Ernie Ball Regular Skinkys Dead After 3 Weeks?

[Baird6869]

I have a Geddy Lee Jazz strung with EB Regular Slinkys and I had to replace the strings after 3 weeks (or a bit less)!! They were toast. Completely dead with no twang at all.

Is this normal? I am not a newbie but because I have a bunch of basses I generally rotate, I get 4-6 months+ out of strings on average.

The Geddy has been gigged a few times and practiced on a couple of hours a night during this period and I must admit that I really don't scrub my hands every time before I play it.

I did clean the strings extensively with EBMM String Cleaner and it didn't do much. And yes! The strings sounded great when they were new.

Just curious....

[PocketGroove82]

I find that all steel strings lose their original zing after a month of constant playing. Good thing I don't use steel strings.
I like thump, not zing.

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by PocketGroove82

I find that all steel strings lose their original zing after a month of constant playing. Good thing I don't use steel strings.
I like thump, not zing.

I play flats on my P basses but need a string that will keep the "new sound" a bit longer on my Jazz basses.

Will strings made of nickel make a difference? Stainless Steel? Kryptonite? Plutonium?

I really have no idea.

[Gasman]

I found that slinkys do go dead pretty quick- but when they're new, they just sound great! Rotosounds steels keep they're zing a little longer, but not much. Nickels, on the other hand, sound alive FOREVER! I had a set of RS nickels on a jazz bass for over a year, and they always sounded great. I sold the jazz on ebay with them on, and the buyer emailed me wanting to know what strings they were- and they were over a year old! Got a set on my ric now, and they are sounding just as alive after six months.

[DavePlaysBass]

Hard Rockin' Steels stay bright for a while.

[Bushmaster]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

Will strings made of nickel make a difference? Stainless Steel?

As a general rule softer materials (pure nickel, nickel-plated steel) will be less durable than harder (steel).

The reason that nickel players keep their strings on longer probably is that they prefer a mellower sound anyway, so if they loose highs it either doesn't bother them or even is welcome.

[lgrankin]

FYI...
Slinky's are nickel wound and Slinky Hybrids are steel wound.

LR

[pickles]

No, hybrid slinkys are nickel. "Hybrid" just refers to the guage.

Nickel stings don't last as long as steel for me, but I usually get more than 3 weeks from a set of slinkys. Do you wipe the strings down after each gig/session?

[Koki]

Yes, they go dead really quick.. Once they were fresh, I played with the band and sweat a lot and they died completely. But they have so good sound and great feel.. (when they're still alive)..
And all slinkys are nickel plated steel (hybrid, regular... it's just gauge) Steel slinkys are called "Stainless Steel Slinkys".

[sjb64]

It's been my experience that Nickel plated strings tend to sound less brite than Stainless. But Nickel strings tend to sound better for a longer time. They tend to sound warmer and less harsh imo than Stainless. Nickel plated strings are OEM on more basses than Stainless, which should tell you something.

As far as EB Slinkys go, I use them and think that they're great strings. I've had sets last four to six months. I ALWAYS wash my hands before playing. I even wash them between sets; this is huge.

If you didn't do anything to kill the strings like playing your bass immediately after putting styling gel in your hair or eating ribs, without washing your hands, I'd have to say that you got a defective set. Contact EB customer service and let them know what happened; they like any other string maker will gladly send a replacement set.

[Liko]

I've had the same problem with Ernie Ball bass strings. They simply die very quickly, especially in humid environments (like where I live; it may not be Louisiana or Florida marshes, but it's close enough).

I prefer D'Addario XLs; they don't lose that bright zing and snap as fast as EBs or Fenders. If you need a steel string that will last longer than that, you may want to look at either coated strings like Elixirs or D'Addario EXPs, which will give you nickel's warmth with extended life, or go all-stainless like ProSteels or Blue Steels; they start out VERY bright (bitingly so in some cases) and last an incredibly long time. I have two guitars who have had the same all-stainless sets on them for over a year and the strings are still in great shape. I put Ernie Balls on one of them previously and the strings were dead when I took the bass out 2 weeks later.

[sjb64]

...by the way; I never wipe my strings down with anything. Playing with clean hands is the best thing that you can do to preserve a set of strings life.

One other tip....Try stringing up your bass, tune to pitch, DO NOT STRECH the strings, and leave it for about 24 hours without playing it. I don't know why, but this does a lot to make a set of strings last MUCH longer. I realize that it is sometimes impractical if you only have one bass. Try it, it works.

[SoLongJake]

i used dean markley blue steels for a long time, and they stay very bright for a long time.

[kyral210]

My favourite are D'Addario Pro Steels. They just sound better than any other strings I have yet played. DO NOT buy Rotosound, they just suck!

[hawaiianbass]

I play Ernie Balls on both of my basses and I never have a problem with them going dead. I usually get about three to four months out of a set and when I finally change them they still sound good.

CK

[grind]

i've had a set of rickenbacker heavy gauge strings on my spector for what seems like 8 months now. they still sound pretty good. plus i have my eq on my amp set a little differently and have had it like that since the strings started to die. are stainless steel strings any good? how about the new spector strings?

[Double Agent]

SS DR Lo-Riders. Lots of zing when new, but they mellow out after a week or two. They still have plenty of edge to them after that, and they keep that same sound for 2-3 months of heavy use. Best sounding and longest lasting SS string I've ever used. Lots of low-mids too, they are very growly, and they're easier on your hands than most SS strings.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by SoLongJake

i used dean markley blue steels for a long time, and they stay very bright for a long time.

I was going to suggest those as well. Dick Dale's bass player uses them for a bright tone (although he changes them daily).

Me - I like dead flatwounds, the older the better. So whadda I know?

[xshawnxearthx]

GET YOURSELF SOME AXE WIPES FROM CAIG.COM AND HAVE THOSE STRINGS LAST FOR A LOT LONGER.

WWW.CAIG.COM
DEOXIT AXE WIPES.
used to kill strings in ONE GIG, now i get 6-7 gigs out of a set and they still sound decent.

[Moe Monsarrat]

I used to live in Hawaii. They go dead in a few weeks there no matter what you do, if you play much. Half the gigs we played were outdoors if not right on the beach. I use flats now. You wanna sell some strings? Open a shop in Hawaii.