Boiling your strings - have you done it?

[sevan]

it about string tension.. same applies if you put them in refrigerator and freeze them for half hour. of course periodcal cleaning is required. im using toothbrush for cleaning and lemon oil for last touch.
if you want zinginess and you dont want to spend any effort just uninstall the strings wait for an hour and reinstall them. this one most ineffective way but it still works

 

[DwaynieAD]

I have. Wasn't impressed. Also soaked in rubbing alcohol. Wasn't impressed.

 

[Lee Moses]

I did it several times back in my teens. As I recall, it brightened things up for week or two, but a month later they were deader than dead.

 

[DChalo]

yea, they didn't taste too great.


I recommend grilling

 

[eff-clef]

I have an old glass pickle jar and put about 3" of denatured alcohol in it. Coil up the strings so they fit into the container and let it sit for 24 hours. Take them out & let them air dry fully before you put them on your bass.

Some people here on TB have made some fancy receptacles with PVC pipe. Do a search for 'denatured alcohol.' Lots of threads.

can you re-use the alcohol ?

 

[punchdrunk]

You're welcome.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Yeah I did when I was a poor college student. During that time I mostly played D'Addario and it worked for a short time. Enough to be worth it.

Now I use elexir string, i tryied once to boiled them and it wasn't a super idea

 

[twocargar]

can you re-use the alcohol ?

Yes!

 

[Whippet]

I've boiled them and it's okay for a week. I've used sonic cleaners and that was better. Just don't do anything to Elixirs. Long story short they start to rust because it is hard to get the water out under the coating.

 

[redhed]

I used to, but now I can afford to buy strings!

 

[singlemalt]

Denatured alcohol and rubbing alcohol are two different things. Rubbing alcohol has water content. You want the denatured alcohol in a tin from the hardware store.

I've boiled. Years ago when I was broke. Yes, it'll bring them back for a while, but the breaking point is getting closer.

Now, I use bassstringsonline.com and drop my used sets in a pvc tube filled with denatured alcohol.

And the only reason I bother with this is to have clean bright spares that have already been cut and wound. Saves a few minutes over a full string change and set up.

Or I just leave the TI flats on for years.

Really, bassstringsonline.com is so good I look forward to ordering strings. Currently on a DR Pure Blue kick with round wound nickel, or the TI flats. They remember all you orders with a quick reorder option. Bonus points and a Talkbass discount, too.

 

[Humbled]

Yes i have. Same results, great when strapped for cash.

Heck yeah. I used to boil 'em to get a few more gigs out of them. Did it many times as a youngster.

 

[The Regulator]

I soak mine either in denatured alcohol or acetone overnight in an empty paint can which you can buy at home depot for about 2 bucks.
The next day they sound like they're new but the sound doesn't last as long as a fresh pack. So when that happens you soak them again.

 

[TigerInATrance]

Actually, I've come to find that the half rounds I prefer (KS Slicks, GHS Brite Flats, and DA Halfs) all come with various amounts of deadness, which I'm guessing is caused by lubricant from the grinding process. One too many sets that disappointed me led me to develop a ritual that I perform on all new half rounds which includes a quick spray with simple green followed by a 5 minute boil in water with 2 drops of Dawn dishwashing soap and then 30 minutes in a 250 degree oven. Finally, the strings are wiped down with denatured alcohol and put on. Omitting any of the steps has been less effective than the full regimen. A ridiculous set of actions, to be sure, but never a dead string and they last a good 4-6 months after.

 

[KJMO]

I did a long time ago, and it worked fine. But, the only times I've broke strings were when they had been boiled. I assumed they had corroded or something. Recently I tried taking some strings off a bass and scrubbing them with alcohol, and it didn't do anything, I don't think. I'm sure soaking them would be better.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Strings don't cost much...there's really no excuse to have an extra pack on hand

 

[Logic_11]

Boiling? Cooking is for girls. Be a man and buy some flats.

Your comment has a weird musician/dry-humor vibe to it

Like what musicians are expected to say or something like that Lol

 

[Basshappi]

Many years ago when I was young and broke, I was in a Top-40 band that played five nights a week. We made pretty good money, but it was my only income at the time and so I needed to stretch the life of my strings. I used to boil them all the time. That would get me at least another week, or two before I started to notice a big drop in the high end. I'm not in that position now, financially, so I haven't boiled in quite a few years. But as an emergency way to get "that sound" back, it makes sense to me.

Heh, I could have written this exact same thing, Top 40 band and all.
I too remember that boiling was a last resort because after they went dead the second time they were done for and had to be replaced.
The alcohol bath method works too.

 

[Creeper2]

I've done it and it works but only when I was broke and as a last resort

 

[socialleper]

A couple of months ago I was roped in at very short notice to play a few songs in a school musical, involving "My Generation" by the Who. Unable to use my Jazz Bass (with new zingy strings), I had to use my P-Bass with really old rounds. Unfortunately the songs I had to play required a bright tone. Because of the short notice I was given, I couldn't pop to my local music shop, an hour's drive away, to get new strings. So I tried boiling the strings. Low and behold, it worked quite well. The newfound zinginess lasted for the four nights of the musical and for a few days afterwards. Since then I've fixed up the P-Bass properly and put some Fender flats on it, you'll be glad to hear. No tort pickguard as of yet

So, have you boiled your strings? What were the results? I certainly feel like it is a last ditch effort, not something you should be doing regularly at least.

Woody

Yes. In a pinch and no money it will by you a few more sessions. It really messes up strings with silk wraps.