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No matter what methods you'll use for getting "aged" sound, even if this is not a put on, the amount of WHATEVER gunking up inside the strings wound will NOT RENDER IT the same gauge along its length and thus, will throw intonation out the door, save even harder for you to tune up. I've actually seen this from time to time, but it's mostly finger gunk. Just because you have gotten that old/vintage sound it doesn't mean they will be good at intonation and tuning.
Let's make a bet. I'll buy a round of new flats and compare them to your "baked" strings, and see which ones intonates the best?
Shall we?
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Can't imagine what would happen if you retune those strings down or up the slightest. The shellac (or whatever) will squeeze out or loosing its grip and then fall apart and drop off the string as dust. Not even speaking of what will happen when it will rattle from pure oscillation whenever playing it.
Let's make a bet. I'll buy a round of new flats and compare them to your "baked" strings, and see which ones intonates the best?
Shall we?
- - - -
Can't imagine what would happen if you retune those strings down or up the slightest. The shellac (or whatever) will squeeze out or loosing its grip and then fall apart and drop off the string as dust. Not even speaking of what will happen when it will rattle from pure oscillation whenever playing it.
Where I come from "Aged Strings" = the last set I took off to keep as a backup for the current set and the one before that goes into the trash.
Yeah, I got a better idea. Go to any heavy metal concert, stand next to the PA speaker blasting out at 120 db for an hour or two. Without ear protection. Saves you a bundle on "gravy" the strings. Your high end hearing will drop, and most things will sound old and dead, even bass strings. Saves you from wasting time in the future.
^ seems like a good, 'lazy' way of getting dead sounding strings!
As far as I'm concerned, aging strings by playing them is actually the hard-working way. The side benefit of that, though, is it actually helps me to get better at playing my bass. I don't think shellac can do that.
You could always try the Steve Stills barbecue sauce method:
“I keep bass strings on my bass for two years at a time. Because I play bass so hard that I really thump it, when I get a new string, I buy some barbecue sauce and sit and rub it in. This is because it’s got to get a little funky, rusty, and greasy in there so it will start to respond. And that’s something you can’t build on a machine."
From here:
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“I keep bass strings on my bass for two years at a time. Because I play bass so hard that I really thump it, when I get a new string, I buy some barbecue sauce and sit and rub it in. This is because it’s got to get a little funky, rusty, and greasy in there so it will start to respond. And that’s something you can’t build on a machine."
From here:
Invalid Link Removed
devnulljp
Supporting Member
getting better as a side benefit? interesting POV!
Yes...a "side benefit"... in a sarcastic way. I don't know if you've noticed but I'm always very sarcastic about people who recommend all kinds of ridiculous methods for either aging strings (and basses) artificially or keeping them fresh.
i honestly had not considered that! you 'string agers' are just into things that have escaped me all these years!
where do you guys get your butt floss when not using the strings?
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