I like new strings but I'm going broke!

jhines77 · #1 05-28-2010, 02:36 PM

When I gigged a lot when I was younger I put a new set of Ernie Balls on before every gig. i love that bright sound and snap. I also worked in a guitar store so I got them cheap. Now I am playing again and strings are much more expensive. I'm trying to make them last longer but I just can't take it. Last night my strings were a week and a half old and the E strings sounded like a dead fart! But it was also my second outdoor gig in a week. Very hot and humid. I was playing Ernie Ball stainless steel strings. They are ok but obviously don't like big changes in temp. I've also tried DR Highbeams. I like the sound better but they don't last as long.

What string will give me that snap for the longest?

John

Gord_oh · #2 05-28-2010, 02:40 PM

why would you string up before every gig?
seems like they would go out of tune since they didnt have time to "stretch" with the bass.
if they sound that bad that quick, id look into getting a decent setup on you bass.
that might help keep their brightness.
strings should be able to last a long time, even if you play every day.

gidbass · #3 05-28-2010, 02:45 PM

you could try some of the "coated" strings, like DR black beauties. I have no personal experience, but folks generally seem to like them and say the last long. I may test out a set eventually myself.

Good Luck!

MisterFabulous · #4 05-28-2010, 02:45 PM

http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/ho...s_strings.html

^^^
This.

I built the string cleaning tube as per instructions. Less than $10 for all the parts including the denatured alcohol.

I've cleaned roundwounds, pressurewounds, and flatwounds in it.

Works great. Will restore brightness to strings. Don't know how many times you can do this, but I put an old set (a year or more on a bass I just bought) of rotosound rounds in there and WHOA! the difference 24hrs. in wood alcohol can make.

spaz21387 · #5 05-28-2010, 02:46 PM

I personally like the sound of dead roundwounds on most of my basses. for my p basses I like flats

jhines77 · #6 05-28-2010, 02:48 PM

I would stretch the **** out of them when I put them on. I never had intonation problems. I just really like the feel and sound of new strings. Call me crazy if you want to. It's just the way I like it. Other people like that 2 week old sound. Thats when I start going nuts. What difference would a setup make on whether strings sound bright and have that new snap. If they had those qualities last week and nothing in the setup hasn't changed...

recreate.me · #7 05-28-2010, 02:50 PM

I would go with building the cleaning tube. It seems like the best way to save some money on strings.

Buy strings then play a show then play them until they die then clean the strings again.

I'm sure after each time you clean them the life goes down a bit, but they still will make one set of strings stretch at least as long as 2 or 3 new sets.

jhines77 · #8 05-28-2010, 02:57 PM

I will try the cleaning tube. Thanks for the tip!

Floyd Eye · #9 05-28-2010, 02:57 PM

Either put flats on it and don't worry about them for 5 years or so, or get some Blue Steels and clean them every time you play.

JET-1977 · #10 05-28-2010, 02:59 PM

I've never tried the cleaning tube. However, when my strings start sounding dead I boil them, then wipe them off good with a lent free cloth. They sound great after doing this. However, you can only do this 2 or three times. I had some strings break if I've done this 3 or 4 times to the same set of strings.

levis76 · #11 05-28-2010, 03:06 PM

Yeah, it's not your setup. You just have an expensive addiction to new strings. The denatured alcohol tip will help you. Whether you play with fingers or pick, your strings, esp roundwounds, will start to fill with crap from your hands and pick dust if you use one. Cleaning that gunk out once a week should keep the tone bright. I use Fastfret on my strings and it helps keep them clean longer. Keep 'em clean.

Thundar · #12 05-28-2010, 03:13 PM

If you love SS strings, then I would try Dean Markley SR2000's or D'Addario Prosteels...I have had better luck with these staying bright than any other sets Ive used (Blue Steels, Rotos, Fender, DR, EB, and GHS).

Meatrus · #13 05-28-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gord_oh

why would you string up before every gig?
seems like they would go out of tune since they didnt have time to "stretch" with the bass.
if they sound that bad that quick, id look into getting a decent setup on you bass.
that might help keep their brightness.
strings should be able to last a long time, even if you play every day.

In order, lots of professional players do it.
Stretching them in is easily obtained with 5 mins of playing.
How would a setup cause that?
The new sound of strings is lost quickly on most brands, and some break in better than others.

Its personal preference really, if you like brand new fresh strings...either boil, clean or buy new. Coated strings IMO wont sound like fresh strings though, if thats the sound your after.

FunkMetalBass · #14 05-28-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterFabulous

http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/ho...s_strings.html

^^^
This.

I built the string cleaning tube as per instructions. Less than $10 for all the parts including the denatured alcohol.

I've cleaned roundwounds, pressurewounds, and flatwounds in it.

Works great. Will restore brightness to strings. Don't know how many times you can do this, but I put an old set (a year or more on a bass I just bought) of rotosound rounds in there and WHOA! the difference 24hrs. in wood alcohol can make.

This. I do this with all of my strings. I've put the same set of Fodera heavies on my bass 3 times already.

I also do it with my 8-string sets because, at $96 per set, I can't afford to buy new strings all the time.

**251** · #15 05-28-2010, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhines77

When I gigged a lot when I was younger I put a new set of Ernie Balls on before every gig. i love that bright sound and snap. I also worked in a guitar store so I got them cheap. Now I am playing again and strings are much more expensive. I'm trying to make them last longer but I just can't take it. Last night my strings were a week and a half old and the E strings sounded like a dead fart! But it was also my second outdoor gig in a week. Very hot and humid. I was playing Ernie Ball stainless steel strings. They are ok but obviously don't like big changes in temp. I've also tried DR Highbeams. I like the sound better but they don't last as long.

What string will give me that snap for the longest?

John

Work a deal with Break my strings in for me!. He might buy your old stings. 8-)

FunkMetalBass · #16 05-28-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET-1977

I've never tried the cleaning tube. However, when my strings start sounding dead I boil them, then wipe them off good with a lent free cloth. They sound great after doing this. However, you can only do this 2 or three times. I had some strings break if I've done this 3 or 4 times to the same set of strings.

Because you're exposing them to heat (no-no #1) and water (no-no #2).

Prolonged heat compromises the structural integrity of the metal, and water (that can easily get trapped in those tiny pores between the coil and core) means that it's possible to rust, even if only under a microscopic level.

You'd be better off to build the denatured alcohol tube. Seriously. The strings will last through more cleanings, and they actually come out sounding brighter than any of my boiled strings ever did.

marcss · #17 05-28-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterFabulous

http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/ho...s_strings.html

^^^
This.

I built the string cleaning tube as per instructions. Less than $10 for all the parts including the denatured alcohol.

I've cleaned roundwounds, pressurewounds, and flatwounds in it.

Works great. Will restore brightness to strings. Don't know how many times you can do this, but I put an old set (a year or more on a bass I just bought) of rotosound rounds in there and WHOA! the difference 24hrs. in wood alcohol can make.

I also built the string cleaning tube descried in the link and I'm very impressed with the results. And it's a fun project.

**Staccato** · #18 05-28-2010, 03:33 PM

Short answer, coated strings or cleaning strings. My most recent favorite method is GHS string cloth.

Johnny Crab · #19 05-28-2010, 04:34 PM

The other thing that add to CLEANING is to determine your FAVORITE brand and supershop for it after saving some $$$ for multiple sets. I do this with Rotosounds and have got the cost/set down to a minimum NEW plus some places toss in the free shipping when you do this.

Combine a box of 8 to 10 sets of NEW strings with regular cleaning and you will save a good bit of $$$ in the long run PLUS have that "new string" sound.

One other idea: A pair of similar or identical basses brought to gigs where one has the "new" or "new sound" set on and the other has a 1 or 2 gig set on it can be useful as sometimes the slightly used strings sound better in a particular room.

darkstorm · #20 05-28-2010, 07:29 PM

Dean Markley blue steels. Pretty much the brightest strings out there that still have solid heavy crack of thunder bass content. New set should last you at least a couple weeks as it can take that long for them to mellow down to regular stainless steel string new sound brightness. Lol.

Myself I get average of 3 to near 4 months use from each string set before they loose enough edge to have me wanting to replace them. With new strings I roll the treble off a little then roll it back up as they settle into their regular basic broken in sound.