Re-using strings?

Montana Jim · #1 12-20-2011, 01:32 PM

Sorry, did a search, and no luck...
What are thoughts on re-using strings after they've been removed for a while? Do they lose "dynamics" or "sound quality" after losing tension? (Particularly DR Marcus Miller's). I like these strings, however, I want to check some other ones out - but I would hold off a while, if removing them would ruin them.

skychief · #2 12-20-2011, 02:44 PM

strings get better with age, IMO.

Im still using the factory strings on a 12 year old J deluxe.

To answer your question, in my experience, strings dont lose sound quality after they've been removed for a period of time. Took a set of RotoSound Swing 66's off a bass i bought 20 years ago. Re-installed them last summer (on the same bass) and they sound great.

DBCrocky · #3 12-20-2011, 02:47 PM

I've heard stories of folks boiling their bass strings to get more life out of them...

Jay2U · #4 12-20-2011, 05:23 PM

I re-used flatwounds a few times. If strings are removed from the bass, they aren't under tension anymore. Leave them for a while, half a year or so, and they'll partly recover. If re-installed they sound 'newer' than they did before. It only takes shorter to become broken in again. If you take them off, clean them well and pack them properly to protect them from the environment. Done so, they can live forever.

schecter5string · #5 12-20-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBCrocky

I've heard stories of folks boiling their bass strings to get more life out of them...

Growly Lytes · #6 12-20-2011, 05:31 PM

I dont know about forever but cleaning wiping the strings down after playing will definitly give them extra life.Washing your hands everytime before you play is also great to do.
Then after they totally lose their oomph you can either boil them with water or soakem in alcohol then wipe them down really good & they should sound like new strings again.
Best thing is just washing hands & wiping strings after playing.

**Razzmatazz** · #7 12-20-2011, 05:38 PM

You can soak them in methyl hydrate for at least 24 hours, but the longer the better. Just wipe them after and they are almost like new. Be careful with that stuff though!

SLaPiNFuNK · #8 12-20-2011, 05:43 PM

You can reuse strings sure... But keep in mind. Metal once bent in other directions weakens.. So if you use them on different instruments, depending on the various hardware placement, the string may or may not be bent at different parts of the string which will weaken the core.

And with the strings you are describing (round core), it is possible the outer windings can shift lose from the core and not be useable.

darkstorm · #9 12-20-2011, 09:08 PM

Putting strings back on the bass they where taken off of. If they where taking off carefully, and one takes care in putting them back on. So string bends etc dont change. Is ok. But generally once strings come off my bass its cause its time for new set. The old set is tossed in the garbage. I dont like the sound of strings that have sunk below theyre newly broken in sound.

Pilgrim · #10 12-20-2011, 09:14 PM

I have flatwound strings that are pushing 40 years old. They sound great! If flats don't break, they're good practically forever.

bassbully · #11 12-21-2011, 07:21 AM

I have reused the same set of TI JF on 5 different basses including thru body for 4 years and they are great. I have bent out other flats bent spots where they went thru body as I did the other day and stung them up thru a top loaded bridge... no problems. They always hold tune and sound great. They are bass strings... tough! you can't hurt them. BTW, have never had a break (yet)

NKUSigEp · #12 12-21-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montana Jim

Sorry, did a search, and no luck...
What are thoughts on re-using strings after they've been removed for a while? Do they lose "dynamics" or "sound quality" after losing tension? (Particularly DR Marcus Miller's). I like these strings, however, I want to check some other ones out - but I would hold off a while, if removing them would ruin them.

I reuse DR Hi-Beams all the time. Typically I just boil them in a water/vinegar mix and dry them off. They generally don't have that fresh-out-of-the-box brightness but other than that, there's no real difference at all. I generally only reuse a pack of strings no more than twice too.

FunkMetalBass · #13 12-21-2011, 08:29 AM

I take mine off every couple of months (when I'm not actively playing) and soak them in denatured alcohol for 48 hours. No issues.

The issue SLaPiNFuNK brought up is your only potential pitfall, however. The problem is virtually moot with hex cores.

friskinator · #14 12-21-2011, 09:29 AM

I wash mine in the washing machine - much easier than boiling. Just put the strings inside an old sock (the thicker, the better), close the end with a safety pin so they don't slip out, then wash with a normal load of clothes. They usually come out almost as bright as new, and I've found this method will work several times before the strings go fully dead.

zon6c-f · #15 12-21-2011, 09:55 AM

It does work surprisingly well. From my experience, re-stringing with used rounds gives tempory new life/ zing to older/ used rounds. My story....

My first set of Roto 66's were a gift; used and discarded by a friend who used Rotos and could afford to change strings regularly.

Rotos were an epihany of tone for me. The used Rotos sounded nearly as good as new ones on my friends bass.

Clean them before you use them and either re-string or use tecniques as mentioned by others but yes, used Rotos and re-strung on a different bass worked perfectly for me. Probably works for any other brand as well. Flats should be no problem at all, either.

Since that time, I keep my previous set when I install a new set..just-in-case, although I have never broken a bass string in over 40 years of playing electric.

Sifl · #16 12-21-2011, 12:25 PM

MONTANA! Woo!

I put the E string that originally came with my Squier VM back on it about 9 months after I replaced it. Still had the zing!

Growly Lytes · #17 12-21-2011, 07:23 PM

Yeah i tried this a few times.Im not sure why but the strings sounded dead so i took them off about a year ago & still had them in the draw.Chucked them on a year later & they sound nearly like new again.
Why is this ?
They were dead ages ago but now sound good,dont know for how long though.

EvilVOG · #18 12-21-2011, 08:05 PM

Usually, when i get new strings, i put the old strings in the sleeves from the new strings to keep around in case of breakage. Recently i picked up a bass that had these funky nylon-wrapped strings on it. They just sounded too muddy for my taste so i pulled them off, put on the strings that were on my old bass, and dug out an old reserve set and put them on my old bass. They sound sooooo good.

The problem is, i've been just resuming playing after a long time off, and i'm not sure what brand of strings they are (i definately want another set). They are either GHS Boomers. or like everyone else in here, Rotosound Swing 66's. Maybe somone can help me figure it out. Both sets have round gold ends, but the set i'm looking for has only the winding ends of the string wrapped in red string, where the other set has both ends wrapped.