How do you clean your strings?

Masamax · #1 10-03-2003, 04:22 PM

I put them in a tub of isopropyl alcohol (99%) for a few days. Sound like new, and no stress.

Nino Valenti · #2 10-03-2003, 04:33 PM

I've never tried to clean a set of string in my 11 years playing. I just leave them on until I don't like the way they sound of one of them breaks (must be on the bass for at least a month or I'll just replace the one string).

slugworth · #3 10-03-2003, 05:34 PM

GHS Fast Fret before and after playing. Helps
prolong string tone considerably, plus you don't
have to remove the strings from your bass, which
means you won't be stretching your strings.
Detuning a string and then bringing it back
up to pitch is the worst thing that can be
done to a string.

KeiBau · #4 10-03-2003, 10:02 PM

GHS Fast Fret works for me too.

Figjam · #5 10-03-2003, 10:47 PM

I dont really clean them/ Occasionally ill just wipe em down with a wet rag.

Airsick Pilot · #6 10-05-2003, 12:21 AM

I voted other. I usually wipe them with a good polish cloth before and after playing, does the job well.

Treena Foster · #7 10-05-2003, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Airsick Pilot
I voted other. I usually wipe them with a good polish cloth before and after playing, does the job well.

I do the same and I also purchase strings by the case, so I always have a new set when they lose their tone!

Treena

carl-anton · #8 10-05-2003, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by slugworth

Detuning a string and then bringing it back
up to pitch is the worst thing that can be
done to a string.

Why is that? Does it affect the sound?

Airsick Pilot · #9 10-05-2003, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carl-anton

Why is that? Does it affect the sound?

I think doing that loses the brightness of the strings. I've never actually done that before but stretching a string, detuning it again and then stretching it back again, the strings are bound to lose its tone. I'm just speculating though.

JMX · #10 10-05-2003, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Masamax
I put them in a tub of isopropyl alcohol (99%) for a few days. Sound like new, and no stress.

Except I do it just over night.

Masamax · #11 10-05-2003, 12:33 PM

Hey, never hurts to be safe. Not like I am gonna be using them any time soon anyways.

zeh · #12 10-05-2003, 01:30 PM

Can I put the strings in ethanol? and If I do it overnight , what should I do to the neck? its not good to a neck being without strings...

Masamax · #13 10-05-2003, 01:37 PM

I have 2 sets of EB 5 strings that I rotate on and off my SR5. I take one off, string the other, and ussually right after that put the dirty ones in the alcohol. I don't think there should be any problem with ethanol, however you have to remember that it has to be the highest percentage of alcohol you can get. Water+metal=rust. I just use Isopropyl cause it's the first one I found.

zeh · #14 10-05-2003, 01:43 PM

ok , tkx m8

slugworth · #15 10-06-2003, 10:54 AM

[quote]Originally posted by carl-anton
[b]
Why is that? Does it affect the sound?

>>>> The core wire begins to stretch and change
it's shape, and the wrap wire starts
shifting on the core. Once that happens
air pockets can begin to form speeding
up the corrosion process; plus the
more a string is stretched, the faster
metal fatigue begins to occur, changing
the way a string vibrates along it's length.
You can actually see the result of metal
fatigue by taking some old strings, plucking
them and watching the string as it vibrates:
It wobbles and waivers, and your pickups
will sense this; your tone will be altered.
This happens differently to different
types of strings, it depends on their
construction type and metallurgy as well.
The reasons why strings die are combinations
of stretching through normal and abnormal
use, exposure to the environment such as
humidity, pollutants in the air, etc,
and direct contamination through contact
through our hands, everyone's body chemistry
is different, which explains why different
people can get drastically different results
from the same brand of strings. I've learned
a lot of this over many years and hundreds
of sets of strings, I'm sure someone here
can probably shed a bit more technical light
on the subject, I'm not a metallurgist or
scientist; those guys would know a lot
more.

wneff · #16 10-06-2003, 11:04 AM

Hi,

I boil my strings. Put them in water, add dish washing liquid and let boil for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Drawback: Some strings tend to break.

My schedule is about 4 month on a fresh string, cleaning with Fast Frest occasionally.

After boiling I have another month.

Wolfram

carl-anton · #17 10-06-2003, 02:12 PM

Thanks slugworth!

Scientist or not, you obviously know more about than me. I'll keep it in mind as long as my wallet allows it

tplyons · #18 10-06-2003, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nino-Brown
I've never tried to clean a set of string in my 11 years playing. I just leave them on until I don't like the way they sound of one of them breaks (must be on the bass for at least a month or I'll just replace the one string).

I'll second that!

TheBassmeister · #19 11-30-2003, 10:44 PM

I never have strings around long enough to need to clean em

. They always break.

dave_clark69 · #20 12-09-2003, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carl-anton
Why is that? Does it affect the sound?

I had done it becuase there had to be a truss rod adjustment. I turned it slowly up making sure winds were going down, and i hear a crack and i twist it a bit more and it snaped all of the way off. Ah well, it was on my 20 year old bass with 20 year old strings- i think it was in need of some TLC