyone soak or rub down nylon tapewound strings?

Since they are completely smooth (my RotoSound are, not sure about Fender or other brands), there can't be a build up of gunk between the outer windings so they shouldn't go dead from dirt just from use? That is, they will last indefinately?

Thanks for any and all replies.

RJM

IF you want to clean nylon tapewounds, just spray a little windex in a cloth, and wipe them down.

I have two basses with these strings...one set was installed in 1997, another in 2002...I don't clean them at all, they sound fine...no, they don't go dead, IMO.

justinb515 · #17 04-18-2007, 11:31 PM

I just recently jumped on the denatured alcohol bandwagon. I was skeptical at first, but I can tell you that it has worked wonders for me. I am on a low budget, and the denatured alcohol is cheap. You can use the same container of alcohol for a long time, and you won't be spending money on strings so often anymore. I let them soak for at least 12 hours (more if I can), and then dry them on low heat with a hair dryer. They come out zingy every time.

permadave · #18 04-19-2007, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

Not worth it. Will give your strings temporarily relief and then accelerate them to end of life.

The only damage I've seen is in the taking them on and off, depending on what kind of bridge you have. I have been using one of my sets for over a year. I bought two sets and just swap them out. One is always in the alcohol and then I switch up every other week or so.

Try using a "string cleaning tube" with the denatured alcohol (see link). I think it works better because the strings are not balled or coiled up.

maurilio · #19 04-19-2007, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinb515

I just recently jumped on the denatured alcohol bandwagon. I was skeptical at first, but I can tell you that it has worked wonders for me. I am on a low budget, and the denatured alcohol is cheap. You can use the same container of alcohol for a long time, and you won't be spending money on strings so often anymore. I let them soak for at least 12 hours (more if I can), and then dry them on low heat with a hair dryer. They come out zingy every time.

Right on!

+1000

I actually have three sets, one on the instrument, one in the gig bag (you never know !) and one taking a nice cleaning bath!

When the strings gets too old and worn out I buy a new set.... LOTS of money saved!

M

62bass · #20 04-19-2007, 04:55 AM

Yes, I've also used the alcohol bath system for cleaning roundwounds and it does work if your strings are sounding dead from gunk building up. I used a Tupperware container with a tight fitting lid and soaked them overnight, then took them out and dried them with a cotton cloth. I used methyl hydrate which is an alcohol sold for shellac thinning and quite cheap by the gallon. These alcohols are quite toxic so store it away from kids and pets. But strings also go dead from playing and that has nothing to do with gunk building up, so alcohol won't restore brightness if that is the case.

These days I no longer need or like the zingy roundwound sound and I've been using Thomastic flatwounds, which last for years and only need a periodic wipe down, but that's not the sound you're after.

Nylon tapewounds usually just need to be wiped down after playing. You can use alcohol, Fast Fret, or Windex. Of course they won't give you that zingy roundwound sound so bassists who like them wouldn't want to change them often anyhow.

Just the action of removing and reinstalling strings makes them sound temporarily brighter in my experience. It doesn't last long though.