Help! dead strings way too often. . .

[ba$$player]

I have only been getting one show out of a set of strings before they go dead. I've reset my bridge, made sure the strings are all set the same. I've tried different strings, my favorite are DR fatbeams. I've also tried ernie ball super slinkies and D'addario XLs, gonna give cirrus strings a try next. They all sound hollow and dead after one show, especially the E string. I sweat a lot, but I have tried wiping my strings down after the show. I'm running out of ideas here! Help me please! What else can I try to get these strings to last longer. They used to have a good broke in tone and now they go straight from new to dead in a period of about a week.

[stanknuckle]

Wash your hands before playing, wipe your hands regularly during the gig too. Might wanna wipe the strings over with denatured alcohol/metho after the gig/practice. I have the same problem as you and I found that there is really no way around it but preventative maintenance. I got a set of expensive R.Cocco strings and they for me are the only ones that have lasted. Also, you may have to take the strings of and soak them overnight in metho to get rid of the gunk in the windings.

[Rob22315]

Bad installation? On round core strings, you have to bend the string before cutting it. Otherwise the wrapping loses tension and the string goes dead. The instructions, with pictures, were on the inside of the package of my DR BBs. Your DRs probably have the same.

[BillyIVbass]

Two things, one I'd wash my hands with dish soap (better on grease) and I'd try a different string material. If you are using nickel, I'd try steel.

My guitar player always keeps a clean towel handy and wipes his guitar neck every few songs. Worth a shot?

[Aaron_D]

you have acid hands. i have them too. elixers do the trick.

[ba$$player]

Thanks guys all great advice. I know installation is correct and I have tried nickel and steel strings, still having the same problem. I will definitly try washing my hands more during a show, and start taking a towel to wipe down between songs. Where would I get the denatured alcohol? Does that really work? How long do I soak the strings? Thanks again I can't afford new strings every week!

[stanknuckle]

Denatured alcohol, also called methylated spirits in Australia, can be found in supermarkets, hardwares, etc and it's cheap.
Just wash your hands before the show/gig. Too much washing your hands will dry and crack your skin. Keep a towel handy on stage and wipe off the sweat as you go.
Just soak the strings overnight, wipe them down with a clean rag or towel etc. There is no one right or wrong method for cleaning strings. I can't afford new strings all the time either so whenever I feel they are becoming dead, I'll give them a good soak for a couple of days while I have a spare set on then swap them over. I generally soak them for 24hours then, wipe them down and store them in a paper bag if I'm not gonna put them on right away. This works for me but try this yourself until you find what works best for you.

[ModulusQ5-122]

I have acid hands and have the same issues. Only thing that works for me is coated strings. Like elixir or d addario exp's. There are others but these are the better ones I have tried in my opinion.

[smileelectric7]

I was lucky enough to have very unsweaty hands, so strings last a little while for me, but im a tone freak and a broke tone freak so heres a few of my tricks.

If you can afford them Elixers last for a LONG time. I had a set for 6 months once actively playing gigs and still sounded good. Anytime Ive had DRs unless theyre coated theyve went dead on me in no time, which sucks cause they sound amazing fresh.

Ive never tried the denatured alcohol thing that stanknuckle said but im gonna try it myself.

I typically get an old pot once my strings go dead and boil them in rubbing alcohol and cool them off for a while before putting them back on. I tend to not like to do this more than once tho cause the strings seem to warp much after that.

and FAST FRET! Its old school but it works at keeping your tone alive, and clean your strings as often as possible.

[AaronBass4]

I get best results when cleaning dead strings and not putting them back on right away. I have found leaving them stored for a while (after cleaning) without tension tends to bring them back to life. More so than just cleaning and putting them back on. So, rotate 2 or more sets on and off your bass and you might get more life from each set. That's been my experience. I've had good results with elixirs, DR coated, D'addario nickels and steels. One string that this didn't work for was a set (the only set) of d'addario coated nickels (exp's, I think) I tried. These went dead almost as fast as non-coated and did not come back to life at all after cleaning and storage.

[darkstorm]

Besides the elixers, DR makes a couple versions of coated strings, and rotosound does nexus for coated strings.

[Marty Forrer]

It's the ph factor of your sweat. I have a friend who kills strings in one show too. He has a very high (or is it low? I forget) ph factor. It may be something your doctor can alter, I dont know, but worth finding out.

[ba$$player]

Ok so I tried the alcohol, and it got the strings back to an "ok" sound. I can deal with them for a while. Meanwhile since I'm trying new things, where should I start for coated strings? I love the sound of stainless, are DR bootzillas any good? What coated strings have the brightest sound? Thanks again for all the help guys! My band is starting to gather attention from very well know managers and such so I don't want to start sounding bad cause I can't afford new strings.

[Catbuster]

Originally Posted by Marty Forrer

It's the ph factor of your sweat. I have a friend who kills strings in one show too. He has a very high (or is it low? I forget) ph factor. It may be something your doctor can alter, I dont know, but worth finding out.

Low pH is acidic, but having a high pH, or being overly basic, may do the same thing.

I clean my strings and fretboards regularly. If if there's gunk of the FB, it's gonna get in the strings too.

[Freez]

You could try flats. They are wound with ribbon so there's no room for dirt, sweat and grime to collect between windings, which is what kills the string. Also, +1 to the "acid sweat" comments; I can not use nickel strings for this reason, they must be stainless. I keep rounds on one bass, and nickels go dead on me after about 2-3 hours. Haven't tried the coated strings, but that should help too.

[MonetBass]

Interesting comments. My hands are highly acidic and I can't use stainless steel strings. (I have partially dissolved a SS watch band just by wearing it -- no kidding.) Nickel only works for me.

+1 on the coated strings. EB makes some now -- give those a try.

[ModulusQ5-122]

Originally Posted by Freez

You could try flats. They are wound with ribbon so there's no room for dirt, sweat and grime to collect between windings, which is what kills the string. Also, +1 to the "acid sweat" comments; I can not use nickel strings for this reason, they must be stainless. I keep rounds on one bass, and nickels go dead on me after about 2-3 hours. Haven't tried the coated strings, but that should help too.

Yeah that'll work, he wants a bright sound so put some dead sounding flats on it. NOT

[Freez]

Originally Posted by ModulusQ5-122

Yeah that'll work, he wants a bright sound so put some dead sounding flats on it. NOT

Ah, youth...must be nice to go through life being right all the time!

Anyway, to the OP - I played roundwound strings exclusively for nearly 30 years (longer than Modulus here has been alive), replacing them constantly. Then I discovered flats. They last forever, and yes, they can get some great aggresive ballsy tones. Grind, clank, sizzle, it's all there. They sound meatier than rounds, and the only sound element they lack in comparison is "twanginess", which I prefer to leave to the guitards anyway. I was skeptical too at first, but the truth was in the testing. I bet you'll be surprised.

[ModulusQ5-122]

Originally Posted by Freez

Ah, youth...must be nice to go through life being right all the time!

Anyway, to the OP - I played roundwound strings exclusively for nearly 30 years (longer than Modulus here has been alive), replacing them constantly. Then I discovered flats. They last forever, and yes, they can get some great aggresive ballsy tones. Grind, clank, sizzle, it's all there. They sound meatier than rounds, and the only sound element they lack in comparison is "twanginess", which I prefer to leave to the guitards anyway. I was skeptical too at first, but the truth was in the testing. I bet you'll be surprised.

Why is every answer to everyones problem in the strings forum "TRY FLATS". Dont get me wrong, i use flats too but only for certain things. If i want the sound of bright zingy rounds(which is what it sounds like the op wants) thats what i go with. But if i want a more mellow thumpy sound i go with flats. And congratulations on being old.

Just messing with you.

[JaamE]

You can use antiperspirant on your hands too, my teenager uses it on his feet. We buy the spray kind for feet and hands around here. I know you can change your body PH with different eating habits, but i dont know how hard that might be.