For those who want to age their flats quickly...

[tallboybass]

...try Aquaphor Healing Lotion by Eucerin®

Made a new set of Fender9050M's sound 4 years old.

Alan

[rumblethump]

How did you come across this discovery? What method was used to apply? Where do you find this product.

[Delta_Petra]

Originally Posted by tallboybass

...try Aquaphor Healing Lotion by Eucerin®

Made a new set of Fender9050M's sound 4 years old.

Alan

That is easy, I still have a big tub of it from all my tattoos.

You can get it from just about any drug store.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Good tip.

[winterburn69]

If I played flats this would be helpful. But it sounds helpful anyways.

[JayB]

Do you just rub them down? My current flats are on year three for my (only) bass, so a breakage might come sooner than later. I'm not looking forward to bright, new flat tone.

[lanceropolis]

If you just gave them to me to touch I can do it. I have been cursed with acidic hands.

[tallboybass]

Just apply with paper towel then wipe off. I've used moisturizing lotion before and this is the king of lotions. Doesn't come off as easily as others when used on hands so I just figured it would do the trick. It does. Available at finer drugstores everywhere. If you've got dry cracked hands in the winter this stuff really helps.

[85vf500rr]

It will also kill rounds quickly too I found out when I first started. I've got dry hands so I use lotion frequently, now I just make sure to lotion long before picking up the bass or just lotion after I'm done playing. The Aquaphor is the best for fixing cracked skin on the knuckles. Too many years of turning wrenches and using harsh chemical and cleaners have taken their toll on my hands.

[tallboybass]

Originally Posted by 85vf500rr

...Aquaphor is the best for fixing cracked skin on the knuckles...

Trudat.

[tallboybass]

Update: This stuff kills'em DEAD! If I could do it again, maybe a slightly less effective method would be better...like a less aggressive moisturizer.

[JimmyM]

There's always regular Eucerin cream.

[20db pad]

In the early days of Bass Player Magazine, Anthony Jackson wrote a regular column for a couple of months. In one of them, he discussed his admiration for Philly session bassist Ronnie Baker. Jackson mentioned that Baker was known to slather newly purchased strings with butter or Crisco and let them sit for weeks (or months) so he always had backup strings ready that had the dead, worn-in sound he wanted.

I never tried this, but I'm in the mood for a grilled cheese sandwich, so off I go.....