This string cleaning method WORKS.

vlad335 · #1 04-04-2007, 07:43 PM

I bumped into this particular site whilst looking for an online tuner.
http://www.tunemybass.com/

They have other sections and most notebly, one on strings and cleaning them using a homemade PVC pipe contraption and denatured alcohol. http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/ba...ning_tube.html
I went to Lowes a couple weeks ago and made one of these things for about $15.00 or so.

Couldn't find a cork for the cap so used a rubber table leg thingy and screwed a hook into it. I put tape on the end of the hook to keep the strings on. ( Trying to come up with something better.)

Let me say that this method works perfectly! Strings come out brand new as the day you took them out of the package! This is a Godsend to me as I love fresh strings and don't have a company sending me crates of them for free. I left the last set in for a week but there was no difference from soaking overnight. It does absolutely no damage to the strings that I can tell. I used to boil strings but this blows that away and it's so easy.

The only negative I can think of is denatured alcohol is highly flammable so be careful. Also, its poisonous so I have to keep it away from my brother in law. Hmmmm....

Thinking of making one of these for each bass and rotating the favorite strings for each.

Stinsok · #2 04-04-2007, 07:46 PM

I use a mason jar. I have to roll the stings up to make them fit in the mouth of the jar.

Basshole · #3 04-04-2007, 07:57 PM

Bend the hook a bit further closed, and use a keyring to hold the strings, then hang that on the nearly-closed hook.

vlad335 · #4 04-04-2007, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basshole

Bend the hook a bit further closed, and use a keyring to hold the strings, then hang that on the nearly-closed hook.

Hey! Thats the ticket! Thanks

Basshole · #5 04-04-2007, 08:05 PM

My pleasure. I hope to put one of these together on my next home center run.

Lorenzini · #6 04-04-2007, 10:38 PM

Thanks man, I just bought some new strings today and my wallet is feeling it.

How many times can you "clean" a string before it just wears out? Has anyone actually had this problem?

JoshD · #7 04-05-2007, 11:47 AM

+1...the wine cap on mine came off a while back, tough...I'll try the table leg or something similar soon.

Anyways I hook them on using the keyring thing. It's easier to put them in and retrieve them if you tie them on the tuning key end with thick wire. It also helps to straighten the tuning key end with pliers...Josh.

vlad335 · #8 04-05-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

How many times can you "clean" a string before it just wears out? Has anyone actually had this problem?

I don't know but I have used this a couple times on the same strings and can't detect any ill effects.

vlad335 · #9 04-05-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshD

Anyways I hook them on using the keyring thing. It's easier to put them in and retrieve them if you tie them on the tuning key end with thick wire. It also helps to straighten the tuning key end with pliers...Josh.

THanks! Another great idea! sometimes its hard to get them into the pipe. I will start doing this as well.

Basshole · #10 04-05-2007, 12:09 PM

I would try not to do too much straightening...especially with pliers. Metal fatigue is your ultimate enemy here, in terms of string life, since you can keep cleaning them. You start bending wires a lot, they're gonna break. Try to molest them as little as possible during the cleaning process, and ultimately, they'll last longer.

didier · #11 04-05-2007, 12:23 PM

but shaking the closed container will speed the process... or place it between two speakers and... uh... nevermind...

really, though, shaking them a bit is good

Dbassmon · #12 04-05-2007, 12:28 PM

This will not improve the divits caused by the frets obviously, how many times are you able to "refresh" the strings before the divits render the strings spent?

Ron Now · #13 04-05-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dbassmon

This will not improve the divits caused by the frets obviously, how many times are you able to "refresh" the strings before the divits render the strings spent?

well I've had the same set of D'addario round wounds on my bass since the day I've got it (and god knows how long they were on there before then) and I don't seem to have a problem with divits on the string yet. I could imagine using a set of strings will last quite a while. even if there are divits you could probably get a few cleanings out of them which still saves you money from buying that many new strings by cleaning the current ones a few times.

Me however, I leave em dirty, they sound best that way.

ALiP BoB · #14 06-04-2008, 12:10 PM

Will this cleaning method be as effective if i were just to put the strings in a jar filled with denatured alcohol?

BadB · #15 06-04-2008, 12:15 PM

How long before the alcohol begins to break down the PVC?

jsingles · #16 06-04-2008, 12:23 PM

im guessing this wont work on strings with any kind of coating on them, in like a YEAR when my elixir strings finally show traces of dying (cuz they last that friggen long <3) It would probably not work to restore them in this way due to the coating I presume?

One Drop · #17 06-04-2008, 01:10 PM

I use a mason jar, too. I even put a ramekin in the middle to raise the level of the alcohol so I don't have to use so much (it's not cheap here). Amazing results!

Buskman · #18 06-04-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlad335

Also, its poisonous so I have to keep it away from my brother in law. Hmmmm....

ROTFL!!! Thanks for the laugh, vlad. That made my day!

68Goldfish · #19 06-09-2008, 12:48 AM

Now you need a way to insert a long peice of 5/16 brake line down the tube so you can hook it up to some regulated compressed air (maybe from a fish tank pump) and have it sit there and blow bubbles out at the bottom of the tube. For that matter a fish tank pump probably has a way to hook a rubber hose to the outlet.