Flatwound String Maintenance

[Ron G]

I read that James Jamerson left his strings on until they broke for several years. Should I remove my string to clean them or just let them ride?

[CapnSev]

Just let them go.

[Richard G]

kind of unsanitary if not cleaned with something...not to mention possible erosion of some sort somewhere somehow....

[GianGian]

Mine have been there for over two years now. No problems. Plus, if you clean them, you may lose some of the "old flatwound" kind of tone, they might become a little bright again.

[PDGood]

A lot of people here recommend denatured alcohol to clean strings. That got me to read up on it and I discovered that it has poison in it to discourage drinking. It may be a long shot, but if it's on your hands it can get transferred into your system via eyes, mouth etc. So just to be safe, I've switched to rubbing alcohol. Working well so far.

Boiling strings works, but if they are old strings, they will have dents from the frets and when you put them back on the dents will not realign.

[modbass]

Flatwounds sound best with a layer of gunk on them, and last for years. I've had a set on a bass for 5 years, no problems yet.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by Ron G

I read that James Jamerson left his strings on until they broke for several years. Should I remove my string to clean them or just let them ride?

Handle a lot of greasy chicken before you play.

[DylanB]

Originally Posted by Ric5

Handle a lot of greasy chicken before you play.

I've read anecdotal evidence from someone who claims to have tried this, apparently the grease just congeals on the strings and your bass starts to smell foul. I'll stick to playing loads.

[JTE]

Just wipe them clean with a soft rag (I used to use old diapers, back when you could still easily get cloth ones- I must be really old...). I know Stephen Stills said he used to rub barbecue sauce on new strings to make them sound old (Guitar Player Magazine, circa 1976), and I've read that the bassist for a lot of the old Philly soul stuff used grease. Bob Wray, the Fame (Memphis studio) session bassist reported in Keith Rosier's book "Studio Bass Masters" that he kept petroleum jelly on his right hand fingers to keep the calluses from clicking. Either of those things will get into the windings, even on flats, and could hasten the process of making them sound "not new", but I figure you can just play them.

And they will last a LONG time. Joe Osborn put a set of LaBella flats on his Jazz bass shortly after he got in 1960, and the bass had the same set of strings on it when he retired it. So, that was at least 35, probably 40 years on the same set of strings. And Herbie Flowers' Jazz bass has the same set of strings on it that he put on sometime around 1965 or so.
John

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by DylanB

I've read anecdotal evidence from someone who claims to have tried this, apparently the grease just congeals on the strings and your bass starts to smell fowl. I'll stick to playing loads.

FTFY.

[Petethebassman]

Originally Posted by JTE

And they will last a LONG time. Joe Osborn put a set of LaBella flats on his Jazz bass shortly after he got in 1960, and the bass had the same set of strings on it when he retired it. So, that was at least 35, probably 40 years on the same set of strings. And Herbie Flowers' Jazz bass has the same set of strings on it that he put on sometime around 1965 or so.
John

And Joe Osborn got a gorgeous tone out of those old flats: recently I've been listening to The Carpenters a lot, such a beautiful, well defined and full-bodied bass tone, my current favourite Carpenters song is their version of "This Masquerade", written by Leon Russell. For cleaning flats I use GHS Fast Fret, a couple of times per year if they feel sticky.

[Ron G]

I hope I can fight the urge of changing strings.

[Shakin-Slim]

Originally Posted by Richard G

kind of unsanitary if not cleaned with something...not to mention possible erosion of some sort somewhere somehow....

The world is unsanitary.

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by DylanB

I've read anecdotal evidence from someone who claims to have tried this, apparently the grease just congeals on the strings and your bass starts to smell foul. I'll stick to playing loads.

I think it would start to smell fowl.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by Ron G

I read that James Jamerson left his strings on until they broke for several years. Should I remove my string to clean them or just let them ride?

Back in the day we'd boil 'em. I just let 'em go. They just get and better! I wipe them and the entire bass down with a microfibre cloth after every gig.

[Randyt]

[quote=JTE;10197920]Just wipe them clean with a soft rag (I used to use old diapers, back when you could still easily get cloth ones- I must be really old...). I know Stephen Stills said he used to rub barbecue sauce on new strings to make them sound old (Guitar Player Magazine, circa 1976), and I've read that the bassist for a lot of the old Philly soul stuff used grease. Bob Wray, the Fame (Memphis studio) session bassist reported in Keith Rosier's book "Studio Bass Masters" that he kept petroleum jelly on his right hand fingers to keep the calluses from clicking. Either of those things will get into the windings, even on flats, and could hasten the process of making them sound "not new", but I figure you can just play them

I know a few bassists that do this on a regular basis...no problems...(more so on uprights though) some electric users.

[rodl2005]

I use the DENATURED alky-hole(Methylated spirits here in Aus) method on roundwounds- gets me 2 or 3 x the life outta a set easy, with NO ill effects. Boiling - i used to get breakages.

Flats- I wipe down with a rag dampened with Methylated Spirits (alcohol) I keep a sealable container in my bass case with the dampened rag in it. Helps me get the sweat & grime outta the frets, off the board, body, tuners-ANYWHERE my sweaty hands touch.

- oh & the amount of poison in it is tiny- hurt U if ya drink a bottle, but not a prob if a little on yr hands etc.... I've been using it for 30yrs + & I'm OK..... I think :-/

[Headless Llama]

I have had the same set of Rotos on my Warwick fretless for going on 3 years now. I love how it sounds, but I still have the urge to change them! I bought an extra set when I bought the bass, and they are still in the box.

[Pilgrim]

My oldest flats have been on the bass since around 1972. They sound just great, hold their intonation, no problem.

Once I install flats, I don't clean them or do anything except play them. I've never had one break, so I've never had to replace a set on any bass I've ever installed them on.

IMO no strings sound right until they've been on a bass at least a few months.

[bassbully]

I have never cleaned a bass string ever ..flats or rounds. Being I am a flats player, I cant see much getting all them cuz they are all slicky and stuff