Aging your strings

[JimmyM]

You are absolutely right. They start attacking you on vernacular and intent. Then you get the "I haven't played roundwounds in 30 years! In fact, I've forgotten what they are!" ones too. Like I said in my comment above - it's a free world. Dip 'em in maple syrup if that's your thing.

@JimmyM - you know as well as I do that if you REALLY want to get attacked head on over to the Effects forum and say something even remotely controversial. LOL!

Just don't go in there and start bragging about how awesome you are because you don't use effects, and everything will be cool

BTW, I should apologize...I just reread my initial post in this thread, and apparently I was one of the offenders! I stand behind what I said, but maybe I should have left off the "some of you need mental help" comment

 

[chilliwilli]

I'm totally serious about shellac on the strings..... on my new strings to muffle them down use the alcohol to wipe all excess off the strings and you won't feel any shellac it settles into the wraps and no it doesn't flake off... shellac sticks to just about everything. I'm a 62 year old bass player and have been playing since I was 12... My dad taught me jazz and blues scales and I have played everything from punk in Boston to bluegrass around campfires on acoustic. When I set up a bass for the "Motown or vintage country" sound I do this to the new strings and also use a muffler of foam shelf lining material(the kind that you can see through..looks more like netting material) rolled up till it's the desired thickness that works I also use a strip of roofing rubber across the bridge under the strings and the a strip of leather under the strings on the nut... the leather is thinner than a matchbook cover and very flexible. For my "Race Bass" I use Blue steel or rotosound pressure wound. Don't knock this method if you want that style of sound.....I've been doing it since the mid 70's. Go ahead and make all the jokes but if you don't want that sound ...why even reply?

Your dad taught you scales???!!! That's all I need to hear, go no further. Bring on the shellac!

 

[jwilson67]

I'm totally serious about shellac on the strings..... on my new strings to muffle them down use the alcohol to wipe all excess off the strings and you won't feel any shellac it settles into the wraps and no it doesn't flake off... shellac sticks to just about everything. I'm a 62 year old bass player and have been playing since I was 12... My dad taught me jazz and blues scales and I have played everything from punk in Boston to bluegrass around campfires on acoustic. When I set up a bass for the "Motown or vintage country" sound I do this to the new strings and also use a muffler of foam shelf lining material(the kind that you can see through..looks more like netting material) rolled up till it's the desired thickness that works I also use a strip of roofing rubber across the bridge under the strings and the a strip of leather under the strings on the nut... the leather is thinner than a matchbook cover and very flexible. For my "Race Bass" I use Blue steel or rotosound pressure wound. Don't knock this method if you want that style of sound.....I've been doing it since the mid 70's. Go ahead and make all the jokes but if you don't want that sound ...why even reply?

@BadBud - It kind of sounds like you're making homemade Elixirs!

 

[jwilson67]

I'm just putting this out there and I'll wait for someone to try it...

 

[Wiremessiah]

I'm with the OP. There have been some rude-ass replies that probably would have gotten some people poked if they tried to do it without the safety of sitting behind a computer. Some people like to deaden their strings when they get them, and what's it to you if they do? Sure, I don't think shellac is the safest thing you can use and said so, but what difference in your life does it make if you don't like to deaden your new strings? And flatwounds and tapewounds are never going to feel like roundwounds, and some people just plain don't want to use them. Get over it.

Geez, this thread is a perfect example of why TB has such a "full-of-angry-know-it-alls" reputation.

Everyone thought it was a joke. A guy who just joined talking about shellacing his strings, then disappears. What do you expect? If it was someone who had been around a while and contibuted to conversations and explained himself it might bebtaken seriously. I agree there are d bags and trolls on every forum, but you cant expect absurdity to be taken seriously.

 

[GK Growl]

Just don't go in there and start bragging about how awesome you are because you don't use effects, and everything will be cool

BTW, I should apologize...I just reread my initial post in this thread, and apparently I was one of the offenders! I stand behind what I said, but maybe I should have left off the "some of you need mental help" comment

I'm sorry, I still think the OP was the offender. There is a way to be clear about what one is trying to say. "Hey guys, I found a good way to deaden rounds if you need that tone quickly....", etc vs an initial rambling post about shellac and offering no other real clarity until 8 pages in.

 

[Pbassmanca]

In a moment of drunken brilliance , I thought about trying to mix a bit of household dust, saline solution, random fine dirt particles, and a few drops of vinegar , and coating the new strings in the devilish concoction and then wiping them off and seeing what happens.......I might actually do it one day..........I just might.........

 

[pcake]

i didn't make it through all nine pages of this thread, so i'm sure someone already pointed out that you can buy lightly used strings here on the forum, often from people who tried 'em for a few days and didn't like 'em. that way, you miss out on the new string sound (which i hate, too) but the strings aren't already dead.

 

[Fender_Bender]

Play nice with the new guy , I restrained myself to one wise crack early on. I change my roundwounds every 1-3 years whether they need it or not lol. I can't believe I'd need a deader tone than rolling the tone completely off. The Next deader option is the sponge.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Duh! to all who can't imagine why this is done.You can't figure it out? I 'll explain..... I had round wounds on..... I want to set up with flats.... i have a recording session in 3 days and want my vintage sound today.... It works and it's better than oils potato chip salt and grease...bbq sauce...or what ever else. BYE I'M DONE HERE. There's other forums I'll go back to where people converse together with open minds.Bunch of bone heads here!

Well, as much as I do enjoy a good rage quit from time to time, there's no point in keeping this thread open if OP is gone, especially with some questionable rule 1 posts in the thread.

On to the next one, folks.