Stretching New Strings

[stilla]

Anyone know the "proper" method of stretching new bass strings so they stay in tune? I've read a few things about it but I feel a little nervous about trying a method that I found randomly on the internet. Has anyone done this before? If so, how did you do it? Even a link to a known-good technique would be appreciated.

[newfuture]

I tend to install the strings, tune them to pitch, and gently tug the entire length of the string, including between the nut and tuners. I then retune the string and repeat the process until the string holds pitch. Then I check / set the intonation if needed..

[kayakbass]

I've always strung and tuned the bass and then tugged the strings once or twice and re-tuned. Should only take a few times through this process to get them settled. Hope this helps!

[Tony G]

I don't do this at all. I change my strings, tune, then play away on it for a few minutes. Then I retune, play, retune, done. I just don't see why it is necessary to yank on the strings so that they hold pitch right away. I can only see this as causing damage to the structure of the string, depending on how hard you are pulling on the string of course.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by xgabriele

I don't do this at all. I change my strings, tune, then play away on it for a few minutes. Then I retune, play, retune, done. I just don't see why it is necessary to yank on the strings so that they hold pitch right away. I can only see this as causing damage to the structure of the string, depending on how hard you are pulling on the string of course.

+1

I do exactly the same when changing my strings and have never found the need to stretch them.

[sublime0bass]

DR says: DONT STRETCH THEM MOFO

[Dave Muscato]

I have always stretched my strings with no problems. I hold down the 1st fret with my left hand and yank the string about an inch off the fretboard (with my right hand pulling up around the 12th fret), for about 1 second, 5 times or so. Then, I move up to fretting the 12th fret, and pull up the string with my right hand again, around the 24th fret, about an inch off the fretboard, again about 1 second each time about 5 times. I learned this from a Fender rep re: Fender strings. If DR says don't do it, and you use DRs, maybe you shouldn't - I still would. YMMV.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

I have always stretched my strings with no problems. I hold down the 1st fret with my left hand and yank the string about an inch off the fretboard (with my right hand pulling up around the 12th fret), for about 1 second, 5 times or so. Then, I move up to fretting the 12th fret, and pull up the string with my right hand again, around the 24th fret, about an inch off the fretboard, again about 1 second each time about 5 times. I learned this from a Fender rep re: Fender strings. If DR says don't do it, and you use DRs, maybe you shouldn't - I still would. YMMV.

Yeah, but an inch isn't exactly much. I'd be more concerned about people hearing about yanking on their strings to help them settle, and find out they yank them several inches off the fretboard. Where is the video of that one guy that holds his bass by the strings and shakes it?

Ah, here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIHTMFFKB2c

DO NOT DO WHAT THIS GUY DOES IN THE VIDEO!!!!!

This is the worst advice I've ever seen, and I can just picture a bunch of people that are new to bass using his advice and breaking strings. When I first saw this video, I thought he was joking, but I don't think he is...

[Dave Muscato]

P.S. I didn't see anything on DR's website about stretching strings, so I emailed them the question. I'll post their response when I get it.

By the way, did you know that DR uses mostly Guilds for testing DR strings, because the founder of DR Strings is the son of the founder of Guild Guitars? The DR company has what is thought to be the first ever Guild guitar, which they use for string testing... I thought that was pretty cool:

http://www.drstrings.com/main.html

Click on "About Us" - uses Flash so I can't post a direct hyperlink

[maconbass]

Originally Posted by xgabriele

I don't do this at all. I change my strings, tune, then play away on it for a few minutes. Then I retune, play, retune, done. I just don't see why it is necessary to yank on the strings so that they hold pitch right away. I can only see this as causing damage to the structure of the string, depending on how hard you are pulling on the string of course.

+1 I've always felt it reduces the string life. I never do it either.

[Dave Muscato]

Oh, dude, f'in Dalton... I've talked to that guy before, actually about that exact video... I told him to hold down the first fret because otherwise, the string will come out of the nut and if it rubs the wrong way, it will break. I also told him to take down this video because he's teaching other people how to do it incorrectly - "just yank on it as much as you can... even 2 minutes for each string... I like to take out my frustrations on it...." And he's a so-called expert!

[maconbass]

The note that comes with sets of DR's states that you should NOT stretch the strings.

[WJGreer]

Two points:

1. You can't "stretch" a string with your hand with anything close to the tensile force that winding the tuner creates.
   
2. When you pull a string away from the neck, some, or even most, of the movement that occurs is happening because of the neck flex rather than the string flex.

I see no reason to do this; if your strings are not staying in tune, there are several possible reasons why and very few of them involve the string itself (mostly the tuning pegs and insufficient wind around the pegs). But if you want to stretch your strings, I think the best way is to tune them higher than you intend to play them (perhaps a third), then down below, and then back up into tune.

[dvh]

DR string user also and heed their advice. I don't think it's all that necessary with any bass strings. Maybe guitar strings too?

Yes, when he picks up the whole bass with the string and shakes it, it makes me cringe.

[SundanceChile]

Really dislike the guy, but I'm curious to try this out.

Originally Posted by Eddie Van Halen

I boil the strings so they stretch, because if you just put them on and clamp it down, the strings stretch out on the guitar. I just take a pack and let it boil for 20 minutes in the hot water. And then I dry them in the sun, because otherwise they rust.

[Dave Muscato]

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Two points:

1. You can't "stretch" a string with your hand with anything close to the tensile force that winding the tuner creates.
   
2. When you pull a string away from the neck, some, or even most, of the movement that occurs is happening because of the neck flex rather than the string flex.

I see no reason to do this; if your strings are not staying in tune, there are several possible reasons why and very few of them involve the string itself (mostly the tuning pegs and insufficient wind around the pegs). But if you want to stretch your strings, I think the best way is to tune them higher than you intend to play them (perhaps a third), then down below, and then back up into tune.

1. Um, sure you can. Try this: fret the 12th fret with your left hand, pluck the string with your right hand, then reach over with your right hand and pull up on the string *behind* the 12th fret, while still holding down the fretted note and sounding the note. When you pull up on the string even one inch, you will hear the tone raise in pitch as much as an fifth. This is equivalent to tuning up a fifth, if only for a second.

2. No, it's not. If it were neck flex, the pitch would stay constant in the above demonstration. The neck stays relatively stable, and the string tightens. You can even feel the string getting tighter and see the windings move toward the direction of the pull in relation to fixed markers - the nut, frets, etc.

Have you ever used a whammy bar? What do you think that's doing? You positively tighten the strings by pulling on them

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

1. Um, sure you can. Try this: fret the 12th fret with your left hand, pluck the string with your right hand, then reach over with your right hand and pull up on the string *behind* the 12th fret, while still holding down the fretted note and sounding the note. When you pull up on the string even one inch, you will hear the tone raise in pitch as much as an fifth. This is equivalent to tuning up a fifth, if only for a second.

OK, sure. But why do that?

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

Have you ever used a whammy bar? What do you think that's doing? You positively tighten the strings by pulling on them

...right...what's this point about? Did I say that it wasn't possible to affect the tone of a string by tightening it?

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by WJGreer

1. You can't "stretch" a string with your hand with anything close to the tensile force that winding the tuner creates.

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

1. Um, sure you can.

I propose a duel. Each of us will have a .105 gauge E string. You hold yours in your hands, mine will be strung on a bass. Each of us tries to break the string only by challenging its tensile strength (i.e. no crimping). I do it by turning the tuning machine, you do it by pulling on the string with your hands. He who breaks his string first is owed $100 by the other man.

[Dave Muscato]

Oh, I see what you meant by "you can't." I thought you meant, one can't pull on a string, while it's on a bass (as in, for example, stretching it) to anything close to the tensile strength of a tuning machine... and I thought (and posted), sure you can, just pull on it, the pitch raises, ipso facto proof of increased tension to the same degree as a half-dozen turns on the tuning machine key. I didn't realize you meant with bare hands!

As far as the second part, I still say, when you pull a string away from the neck, you are increasing the tension of the string, and not flexing the neck much (certainly not any more than if you tuned the string to a higher pitch equal to the same amount of tension, and certainly not MORE than you're tightening the string).

As far as affecting the tone of a string by pulling on it, are we talking about affecting tone, or pitch? I think you meant pitch but I'm not sure, just wanted to clarify.

As far as your bet; I'll pass, knowing you meant with your bare hands. However, if you're talking about we both start with a bass strung-up, and I pull on the .105 E string (off the fretboard) and you tune your .105 E string up with the tuning machine, and whoever breaks a string first wins $100, yeah, I'll take that bet!

[Tslicebass]

Dont waste your time...just put em on tune up and rock out with your c*** out
Stretching strings is for guitards