Should I soak Spiros in denatured alcohol?

[funkythumb]

Can I clean Spiro mittels by soaking them in denatured alcohol for a few days the way you would with electric bass guitars strings?
The results on electric strings are amazing and have saved me $$$.
thanks

[JtheJazzMan]

Yes. You can keep the spiros brightness for a couple of years that way.

[funkythumb]

good to hear.

[pickerpete]

Does rubbing them down work? Or do you have to take them off and soak 'em?

[funkythumb]

The official method for cleaning electric bass guitar strings necessitates that you remove the strings and soak them in an alcohol bath.
I've got sweaty hands and have tried to only wipe the strings down. Unfortunately, this method will only do so much and requires you to carry a bottle of alcohol with you to gigs. You've also got to wipe the strings down the minute you finish playing. All of this eats up precious break time on a gig and I gig a lot!
I have a cousin, a fantastic player, who has very dry hands. He's able to use non-coated electric strings with simply wiping them down and retaining an almost new sound for well over one month .
There's a web site that takes you through the simple steps of how to build the PVC pipe unit used for soaking the strings. I, however, simply put the strings in a round or square Tupperware container and the method works just fine.
I've also tried to simply wipe down upright strings with limited results. I wipe down my upright strings to simply remove built up bow rosin and some of the sweat and oil build up.
I'd still like to hear from anyone else who has used this method on upright strings.
thanks

[Andrew McGregor]

I'm sure it would work; I've put a set in a pot of water and boiled them for an hour or so, that got them clean and improved them quite a bit. No reason alcohol wouldn't work as well or better (but don't try boiling alcohols, it's not safe).

[funkythumb]

Originally Posted by Andrew McGregor

I'm sure it would work; I've put a set in a pot of water and boiled them for an hour or so, that got them clean and improved them quite a bit. No reason alcohol wouldn't work as well or better (but don't try boiling alcohols, it's not safe).

Yup, you are so right. I found that out about 15 years ago when I accidentally used 90% proof alcohol instead of the usual 70% that I used to normally use. I started a fire in the pot. It's long and funny story. I have a thread on here somewhere about it.
Anyway, I never boil anymore. Soaking works better.
:-)

[Thelowestoflow]

just get a cloth put alcohol on it and rub then babies down. It does the same thing.

[bassphase]

This is interesting. Back when I was poor I used to boil electric bass strings in water and then finish them off with an alcohol bath. I'm wondering if the salts in your perspiration can be dissolved with alcohol. I would think they would be water soluble only. Which leads to my question--Is it safe to boil Spirocores in water? Electric bass strings are metal core. I think there may be some synthetic wraps in the Spirocores. Most double bass strings have either a synthetic core or damping wraps if I remember correctly. If so, I wonder if they could be damaged by the water bath.

Yeah, I'm poor again so any measures to put off the expense of new strings is welcome.


bob

[bejoyous]

Yes, I did this recently with methyl hydrate. They only needed to soak for a few minutes.

After I took them out, I wiped them down with a facecloth. Bend the string around your finger so the windings open up a bit to get the goo out.

You'll be amazed at the amount of dirt that is hidden in the string.

After I strung them back onto the bass, it was like having brand new strings. They mellowed out faster than new strings though as they are already stretched out.

I'd recommend wearing vinyl or nitrile gloves if you are going to do this.

I don't know if this would hurt synthetic core strings or not. The filaments make absorb the liquid and swell or may not dry out.

[iiipopes]

I would just be concerned that by opening up the windings that risks something getting kinked or damaged. Be careful! OTOH, I understand that if they're that far gone you may have nothing to lose anyway.

[BeowulfKingsley]

Would rubbing alcohol be suitable for this I wonder?

[bejoyous]

Originally Posted by iiipopes

I would just be concerned that by opening up the windings that risks something getting kinked or damaged.

Bending the string over your finger is a lot less of an angle than going over the bridge or nut.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by funkythumb

Can I clean Spiro mittels by soaking them in denatured alcohol for a few days the way you would with electric bass guitars strings?
The results on electric strings are amazing and have saved me $$$.
thanks

I clean mine regularly with rubbing alcohol. I use an old but clean sock. I have done it for going two decades with no ill effects!

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by bejoyous

Yes, I did this recently with methyl hydrate. They only needed to soak for a few minutes.

After I took them out, I wiped them down with a facecloth. Bend the string around your finger so the windings open up a bit to get the goo out.

You'll be amazed at the amount of dirt that is hidden in the string.

After I strung them back onto the bass, it was like having brand new strings. They mellowed out faster than new strings though as they are already stretched out.

I'd recommend wearing vinyl or nitrile gloves if you are going to do this.

I don't know if this would hurt synthetic core strings or not. The filaments make absorb the liquid and swell or may not dry out.

PLEASE DON'T USE METHYL HYDRATE! TOXIC! POISON!

Regular denatured alcohol from the local drug store will do the job.

[Don Higdon]

Originally Posted by bassphase

Which leads to my question--Is it safe to boil Spirocores in water? Electric bass strings are metal core. I think there may be some synthetic wraps in the Spirocores. Most double bass strings have either a synthetic core or damping wraps if I remember correctly.

The core of a Spiro is steel. Nothing synthetic.

[Flo'Daddy]

I recently soaked an older set of Corelli 370's that were starting to go and put them on my Kay. I used rubbing alcohol and soaked them for about 5 days. Then I wiped them as I pulled them out of the alcohol bath and I was quite surprised and pleased with them as the harmonics returned. It was quite noticeable immediately. (The Corelli's do not have a synthetic core.)

I had boiled electric bass strings in the past with o.k. results, but read about the alcohol bath on this forum.

Thanks to TalkBass Forums again!

John