Do you just throw out your old strings?

[prd004]

Back in the day I used to use the ends of my old bass strings for cleaning out the stem of my bong!!!!!! All my friends couldn't wait for me to change strings, everyone wanted the A string, if you weren't first in line to get the A, the D would do! Otherwise you had to wait until I changed them again!!!!! This of course eas a long time ago!

 

[PBnJBassist]

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.

I'm totally glad I read your post. I'll keep that in mind this weekend when I swap out to try a different set of Flats. I hope the kids there love Flats as much as the next bassists does.

 

[bassobrutto]

I think there are some people on here who would give you some good money for those strings:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/what-me-dead-rounds-751861/

We should have a proper string exchange forum for this--everybody wins.

In the meantime, if anyone's got some dead 45-100 nickels, any brands, PM me and I'll pay you for them.

 

[boodakon]

I soak my old strings in denatured alcohol overnight and that seems to add another 2 weeks of life to 'em. (You can buy denatured ETOH at Home Depot for 6bux)

I Always do this when bills are tight and/or don't feel like buying new strings. The $6 you spend on the alcohol is worth it compared to $25plus. Except if you use steels like I do, at the end of that 2 week period the strings tear the hell out of your fingers.

 

[steamthief]

Back in the day I used to use the ends of my old bass strings for cleaning out the stem of my bong!!!!!! All my friends couldn't wait for me to change strings, everyone wanted the A string, if you weren't first in line to get the A, the D would do! Otherwise you had to wait until I changed them again!!!!! This of course eas a long time ago!

That's funny!

 

[BillyIVbass]

I boil them with a few drops of vinegar:
-put them on a lesser played bass
-stock the "gigging spare set" (although you only breaks strings when you don't have spares!)
-toss them on a bass I'm selling
-toss them on the new used or project bass to help tweak it
-Give them to maybe a guitarist with a bass or a new bassist

Keep them in your case, maybe you'll see a kid at an Open Mic etc.

 

[pbass888]

my guitar tech guy gives them to musicians and kids who bring in beat up old instruments with rusty old strings and guys who cant really get strings. I hope that my strings get a second life.

 

[jaywa]

I keep the set I just took off in my case for spares. I re-coil them and put them in the individual sleeves that the new strings just came out of, so I instantly know which is which. I have never once broken a string in 31 years of playing but there's a first time for everything so I like to be prepared.

That being said, I'm glad to know there is a place to donate old strings and I will definitely do that if I ever have the opportunity.

 

[pasta4lnch]

find an eccentric jewelry maker - I'm sure they could make use of them. does seem like a waste to just toss 'em. there should be a deposit/recycle system like on soda bottles. at least they can re-use the metal . . .

 

[Lord Henry]

Flats I only ever take off because I'm going through one of my 'attacking tone' phases. Keep them as is and put them back on when I'm in an 'old school thump' mood. Rounds I soak in alcohol and keep as spares but I've never actually tried putting them back on.

 

[Clammy]

The only time I hang on to old strings is if I don't happen to have a spare new set on hand. Otherwise, I toss 'em when changing them.

Cheers!

 

[G-Rant]

I play my strings for quite a few hours, then usually boil them once with a little white vinegar which wakes them up for a little while longer. After that, donating sounds like a great idea, but I've also used the higher strings for picture hanging wire, or sometimes, when I feel a little constructive, I use Strahle's method to make an isosceles triangle "guitar" to plunk around on (OK, I might have nerded out there for a second).

After that, into the recycling bin they go (but never into the trash).

 

[prokfrog]

I only keep one old set per gig bag as spares. When I change strings, I rotate out the oldest set into the trash.

 

[Ric5]

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?

When your roundwound strings go dead don't throw them out give them to someone who wants to see what flats sound like.

 

[scottbass]

I play T-I flats on my main bass - I never change them!

My other bass has DR Sunbeams. When I put on a new set, I keep the set I just took off in my gig bag for spares. I then throw away the older set that was in my gig bag.

 

[Ric5]

I only keep one old set per gig bag as spares. When I change strings, I rotate out the oldest set into the trash.

I usually bring an extra set of new strings and an extra bass.

 

[chokeslam512]

There is a local artist around that uses them for projects or something. I am trying to get enough to maybe make a trade for a piece.

 

[BruceBass3901]

I normally keep them and boil them, unless they break, in which case I check if they fit any of my other basses (assuming they only break and the winding end)

 

[stflbn]

I never boil or understand the philosophy/benefit of it... water/metal/heat/rust.
I sometimes soak in alcohol if I need a short term infusion of life in a set.

Primarily, my wifes giant cat really likes to play with the abused strings, so a varying assortment of cat toy contraptions usually is hte outcome.

 

[SteveC]

not sure what else to do with them....