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Cleaning Flatwound strings

B

BellBottomBlues

Feb 21, 2007
1,853
7
New York
Disclosures
Endorser:Fender User:Rotosound, LaBella, Ashdown, Lindy Fralin
#1
Right now, all but one of my basses is strung up with flatwound strings. I like the sound of dead strings so my strings tend to stay on forever.

Recently, I noticed that there is dark chunks of crud on the strings of several of my basses. Its a mixture of dirt, sweat, and dead skin. I know the gunk helps keep in the funk but I suspect this why my bass has been sounding strained in the higher registers. (Its not because they're dead, dead strings have their own qualities up there) so I want to clean them to see if this helps.

I want to try cleaning them off so they look new but still sound dead. I'm thinking an old or soft new toothbrush and giving the strings a once over. Thoughts?

PS a cursory wipe doesn't get rid of the gunk.
 
#2
Lots of folks around here believe in denatured alcohol. I like to use Hoppes #9 gun cleaning solvent. I've understood WD-40 performs quite nicely. Naphtha has been recommended as well. Just be careful not to get any of the afore mentioned chemicals on the fret board of the finish of your bass.
 
#3
Phalex said:
Just be careful not to get any of the afore mentioned chemicals on the fret board of the finish of your bass.
Click to expand...

+100... use a sheet of stiff card or plastic between the strings and the fretboard to avoid getting any on the fretboard... I use fast fret and always use a stiff piece of plastic sheet between the strings and the fretboard when rubbing the fast fret stick on the stings... I finish off with the cloth supplied with the fast fret. I pinch the string between two layers of the cloth and then rub up and down the string to remove excess cleaner and the crud.
 
#5
I use pure nickel flats on two basses so I use alcohol pads up and down the string until all the residue is off, then use a microfiber cloth or a cotton cloth until the the strings are smooth and "glassy" feeling.

Although I never let the strings get to that point, it should work just fine for you too.

For roundwound I use a tootbrush or "detail" brush also.
 
#10
mkrtu9 said:
maybe a little elbow grease :)
Click to expand...

I used rubbing alcohol soaked cotton balls and all I did was shred cotton...

Freddy-G. said:
Go to your local Guitar Center and pick up some ERNIE BALL Wonder Wipes String Cleaner. If that doesn't work, go ahead and get you some new strings. :)
Click to expand...

Will do, thanks for the tip.
 
#11
Freddy-G. said:
Go to your local Guitar Center and pick up some ERNIE BALL Wonder Wipes String Cleaner. If that doesn't work, go ahead and get you some new strings. :)
Click to expand...

+1. Great product. EB Sent me a free sample (the large container) and I have had it for a few months and there are still lots of wipes left. For $15, the wipes aren't messy, they are disposable (basically a wet wipe), don't smell gross and they quantity is very generous.
 
#17
Gene Leone said:
I use pure nickel flats on two basses so I use alcohol pads up and down the string until all the residue is off, then use a microfiber cloth or a cotton cloth until the the strings are smooth and "glassy" feeling.

Although I never let the strings get to that point, it should work just fine for you too.

For roundwound I use a tootbrush or "detail" brush also.
Click to expand...

I know they say not to get any alcohol on the fretboard because it will dry it out. Will it hurt fretboards such as the one the Geddy Jazz has, a finished maple? Just wondering.
 

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