Cook your strings

[xshawnxearthx]

the alcohol works, but can be a pain in the butt.

just try axe wipes from www.caig.com

i used to go through a set of strings a gig. recently i have gotten 6 gig out of a set before the E string was a little too dull for me. rest of the strings sounded excellent.

 

[rob123_def]

I too have tried the denatured alcohol, made the tube from pvc pipe and all it totally restores my strings like new after left in the tune a couple of days. Here is the link for those interested.
http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/how_to_clean_bass_strings.html

that link helped alot here. Thanks. now

 

[Raul Amador]

Very interesting!
Reading made me hungry....... Hmmm

 

[Stingray5]

there is no better way to do this than the denatured alcohol approach. This is a metal solvent, and it decays the organic material on the strings in a way that nothing else I have tried (which is about everything) does. Take your strings out of a day or two soak in denatured alcohol, and they sound virtually as new, and they stay that way as long as they did when they were new as well.

Completely agree and this is my finding as well.

I just filled a plastic paint can half way with the denatured alcohol, coil up the strings and keep em in there, tapping the well as needed.

Been rotating about 4 sets of strings over 2 (soon to be 3 ) basses for over a year now.. pretty soon I'm gonna buy a new set of strings just out of guilt!

One thing's for sure though - I'll never boil again.

 

[didier]

to me, the physical condition of the string matters more to me, i'd rather not put on, take off, tune, detune, take off, and repeat....puts too much stress on the strings.

They'll really last if you stop playing!

 

[meev992]

They'll really last if you stop playing!

hahha yea, that'll be the day

 

[Earwaxsculptor]

I used citrus based surfboard wax remover once and it worked like a charm, gonna give this a try........

 

[meev992]

so, are there any other uses for old strings? Besides using them as nut-files ?

I would consider them for use as bracelets, but all that dirty metal can't be good for skin...

perhaps if they were electro-plated with gold or platinum.

 

[Altitude]

so, are there any other uses for old strings? Besides using them as nut-files ?

Last summer I had the idea that an old E string, trimmed to the proper length, would make an excellent line for my weed eater. I tried it, and the string lasted precisely eight seconds before it came apart completely. I am probably lucky I did not hurt myself.

 

[ehque]

so, are there any other uses for old strings? Besides using them as nut-files ?

I would consider them for use as bracelets, but all that dirty metal can't be good for skin...

perhaps if they were electro-plated with gold or platinum.

The strings also tend to absorb sweat and then have it in contact on your skin for long periods of time, causing discomfort and potential irritation.

Oh btw. I practice about 1 hour a day, and my strings last years before they break, usually at the bridge. Im not sure how you guys change strings every gig.

 

[meev992]

Oh btw. I practice about 1 hour a day, and my strings last years before they break, usually at the bridge. Im not sure how you guys change strings every gig.

because we'd prefer to change strings at that interval. In all honesty, I wish I had the discipline to use the same set forever. It would certainly save money, for starters.

In terms of upright players, I can see how frequent string changes could be good practice; I met a guy who's set doesn't last any longer than a year, because he plays so vigorously.

 

[Altitude]

In terms of upright players, I can see how frequent string changes could be good practice; I met a guy who's set doesn't last any longer than a year, because he plays so vigorously.

...but the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is a whole other ballgame - so those guys really have to find a way to make them last.

 

[Yayboogers]

boil with vinegar
works better than denatured alcohol

 

[Altitude]

boil with vinegar
works better than denatured alcohol

That is probably a troll post, or you didn't read the thread - but I will indulge. I have found denatured alcohol to restore a more convincing "as new" tone, but more notably the strings retain that tone as long as they did when new. When boiling, even with vinegar, the strings seem to go dead again more quickly. YMMV.