Short string questions

[MichiBass]

1. Is it true that nickels are harder to boil / wash then steels? (I mean that they don't sound as bright as steels after boiling)
2. Is it true that hexcores are harder to boil /wash then roundcores? (because of the dirt that gets IN the hexcore, and this dirt is harder to get out)
3. Is it true that hexcores don't vibrate that much as roundcores? (because there's LESS core, less weight)
4. Is it true that the steel / nickel quality affects string life? (somebody told me that there are microscopic pits in low quality steel and the dirt gets there, and it's impossible to clean)
5. Is it true that it is not good to boil strings (because steel / nickel changes it's characteristics on over 100 C, and changes it's shape)

Thanx. Discussions are welcome, you don't have to write just YES / NO.

Cheers!

[MichiBass]

Yes, I know the questions are hard, but do you have experience with one of the stated things?

[JimmyM]

1, Nope.

2. Don't know.

3. Don't know.

4. I don't know if quality affects string life as much as composition of the player's sweaty hands, but it does go to reason that higher quality stuff lasts longer in general.

5. I think it's more a case of fatigue.

[MichiBass]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

1, Nope.

2. Don't know.

3. Don't know.

4. I don't know if quality affects string life as much as composition of the player's sweaty hands, but it does go to reason that higher quality stuff lasts longer in general.

5. I think it's more a case of fatigue.

Regarding 1: In my experience it affects only Es and As. I never have a like new E, but I always have a like new G.

Let's put another question, 6:

6. Is it true that Es and As are harder to boil / wash then Gs?

[MichiBass]

BUMP ?

[MichiBass]

Noone?

[JimmyM]

Dude, to be honest, I think it's such a non-issue that nobody's ever broken it down that way to where they measure what strings are most affected by boiling. Nothing is ever going to restore old strings back to brand new brilliance. Not boiling or soaking in denatured alcohol. The best you can hope for is to get them to sound like strings that have broken in but still have some of that zing to them. Sometimes it works good, sometimes it doesn't.

I've done both and the denatured alcohol works better and doesn't fatigue the strings like boiling (but make no mistake, it does fatigue them to take them on and off too many times), although you actually have to soak them for a good two days to get them to near-new. So it's best to have a couple sets you can rotate on and off.

[MichiBass]

I tried with ethilic alcohol on my GHS Boomers, 24 h+ and it worked only on the G and a little bit on the D.

[MichiBass]

BUMP to the Qs in the first post.

[MichiBass]

BUMP?

[rsautrey]

"1. Is it true that nickels are harder to boil / wash then steels? (I mean that they don't sound as bright as steels after boiling)

Assuming we are speaking of roundwound strings here, pure nickel or nickelplated steel will never be as bright as stainless steel, boiled or not. In my experience, stainless steel stands up to boiling better than nickelplated (I've never used a pure nickel string), especially in the appearance of the string. The nickelplated strings seemed to tarnish a little.

"2. Is it true that hexcores are harder to boil /wash then roundcores? (because of the dirt that gets IN the hexcore, and this dirt is harder to get out)"

My only experience here is that removing a round core string (for purposes of cleaning or otherwise) can sometimes cause the winding to separate from the core making the string useless.

"3. Is it true that hexcores don't vibrate that much as roundcores? (because there's LESS core, less weight)"

I'm not sure of the exact physics behind it, but to my ears (and eyes), round core strings vibrate much differently than hex core strings. Plus, from a feel perspective, they almost seem to roll under my fingertips, much like a classical guitar string would.

"4. Is it true that the steel / nickel quality affects string life? (somebody told me that there are microscopic pits in low quality steel and the dirt gets there, and it's impossible to clean)"

I'm not metallurgist, but I would assume that lower quality nickel or stainless steel would make an impact as to the life of a string but there are many other variables to consider here: core to wrap ratio, body chemistry, string coupling to the bridge, etc can all impact the life of a string.

"5. Is it true that it is not good to boil strings (because steel / nickel changes it's characteristics on over 100 C, and changes it's shape)"

Again, I'm not a metallurgist so the only experience I have with this is from my own perception. I've boiled the following strings in the past: Dean Markley Blue Steel (stainless), Rotosound Swing Bass 66 (stainless), Rotosound Swing Bass 66 (nickelplated). All sets came back to life very well for another hour or two of play and then extreme death followed. The Nickelplated Rotosounds developed what appeared to be rust on several areas of all strings. This was many years ago and I haven't boiled strings since.

[MichiBass]

Thanx for the answers, nice stuff you say there.
If a set of bass strings was 3.99 $ ....

[SGT. Pepper]

After you boil them make sure you dry, and lube them because they will rust. Are you that strapped for cash that you need to boil your strings? Go buy some Bassics, or Darco's. They're about $10 to $12 a set.

[MichiBass]

You mean these : http://www.music123.com/GHS-Bassics-...-i157222.music ?
Then why not boomers?

[SGT. Pepper]

Originally Posted by MichiBass

You mean these : http://www.music123.com/GHS-Bassics-...-i157222.music ?
Then why not boomers?

Go to www.juststrings.com they are cheaper there and have good variety.
Nix the Darco's they seem to have gone up? Something fishy about that! They used to be like $10.00!

[rap138]

what about boiling acoustic copper strings? any experiences?

[Thunder Pulse]

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