Flatwound

[Descent2Cocytus]

is there a certain way to stretch theses strings initially?
I know that when you get roundwounds and you stretch them, you just pull them and work em in real well right off the bat and keep tuning until i quits dropping so far outta tune, i've never used flatwound strings before so i need to know so i don't break a string.

[Tony G]

There is no need to stretch any strings, roundwound or flatwound. Whomever told you this was smoking crack.

[Descent2Cocytus]

hm, i just always did it because i got sick of them going out of tune all the time at first, and stretching them has always made them stay in tune a tad better.

[Tony G]

Sorry to come off like a jerk in my first post, but stretching strings beyond just puting them on the bass and playing them for a moment and retuning doesn't really do anything for you. In fact if you stretch them beyond the yeild strength, you may have damaged them.

[fearceol]

I recently put on a set of TI flats, tuned up and played. The next day they were slightly out of tune, retuned, and they have stayed that way ever since. It was the same when I used roundwounds.

[Brass Nut]

In the "old days" we used to pull the tar out of them.
Took me a few years to realize that I was really "pulling the life" out of them.
Now we simply install early enough so they stay good when needed.
Stretching is like tuning high then letting them settle down. Otherwise known as over stretching. Something most manufacturers recommend against.
Since I stopped that practice, strings seem to last longer with the tones / action designed into them.
Not saying not to, just that I'm not "over stretching" any more for my use. Only exception is replacing a broken string at a gig when I've left / run out of the "pre stretched (used)" strings.

[jonly]

I installed a set of DR flats today at 1:00, played for about an hour, re-tuned and have been playing since then with no issues.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally Posted by xgabriel

Sorry to come off like a jerk in my first post, but stretching strings beyond just puting them on the bass and playing them for a moment and retuning doesn't really do anything for you. In fact if you stretch them beyond the yeild strength, you may have damaged them.

Strings stretch. This is a fact. When I put on a new set of strings (and I don't have any over lapping windings at the tuner.. I know the correct way to put strings on) I tune them up to pitch, and then give them a pull (about an inch off the fingerboard... not much). They will have dropped about a step in pitch. You can repeat this several times before they are stable. I then never have to retune unless my tuner knob has been moved in the gig bag.

Just playing them wont work.. they will continue to go out of tune until they have stretched enough. I'm not talking about abusing them, but they do need to stretch a bit.

I don't know who told you that you don't have to stretch them! Guitar strings are the same way.

Flats aren't as bad as round wounds and usually don't need it.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally Posted by Brass Nut

Otherwise known as over stretching. Something most manufacturers recommend against.

And which manufacturers are those?

I guess bending notes is out of the question then, huh?

[Aussie Mark]

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

Strings stretch. This is a fact. When I put on a new set of strings (and I don't have any over lapping windings at the tuner.. I know the correct way to put strings on) I tune them up to pitch, and then give them a pull (about an inch off the fingerboard... not much). They will have dropped about a step in pitch. You can repeat this several times before they are stable. I then never have to retune unless my tuner knob has been moved in the gig bag.

Just playing them wont work.. they will continue to go out of tune until they have stretched enough. I'm not talking about abusing them, but they do need to stretch a bit.

+1

That's my SOP as well.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

Strings stretch. This is a fact. When I put on a new set of strings (and I don't have any over lapping windings at the tuner.. I know the correct way to put strings on) I tune them up to pitch, and then give them a pull (about an inch off the fingerboard... not much). They will have dropped about a step in pitch. You can repeat this several times before they are stable. I then never have to retune unless my tuner knob has been moved in the gig bag.


Just playing them wont work.. they will continue to go out of tune until they have stretched enough. I'm not talking about abusing them, but they do need to stretch a bit.

I don't know who told you that you don't have to stretch them! Guitar strings are the same way.

Flats aren't as bad as round wounds and usually don't need it.

Pulling on a string about an inch of the fretboard would not deform the structure of the materials past its yeild strength. My concerns lay with those that really stretch their strings, meaning pulling a few inches off the fretboard while in tune. The fact that you do stretch the strings by pulling about and inch doesn't do anything different than tuning your strings, letting them sit on the bass for a few minutes to set themselves, and then retuning, except this way you have less of a chance of user error by pulling to much causing structural damage to the materials in the string.

I'm not suggesting that what you do is wrong. Everybody has their own experiences, and mine is that stretching fresh strings isn't necessary. My concern is that younger people here looking for advice on learning to put on their own strings will see recommendations to stretch their strings once on, give the string a good yank, and watch it snap.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

And which manufacturers are those?

I guess bending notes is out of the question then, huh?

I would never consider bending notes to be over stretching strings. To assume that this is what he meant is absurd.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by xgabriel

There is no need to stretch any strings, roundwound or flatwound. Whomever told you this was smoking crack.

Sorry brother, but this is absolutely not the case.

[SBassman]

Not only is stretching necessary, but so is time. It takes at least several hours before a string will be truly stable at tension.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Sorry brother, but this is absolutely not the case.

Change my mind then...

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Not only is stretching necessary, but so is time. It takes at least several hours before a string will be truly stable at tension.

I see no good reason to put on a fresh set of strings and start yanking on them to stablize their tension unless I would absolutley, positively need to make sure that I am in tune and will stay in tune within the next 5 mins. Realistically, I have never had this happen. I haven't broken a string in 10 years, so changing strings on a gig or in the studio is out of the question. I always do that at least a day before. I string up the bass, tune it up, jam out for a bit, retune, jam out for a bit more, tune it back up and put it away for the night. This could be considering "stretching" the strings, but I am not physically pulling on my strings for the purpose of them to stay in tune.

[king_biscuit]

Pulling new strings bit until they will hold a stable pitch in SOP for most guitar techs. I don't know how much the string is stretching, but it certainly pulls everything up snug against the bridge and tuners. Try not doing this on a freshly strung acoustic guitar, and you won't live long enough to get it to stay in tune while playing

[Tony G]

Ok, I'm not going to argue. You guys want to stretch your strings, go for it. Let this guy show you how it is done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIHTMFFKB2c

[SBassman]

A few points on new strings, stretching, and tuning:

1. Pulling on strings does not wear them out abnormally.

2. Pulling on strings does accelerate the time it takes for them to be stable.

3. If you do break a string at a gig, and you need to put on a fresh string quickly, you better pull on that sucker, or you have very little chance of staying in tune through the set.

4. Besides the string itself stretching, the pulling also sucks up minor slack and rolls the string over the nut. This can happen randomly while you're playing - not so good - or it can happen while you're stretching and tuning - good.

[LoveThatBass]

Originally Posted by xgabriel

There is no need to stretch any strings, roundwound or flatwound. Whomever told you this was smoking crack.

Whoever said not too is smoking crack.