That's what I've always does but it kinda kills me to just toss them out - surely there's some way to recyle them or something?
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Do you just throw out your old strings?
- Thread starter factorplayer
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Nope, If they're still intact I boil them in water and makes them able to be used as spares, makes them newer.
I've wondered this too, but I've never heard of anything to do. If they're flatwounds you could sell them, there is a lot of guys that love old flatwounds. Other than that I dunno. The boiling to keep them as spares is a great idea, very handy if your on a gig and break a string. No breaking in period!
I usually do. When I change strings, I cut the top end of the string right before it curls so it's easier for me to pull through the bridge; thus, too short of a string to use, and "no way" to knotting. Though, I have recently grown fond of old, worn-down 'n' dead strings since I switched to flats.
As for recycling them... you could just give them to a band mate/friend with a bass to reuse. I did that once when I changed out my last set of rounds for flats. I didn't cut them that time since he wanted them.
Think you can also soak them in alcohol or something and save them for a rainy day.
As for recycling them... you could just give them to a band mate/friend with a bass to reuse. I did that once when I changed out my last set of rounds for flats. I didn't cut them that time since he wanted them.
Think you can also soak them in alcohol or something and save them for a rainy day.
In 45 years of playing I've tossed a hell of a lot of used bass strings. I've never found boiling or soaking to be satisfactory. I do keep multiple sets in my gig bags as spares in case of breakage, but still dispose of a lot. I do wish someone could think of a constructive use for them. Thanks for asking the question periodically 
Of course. Theyre no longer muscially useful and have no other purpose or use. Throwing them out makes sense after removing for replacement to me.
Nope I lash my GF with them when she gets outta line
Funny, my GF likes to be the one doing the lashing
I save a bunch and then mail them to Sound Art LA . Org. They teach kids to play and rely on donations. They're very grateful, even for old strings.
Put them in your recycling bin.
Find a bass buddy who like dead rounds or super old flats.
I change my strings when they lose the ability to consistently hold tuning, so into the recycle bin they go.
Nowdays I save old roundwounds as spares or give them to struggling bass players. Never changed any of my flatwounds (been using a set on my L2K for 10 years0
