• 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.

Cleaning and reusing strings?

#41
Dropkickyourgrandmother said:
So, stupid question, but my friend told me that you were never supposed to take the strings off your bass, because they would not be reusable. I took the strings off my bass
Click to expand...

Now, I wonder too, what your friend has been smoking? How the f*ck would you ever get your bass serviced then? Say you have these unwieldy truss rod where you have to adjust relief by even removing the neck for the allen wrench to reach down, then you have to re-string and tune up and see if the relief was ok. If it wasn't just re-engineer it, and you have to take strings off and on as many times you like, before it's set and done.

Re-use the strings as often as you like. You probably know when it's time, and nothing helps getting them in shape again. You'll hear and feel it.

- - - - -

I wonder where all these myths comes from? On WikiHow there's one section - albeit guitars - that says "you shouldn't take off all the strings at once" and the other "if you store your guitar for a longer time, it's best to remove all the strings". Beats me. When confronted with this paradox they just go .... blush. Remove and take off the strings as many times as you like. And re-use them. The metal fatigue up at the tuner part will take its toll eventually. But if you're careful and use the same "knick" and bendings when you re-string them it's no problem.
 
#42
I remember those days when I went into the chemistry for buying a bottle of isopropyl ethanol, and the girl over the counter, immediately asked back "How many cassette decks are you going to use it for?" ;)

It was their and its only customers, to clean the heads of cassette tape machines. Ok, there was an age limit though...
 
#43
Honch said:
The only strings you CAN NOT reuse are the ones that are made with ROUND CORE. This is mostly certain DR strings, and little great british manufacturer Newtone. The strings and windings will "unravel" or "uncoil" around the strings. . . .

6 years: the lifespan I had with ONE SET of Newtone Double Ball end strings Stainless Steel on round core. I isopropped them, and ultrasonic cleaned them TWICE a year. Since it was headless it just take one minute to take them off and on.
Click to expand...

I'm confused. So you were able to reuse strings that allegedly can't be reused?
 
#44
My 2 cents for situations when you have to pay 50+$ for a new set:

For me boiling under 1h is not worth...have done it a lot I mean a lot of times and have gained a lot of experience :) regarding alcohol, I've tried 98%, but was not successful as boiling. Method is: boil strings with a few drops (or more) dishwashing detergent (try some really strong, that takes all the grease...just watch tv and catch some commercials :) ) for about 45min. during that time all the hazardous grease and sweat will come out of windings. I guess that the time spent at high temperature even stretch windings and help the dirt come out. After that, boil them in clean water for about half an hour to clean the detergent. Next step is to put them out (be careful strings are very hot) cool them in cold water, and then wipe the hell out of them with nice piece of cloth (I've found the best are those marketed as strings cleaning cloth). There was one post in this thread about lube from winding process, and after this kind of boiling it's really obvious that lube is missing, because strings feel so dry and are sticking to fingers. So the next step is to apply fast fret, which brings back the nice feel to strings, and also wipes the dirt and brings the shine back :) With this method I can play one strings set for over a year, with boiling every 3 months. After each boiling they're like brand new, but after a year they become too stiff.

Regarding flipping strings because of frets wear: I've found (the hard way) that when you flip them upside-down, the breaking point over bridge saddles make the core of the string snap over time, especially if you like to dig in over the bridge pickup (it's common that even E string snap..or better said unwind over bridge)

I hope my experience can help :)
 
#45
Lee Moses said:
I'm confused. So you were able to reuse strings that allegedly can't be reused?
Click to expand...

ROUND CORES that ARE NOT DOUBLE BALL END STRINGS. Since one end is open, they unravel. The double ball end on each string, makes them wound tight at both ends regardless of what you do. If they're regular bass strings (not for headless, and not double ball end) they can unravel at the tuner end, if you're not careful. You have to do a pre-bend or pre-nick at first, when you put them on at first time. If you screw it up then, one or two strings have "released" their windings and it will sound shite, and you have to buy new single one strings.

I reckon, I ought to do this disclamer at my first post about this though, so my apologies, for not mentioning the advantages of double ball end strings first.
 
#46
Dropkickyourgrandmother said:
I tried to get 99%, as I could not find denatured. Will the isopropyl have any bad effects on the strings? Should I soak them for less time?
Click to expand...


I used to boil them then do a quick isopropyl soak. Never had any issues ( I've done this for 20 years and dozens & dozens of sets). The iso won't hurt a thing.
 
#47
One thing about fret wear and double ball end strings, regarding dents and deformation. As it is, I can turn them - not upside down - but just around. The ball end that used to be up at the zero fret/headpiece, are placed down at the bridge and the tuner. Then all "dents" and deformations are over the pickups. Or, really, do it before there's any dents usually up at the first five frets. I would love to have the following feature on any regular headed bass with regular strings: An option to have the bridge desgined with both through body stringing, and the ball end at the bridge end. Then you would automatically change the wear spot under each strings fret spot. You'd move it forward or backward, and as such, spreading those fret dents on strings over a wider area. More mileage still on your strings.

I do use stainless steel strings which actuallly makes dents in the more softer nickel frets that I use. So the frets takes more beatings than the strings.
 
Last edited:
#48
I've recommended this method several times on TB. Works like a charm.

1. Take off strings, roll them up all together, place inside old sock. Safety pin shut.
2. Wash in washing machine with a load of clothes, normal cycle. If you're worried about the string ends poking through the sock, wash with towels, sheets, or something else non-valuable. Or wash alone.
3. Remove strings from sock, dry for a little while, then put back on bass. Nice and bright, like new!

I can usually get 2 or 3 washes out a set before I throw them away.
 
#49
mboki said:
For me boiling under 1h is not worth...have done it a lot I mean a lot of times and have gained a lot of experience :) regarding alcohol, I've tried 98%, but was not successful as boiling. Method is: boil strings with a few drops (or more) dishwashing detergent (try some really strong, that takes all the grease...just watch tv and catch some commercials :) ) for about 45min. during that time all the hazardous grease and sweat will come out of windings. I guess that the time spent at high temperature even stretch windings and help the dirt come out. After that, boil them in clean water for about half an hour to clean the detergent.
Click to expand...

Oh dear, I have good tasting stews that'll be ready and cooking below that time. That time of yours 45 minutes first, and then half an hour of cleaning...that's equivalent to my 5 minutes Ultrasonic cleaning which is way more efficient and better. I bet you went down one gauge after that. They went from medium to light gauge...;) just by your boiling...
 
#50
Ultrasonic cleaning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Ultrasonic cleaning uses Invalid Link Removed bubbles induced by high frequency pressure (sound) waves to agitate a liquid. The agitation produces high forces on contaminants adhering to substrates like metals, plastics, glass, rubber, and ceramics. This action also penetrates blind holes, cracks, and recesses"

The bubbles caused by just boiling aint' small enough, they're too big...;)
 
#52
Where are all the old timers telling you to boil 'em?!?! Heck yeah, you can take 'em off...boil them 5-10 minutes, I just did this last night, I wiped down with clean towel, another rub down/dry w/alcohol, they sound newish, will go for a little while until I can buy some new ones.
I've been cleaning them with alcohol between gigs, the boiling does a lot more to re-energize. The silk ended strings don't like swimming as much as the non silks (Dunlop,EB), I'm a recent Dunlop low tension convert, I love them, the price is right, good life span, feel great, no silks to fuzz up if swimming...good luck!
MJ
 
#53
Honch said:
Ultrasonic cleaning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Ultrasonic cleaning uses Invalid Link Removed bubbles induced by high frequency pressure (sound) waves to agitate a liquid. The agitation produces high forces on contaminants adhering to substrates like metals, plastics, glass, rubber, and ceramics. This action also penetrates blind holes, cracks, and recesses"

The bubbles caused by just boiling aint' small enough, they're too big...;)
Click to expand...

Now I have to buy a Sonicare toothbrush fro my bass?!?! lol
 
#54
MYLOWFREQ said:
boiling and cleaning with alcohol worked for me to a certain degree in the past. But you're only cleaning the dirt that builds up on the sting. Any deformation would remain still, and might mess up your intonation etc.

For practicing and jamming purposes that might be fine but I'd never use old strings for recording.
Click to expand...
+1. This
 
#57
Anybody know what kind of cloth to use when just giving the strings a wipe down after playing I use a microfiber cloth on my basses after playing but its just a cheap one(no way am I gonna pay $15 for a guitar cleaning one that would basically be the same ) and I'm worried it will leave fluff on the strings
 
#59
With apologies for not reading the whole thread, has anyone mentioned a product called FastFret?

I use Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats or Acousticores on all my basses, they're expensive to replace, so I use it (sparingly) after every set, and wipe down afterward. Keeps my wires fresh...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back