String Cleaner - Page 2

MoeGJBeener · #21 01-28-2013, 07:35 AM

when i started using Fast Fret a couple years back, my string life went from about 2-3 weeks to about 3 months.

Duckwater · #22 01-28-2013, 08:06 AM

Bass-Brites are amazing. My Roto 66s(notorious for having a short lifespan) are 4 months in and still very bright. I wipe my strings down before every gig(about once a week).

bunkaroo · #23 01-28-2013, 08:15 AM

For those who are having good success with Bass Brites, are you using them on brand new strings before you even play them?

The strings I tried them on (Fat beams) were already kind of dull when I got the wipes. Thing is there wasn't much dirt or gunk coming off on the wipes so I don't know what that means. I actually used one wipe on my acoustic guitar strings and that was taking off some green corrosion like crazy.

AdamR · #24 01-28-2013, 08:20 AM

I use to use finger ease but I felt it took the zing off of new strings. I do like to spray it on the back of the neck though. Make it real fast.

Bass Brites just dont seem to work for me. they seem to dry to be doing much of anything.

Duckwater · #25 01-28-2013, 08:24 AM

I think it depends on the strings and how clean your hands are when playing them. I wipe my strings when new and about 50% of the time I end up getting a bunch of gunk and oil from the factory off of them. If the wipes don't take anything off of your strings even after extensive playing, then your strings simply haven't collected much dirt/oil/etc and you should consider yourself lucky.

Bunkaroo, what fretboard wood does your bass have? Darker, unfinished woods are much more likely to build up dirt and can transfer it to your strings if you don't clean the fretboard.

Joe Louvar · #26 01-28-2013, 09:04 AM

Years ago I tried some string cleaners - but now I just wipe down my bass after playing and replaces the strings when needed.

bunkaroo · #27 01-28-2013, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckwater

I think it depends on the strings and how clean your hands are when playing them. I wipe my strings when new and about 50% of the time I end up getting a bunch of gunk and oil from the factory off of them. If the wipes don't take anything off of your strings even after extensive playing, then your strings simply haven't collected much dirt/oil/etc and you should consider yourself lucky.

Bunkaroo, what fretboard wood does your bass have? Darker, unfinished woods are much more likely to build up dirt and can transfer it to your strings if you don't clean the fretboard.

The two basses in question are both Spectors - one is ebony, the other is rosewood.I've recently lemon oiled both fretboards but that was after the strings went dull.

FrenchBassQC · #28 01-28-2013, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

I tried cleaning my Fat Beam with the BassBrites and they didn't seem to do much. The wipes feel fairly dry so I don't know if that's a problem or not. Looks like it will continue to be denatured alcohol soaks for me.

+1 denatured alcohol works great.

bassgrooves2 · #29 02-02-2013, 06:15 PM

Finger Ease Is OK for the right situation, but if your into a bright tone, it will kill it.
I use it often on my P Bass with Older Roundwounds on it is great for that. I dont use it for anything I want to keep a bright attack, because you will get just a thud after using Finger Ease. (OK not quite as bad as just a thud, but it definitely tames the brightness). Actually its good for getting a Motown vibe out of new strings. Once i used it for this intentionally for a gig. I had brand new strings on my Precision and got a call for a gig that was sort of Beach Music and Reggae so i blasted it with Finger Ease. Did the trick nicely.
After applying my strings last quite a while and stand up to sweat and salt air much better, but it definitely kills hi end crispiness.

JimmyM · #30 02-03-2013, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

For those who are having good success with Bass Brites, are you using them on brand new strings before you even play them?

The strings I tried them on (Fat beams) were already kind of dull when I got the wipes. Thing is there wasn't much dirt or gunk coming off on the wipes so I don't know what that means. I actually used one wipe on my acoustic guitar strings and that was taking off some green corrosion like crazy.

I never used them on new strings because what's the point? But I've used them on pretty dead strings and it does liven them up. Just don't expect them to sound brand new. I call it the "broken-in live" sound, like a set that has a gig or two on it already. If you want brand new sound, the only thing I've seen that works is denatured alcohol soak for a few days.

Floyd Eye · #31 02-03-2013, 01:34 AM

I ain't taking my strings off and soaking them in anything. When I take my strings off, I'm changing them. I'm a broke ass dude and I manage to afford new strings when I need them.

JimmyM · #32 02-03-2013, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

I ain't taking my strings off and soaking them in anything. When I take my strings off, I'm changing them. I'm a broke ass dude and I manage to afford new strings when I need them.

Not me...I hate buying strings

Floyd Eye · #33 02-03-2013, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Not me...I hate buying strings

I don't understand this at all. You can't tell me that you can't afford a $25 set of strings. You use flats too, so is there even a reason to change or clean your strings? lol

JimmyM · #34 02-03-2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

I don't understand this at all. You can't tell me that you can't afford a $25 set of strings. You use flats too, so is there even a reason to change or clean your strings? lol

I switched back to rounds 3 or 4 months ago. And I use the twin-pack D'addarios, which are more like $11 a set. But that's $11 I don't have for something else. If you rotate two sets and amortize it over a 2 year period, for me that would work out to about $200 a year I'm not spending on strings. Cheap? Most definitely. So what? Nobody knows but me. And you.

Lee Bruton · #35 02-03-2013, 11:33 AM

So much BS!! Nothing brings back strings from the dead, I don't understand why people think so, I'm lucky if I get 2 weeks out of a set. I've tryed all the bs, boiling, alcohol, everything that can be tryed, I've tryed it! Don't be such a cheap ass and get a new set!!

Professional Country Bassist for over 45 years

Floyd Eye · #36 02-03-2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I switched back to rounds 3 or 4 months ago. And I use the twin-pack D'addarios, which are more like $11 a set. But that's $11 I don't have for something else. If you rotate two sets and amortize it over a 2 year period, for me that would work out to about $200 a year I'm not spending on strings. Cheap? Most definitely. So what? Nobody knows but me. And you.

I am the last person to tell anyone what to do, but for me personally I will just buy new ones. I use Rotos or Blue Steels and I make them last a lot longer than most guys. There is no substitute though for the way they sound straight out of the box. No boiling or soaking is ever going to get you there. I don't know about nickel strings, I don't use them.

JimmyM · #37 02-03-2013, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Bruton

So much BS!! Nothing brings back strings from the dead, I don't understand why people think so, I'm lucky if I get 2 weeks out of a set. I've tryed all the bs, boiling, alcohol, everything that can be tryed, I've tryed it! Don't be such a cheap ass and get a new set!!

Professional Country Bassist for over 45 years

They get new enough for me when I soak them in alcohol. So screw not being a cheap ass. I will continue to be a cheap ass.

Lee Bruton · #38 02-03-2013, 11:55 AM

Good luck with that, JimmyM

JimmyM · #39 02-03-2013, 12:06 PM

Thanks Lee! Had good luck with it so far.

aetheldrea · #40 02-03-2013, 12:14 PM

On her website, Carol Kaye said that back in the day she didn't have time to change her strings, so she never did. She just bought a new bass instead. Worked for her. I'm not going to argue with a solution that works for someone else, as long as it's working for them. Different strokes and all that.