Bathing your strings

[Drop1]

Do you guys clean your strings? I know some people use cleaners. Others wipe them down. But do you guys submerge them? Have you found a best way or best solution to out them in?

My gc is out of my strings so I've been having to order strings and it sucks waiting.

I got desperate and gave my strings a bath in plain ole hot water, then put them on the bass while still wet and used the "pop the sh+t" out of them method to knock the moisture and debris from between the windings.

It worked pretty darn good. I don't know how long it will last , but it definitely helped a ton.

Trying to see if there is something better out there?

 

[michael_t]

I got desperate and gave my strings a bath in plain ole hot water, then put them on the bass while still wet and used the "pop the sh+t" out of them method to knock the moisture and debris from between the windings...

This may have helped the strings, but what about the bass with wet strings on it? It's not something I would ever consider doing...

 

[Drop1]

This may have helped the strings, but what about the bass with wet strings on it? It's not something I would ever consider doing...

It's harmless. Didn't even make my fret board damp. Someone who sweats would be putting WAY more moisture on their instrument.
During this process I didn't see a single drop of water on the bass.

 

[klokker]

Most of the popping methods I've seen skip the water. Loosen your strings a little, pop away, and there you go. Don't need the water etc.

 

[Drop1]

Most of the popping methods I've seen skip the water. Loosen your strings a little, pop away, and there you go. Don't need the water etc.

I tried that first but I wasn't getting the result I wanted. The water + popping worked great though.

 

[michael_t]

I tried thay first but I wasn't hettingjre result I wanted. The water + popping worked great though.

You need to learn to take your time typing on your mobile device a little more accurately.

 

[Drop1]

You need to learn to take your time typing on your mobile device a little more accurately.

Fat fingers, small phone lol. It's constant. I do try to proof read, but sometimes I forget.

 

[USAJO]

Boiling strings. I’ve done it many times. The improvement is short lived but it does work.

I’ve read some well known bass player never changed his strings. This guy is a giant in the business too.

With the price of bass strings I try to get max usage out of them. When they’re new and brighter I think “hey that’s kinda cool”, as they age and get dull I think “hey that’s kinda cool too” lol

 

[singlemalt]

I built a tube out of 1” pvc pipe. Glue the cap on the bottom. The top is the same slip cap but not glued. Fill it with denatured alcohol. Not rubbing alcohol. Denatured, get it in a can from the hardware store.

A couple pieces of Velcro on the tube and a shelving rack system to hold the tube upright. Or lean it in a corner, just try to keep it vertical so the alcohol doesn’t leak out.

Pop the whole set of strings in there, cap it, and leave ‘em until you remember them. A set can sit in there for months, but a day will do it. Pull em out, wipe em off and restring.

You could use a Tupperware as well.

It helps to put a sticky note on the tube so you remember the what strings and what bass they came off.

Old school and done in 15 minutes, boil the set in a pot of water for 5-10 minutes, wipe them off and restring. Expect to break strings after a couple times. Use an old pot you won’t want to cook food in again.

Microwaving just doesn’t work at all, sparks fly.

If you are reusing sets with any of these methods, keep cleaned spares in your case or gig bag. Old strings will break.

 

[Ggaa]

Denatured alcohol and a retired toothbrush.

 

[sean_on_bass]

i try to simply wipe them with a cloth frequently, but if they get too gunked i will use a wet rag with warm water. i tried the boil thing a bajillion years ago but i think that is going a bit too far.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Even in the leanest times (and I'm talking dead broke), I could budget for new strings.

 

[Manticore]

Buy two cases of strings on line. Once you're through the first case order one more. Each time you get through a case buy another. You'll always have strings and never need to step foot in gc again.

 

[bass12]

I boil my strings all the time. Half vinegar and half water. Two minutes. I’ll get around ten boils out of a set. Haven’t ever broken a string as a result. I should mention, however, that I kill new strings very quickly. I’ll probably get two, maybe three, gigs out of a set before they need to be boiled. Boiling them will get me another gig or two. I don’t know how well this method will work for people who can get weeks or months out of a set of strings, but for me it’s great (and a real money saver).

 

[Lava]

Nothing you do is going to make your strings sound new except using a new set of strings. If you're going through string faster than you can keep up with, bite the bullet once and buy two sets, when one goes dead order the next and you'll always have a new set on your bass and one on order.
And wash your hands regularly.

 

[jdjk7]

Do you guys clean your strings? I know some people use cleaners. Others wipe them down. But do you guys submerge them? Have you found a best way or best solution to out them in?

My gc is out of my strings so I've been having to order strings and it sucks waiting.

I got desperate and gave my strings a bath in plain ole hot water, then put them on the bass while still wet and used the "pop the sh+t" out of them method to knock the moisture and debris from between the windings.

It worked pretty darn good. I don't know how long it will last , but it definitely helped a ton.

Trying to see if there is something better out there?

The idea of submerging steel strings in water never really sat with me. There was one time when I used to submerge my strings in 99% alcohol to clean them. And... that did do something. The strings would come out fresher-sounding than they went in. However, that wouldn't last terribly long. It just became too much of a hassle.

 

[2tonic]

You didn't specify, but I'll assume you're using roundwounds.
I used to condition mine in an electric coffee percolator. You may not be old enough to know what that is, but a decent sized saucepan will do.
Note - do NOT use an aluminum pan, and you may never want to use said pan for cooking, ever again.
Bring a 2/3rds full pot of water to a rapid boil.
Wind your strings up (loops about the diameter of a CD), tuck the ball end through the loops, once.
Chuck 'em in , and here's the secret.......put a teaspoon of Cream of Tartar in with them. You can find a small can for a couple of bucks, in the spice section of your grocery. This was used for ages, as a polish for fine silver. It eats the gunk (dirt, dried sweat, skin cells, etc.) out of the strings.
Make SURE the strings stay completely covered in water, for 10~15 minutes, remove (with tings) while still boiling, unwrap them and wipe with a towel, then lay them out to dry.
Presto....they'll sound like 3 day old strings again, for 2 or 3 gigs, then repeat. Some strings will stand this for 7~8 cycles, some only 3, but at some point you'll notice very little improvement. Law of Diminishing Returns, and all. Then it's time for a new set.

 

[BlueTalon]

My gc is out of my strings so I've been having to order strings and it sucks waiting.

I wouldn't submerge my strings in anything, just to answer that question. But the reason I'm responding is to suggest perhaps doing what I often do -- buy strings four or five sets at a time. I'll find a source, usually a music store with a Reverb page, and I'll make an offer that's a bit below what they're asking. They'll usually go for it, as it saves on their shipping cost. And then I have plenty of strings and don't have to worry about waiting, or wondering if the local GC will be out of my strings.

 

[Chrisk-K]

No resurrected strings sound like fresh new strings. Save on other things (eg, Starbucks coffee) and use fresh ones when necessary.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Do you guys clean your strings? I know some people use cleaners. Others wipe them down. But do you guys submerge them? Have you found a best way or best solution to out them in?

My gc is out of my strings so I've been having to order strings and it sucks waiting.

I got desperate and gave my strings a bath in plain ole hot water, then put them on the bass while still wet and used the "pop the sh+t" out of them method to knock the moisture and debris from between the windings.

It worked pretty darn good. I don't know how long it will last , but it definitely helped a ton.

Trying to see if there is something better out there?

GC rarely has my go to strings. Amazon usually can get them to me in one to two days.

Washing strings? Never.