• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Boiled my strings for the first time....Holy Sh*t

#44
Let me repeat. All these problems do not occurred with alcohol soaking. But a bottle of denatured alcohol at Wal Mart, coil your strings up in a coffee can, pour the alcohol in, put the coffee can lid on, let the soak at least. 24 hours. The strings dry instantly when you remove them. You can put the lid back on the coffee can and use the alcohol again later. No damage to the strings, they sound much better.
Now, if you use stainless steel strings, remember that stainless steel is harder than your frets, this is why your frets wear out, your strings don't have much wear at all, the wear is on your frets. You are merely cleaning the gunk off of the strings, so they will last much longer. Nickel, now that's a different story, you have wear on the strings, and on the frets, they will never be perfect again.
 
#50
OzzyGreg said:
IMO the increased frequency of snapped strings after boiling OR soaking in alcohol has nothing to do with the liquid they are being cleaned in.
It's the removal and re-tensioning that does it.
Click to expand...

Regular steel has an annealing temperature (if memory serves me right) above 700° C. Other mild steel products can be annealed at temperatures as low as 500° C. Boiling, which takes place at 100° C has no effect on the material whatsoever. As OzzyGreg correctly points out above, if anything in the process affects the strings' durability, it's the removal and re-tensioning.
 
#55
I said this many times here on TB but, I used to boil all the time back when I was starting out and couldnt afford new strings very often. I would boil them then put them right into the freezer for a bit to contract the strings again (dont ask me how/why I did it...I dont remember lol)

Since then I built the string tube cleaner and used denatured alcohol and it prolongs my strings for a long time. Its awesome:

http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/bass_string_cleaning_tube.html
 
#56
I used to boil my Rotosound and GHS Boomer strings when I was a kid and didn't have the cash or a ride to a MI shop to buy strings. I had a specific pot for doing it because my mom didn't want me using the pots she cooked with. It works well enough in a pinch if one string goes dead after a show.
I never had a problems with breaking a string after. But then I think I've only ever snapped a string once while playing. It was a lighter gauge Ernie Ball G string that broke when I plucked it for a slap run. First and last time I used Ernie Ball.
 
#58
SlapPopBass said:
So for the first time in history I decided to try out the boiling string thing. Took out some dead Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys and threw them in boiling water for like 3-4 minutes each. Gave them a few good rubs with some dry cloth to remove the grime and all and when I strung them on....Wow, they sounded brand spanking new. Poppy and twangy like straight out of the packet. Still had some visible rust marks on it, but still sounded kick ass. I think this method had much better results then the soaking in alcohol thing. Anyone else feels this way too? I mean, if it worked for Andrew Gouche, why not for me :D
Click to expand...

Nope. Years ago I tried boiling bass strings a few times hoping it would give them new life. But it didn't work, the strings were still dead with flat spots on them from the frets, so in the end it was just a big total waste of time. Personally, I think you've just forgotten what new strings really sound like. ;)
 
#59
Much happier with denatured alcohol myself, although I don't know how you all manage with just a 24 hour soak. I have to put them in there for at least 5 days before it works.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back