Boiling your Bass Strings: bringing it back for 2013

[lmfreeman9]

+1


New strings are $12-$15 for a 4 string. If you can't afford that, perhaps you're in the wrong hobby.

Naked strings are good at 3/$27 and flats last forever.

 

[bootsox]

Never thought of that. I had a TransTrem and needed the calibrated strings which made finding them even more difficult. This was pre-Internet, or at least pre-widespread Internet, so I had to call around and half the people didn't know what you were asking for. I miss that bass.

you sold off a TransTrem? I feel sorry for you

 

[bootsox]

Boiling strings or soaking them in alchohol will only serve to "brighten" them. The integrity of the string is being weakened in the process of heating, not to mention the residual moisture trapped in the underwindings, whether using alchohol or water. It's merely a quick "fix" to brighten the string...it won't help regarding the poor intonation that comes with older/re-wound strings and in fact may do just the opposite, again, due to the strings integrity being repeatedly compromised and subjected to such extreme temps and conditions.

Back when strings were still $35 for the cheapest **** you could buy, I used to use the denatured alcohol method and then leave the strings in the oven for a day. It did a good job getting rid of any residual moisture.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

you sold off a TransTrem? I feel sorry for you

It gets worse. The buyer gutted it, rerouted for another pickup, defretted it, etc. That's what really made me sad.

 

[Growly Lytes]

+1


New strings are $12-$15 for a 4 string. If you can't afford that, perhaps you're in the wrong hobby.

Not in Australia buddy,
your looking at 1 string costing $15 for decent ones & a pack of crap around $30 then you got DR`s which sell for around $80-$120 !

 

[Jazz Ad]

I boiled strings for years, it works.
By the time other solutions popped up like soaking them in denatured alcohol, I was wealthy enough to afford a set of strings every other month so I didn't ressort to similar solutions anymore.

 

[BassCommander]

To the people saying that heat around boiling doesn't do anything to steel, you must not be familiar with how steel is hardened. As low as 350 degrees is used for tempering razors. And how fast you cool it also has an effect. So after repeatedly doing it, it will have an effect. Although the effect could be positive.

 

[bootsox]

It gets worse. The buyer gutted it, rerouted for another pickup, defretted it, etc. That's what really made me sad.

that's about the worst thing I've ever heard

 

[ArvindJayaram]

It can be done and if nothing else, clears the gunk off your strings. Do it before you play a gig. Absolutely nothing wrong with it and it's been done by a lot of musicians.

- Jimmy Rage

 

[Arthur Strand]

Just a wipe down with a vinegar or lemon cloth will suffice at first. Really old strings can be cleaned in boiling water but the effect may not last very long.

 

[iovar]

Just a wipe down with a vinegar or lemon cloth will suffice at first. Really old strings can be cleaned in boiling water but the effect may not last very long.

Interesting. When you say lemon, you mean lemon oil or just plain lemon?

 

[Jungy]

What do you guys do about flats? My chromes dulled in a pleasant way but the Roto's just sound completely lifeless now. Only lasted about 6-8 months of being played once a week.

 

[Diesel Kilgore]

flats last forever.

This.

Collect some cans, bottles, dig the couch and car for change for the $60 on a set of Thomastiks and you won't need strings for 10 years.

 

[Jazz Ad]

To the people saying that heat around boiling doesn't do anything to steel, you must not be familiar with how steel is hardened. As low as 350 degrees is used for tempering razors. And how fast you cool it also has an effect. So after repeatedly doing it, it will have an effect. Although the effect could be positive.

I'm pretty sure you're aware of the boiling temperature of water?

 

[MrLenny1]

I tried it several times, helped a little bit.
Dead strings are dead strings.
Clean them well after every gig IMHO.

 

[jmlee]

To the people saying that heat around boiling doesn't do anything to steel, you must not be familiar with how steel is hardened. As low as 350 degrees is used for tempering razors. And how fast you cool it also has an effect. So after repeatedly doing it, it will have an effect. Although the effect could be positive.

Boiling steels in water will have zero effect on their metallurgical structure. (I'm a professor in materials science in my day job.)

 

[Nurb]

I put them in the dishwasher, works better and lasts longer than boiling to my ears.

 

[klejst]

I have never boiled my strings either, normally I just buy and put on a new set. It don't bother me to do so. However always been interested in seeing/knowing how well this works out for those who do boil their strings.

 

[RedMoses]

I used to do it for a while after hearing about it, it def works and you can do it a couple times before the string starts to feel weird or breakdown. I dont change my strings more than once every 2-3 months so its not worth the hassle but for those who frequnetly change and have to have bright zingy highs this will def same a good amount of money over time.

 

[CapnSev]

Also, alcohol, might be more efficient, but not everybody feels comfortable with storing a large can or tube filled with ultra-inflatable fluid...

Ultra-inflatable fluid?