Do you keep strings you try and don’t like?

[matti777]

I got a wall with hundreds of dollars of strings just hanging out. I generally don’t throw barely used strings away. I’ve got Rounds and flats including TIs$$, Labella’s and Chromes. After taking some Labella LTFs off my p bass (nice strings) in my search for some good sounding rounds , I put the Chromes back on. Wow. They sounded great and even slapped nicely as I practice Forget Me Nots (I’m a terrible slapper). Second time is a charm?

 

[HelpImaRock]

I hadn't even considered it before I came to TalkBass. I have some sets I just need to get rid of. Like my failed experiment with Dunlop flats on my Mustang. But then I have a bunch of strings I've just taken off to try another set. I could probably get by with just the old set of LTFs from my Reverend (now playing DTF 49-109 in C# standard) and call it a day.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Second time is a charm?

 

[bdplaid]

Yes, I keep them all. Sometimes strings I hate on one bass work great on another. Or i just need a janky set for something or other.

 

[ahbradot]

I keep all strings new and old sets, used and bruised.
This is only because I've convinced myself that if one day I am completely broke I will have these used strings to revive if need be.

 

[31HZ]

If they come off of the bass, they get taken to the metal recycler.

 

[JC BASS 91]

Twenty years ago when I really got serious about playing and started checking out different strings to find the perfect fit for me, I didn't keep them. Don't ask me what I did with them, because I couldn't even begin to tell you as I have slept since then.

A few years ago, when I built my Leo Jaymz RB kit, I tried Rotosound strings on it and hated them. I took them off in favor of my regular string choice, but kept them. I ended up installing them on a kit bass I gave to my son for Christmas last year. I had also tried out a set of Labella Low tension flats on my '74 4001 that I didn't care for. I still have them coiled up in the closet. I had a set of SIT flats that I put on my wife's bass I built her that had previous been on my Fender Precision.

These days, I keep the strings I try and don't like because I have learned that some of the strings might suit a specific bass and work for me on a different bass when they didn't work on another. I learned this little magic as my normal strings for a long time (20+ years) were SIT Nickel Powerwounds. When I tried them on my Fender Jazz V, I hated them. But when I tried D'Addario NYXL strings on it, it worked well for me.

 

[HeavyJazz]

I never reuse strings. Once they come off, that's it.

I don't root through the laundry hamper to find underpants for the day either.

 

[mellowgerman]

These days, I keep the strings I try and don't like because I have learned that some of the strings might suit a specific bass and work for me on a different bass when they didn't work on another. I learned this little magic as my normal strings for a long time (20+ years) were SIT Nickel Powerwounds. When I tried them on my Fender Jazz V, I hated them. But when I tried D'Addario NYXL strings on it, it worked well for me.

This is what I've found too and why I tend to keep a lot of gently used sets on hand. Every one of my basses seems to have a different set of strings that it prefers. I used to say that this or that was my favorite set of strings but have wised up and now listen to let my bass tell me what is its favorite set of strings. That said, I can still say I'm consistently a tapewounds/flatwounds guy, which at least narrows the choices down a bit. Still though, they all sound and respond differently on different basses.

 

[JRA]

if i don't care for a set, and they're relatively new/unused, i give them to someone who might like them. if they're pretty used up, i pitch them if they can't be used for some non-bass endeavor. that said, i have a few sets saved --- for whatever destiny awaits....

 

[TheArchitect]

I got a wall with hundreds of dollars of strings just hanging out. I generally don’t throw barely used strings away. I’ve got Rounds and flats including TIs$$, Labella’s and Chromes. After taking some Labella LTFs off my p bass (nice strings) in my search for some good sounding rounds , I put the Chromes back on. Wow. They sounded great and even slapped nicely as I practice Forget Me Nots (I’m a terrible slapper). Second time is a charm?

I have a set of nickel Roto's I took off to put on LaBella's on the shelf.. Still not sure if I love the LaBella's yet or not on the Precision. Giving them plenty of time to break in etc before I decide. I will probably try them on the Jazz too just to hear them on the Jazz.

 

[JC BASS 91]

This is what I've found too and why I tend to keep a lot of gently used sets on hand. Every one of my basses seems to have a different set of strings that it prefers. I used to say that this or that was my favorite set of strings but have wised up and now listen to let my bass tell me what is its favorite set of strings. That said, I can still say I'm consistently a tapewounds/flatwounds guy, which at least narrows the choices down a bit. Still though, they all sound and respond differently on different basses.

I'm all over the place on mine.

I have found for my two five strings, both Fender Jazz basses (an MIM Active Jazz V and a American Pro II) that the D’Addario NYXL 45125 Light Top/Medium Bottom Long Scale - .045-.065-.085-.105-.125 are the win.

For my Sire V7, my Warlock kit build, my Ric kit build, my Ric 4003 copy and for my G&L L2000, I use the D’Addario NYXL 45105 Light Top/Medium Bottom Long Scale- .045-.065-.085-.105 because they work great in all ways.

For my Carvin LB-70, SBMM Ray24CA and another kit build, I use my old favorite, the SIT Nickel Powerwounds NR45105L - .045-.065-.085-.105.

For my '74 Ric 4001, I went through about three different sets (including Labella Low Tension Flats) before landing on the D’Addario XL Chromes ECB84 Long Scale Custom Light - .040-.060-.080-.100 because they are fantastic on that bass!!

My Fender American Standard Precision wears La Bella 760FS Deep Talkin’ Bass Stainless Steel Flat Wound Standard Long Scale - .045-.065-.085-.105 because...yeah...they're just classic.

All four of my short scales are sporting D’Addario XL EXL170S Regular Light Short Scale - .045-.065-.080-.100.

The little Glarry GW101 still has the stock, crap Chinese strings it came with because I have yet to find anything that works on it.

Probably WAY more than you wanted to know, but there it is.

The closet currently has the Low Tension Flats and another set of higher gauge Chromes in there, as well as another, unused set of SIT Flats that I bought before I switched to the Labella Deep Talkin' Flats on the Precision.

As you can see, though, I have definitely 'played the field' when it comes to stings on my basses. I know that 20 years ago, before landing on the SIT Nickel Powerwounds, I tried strings from Dean Markley, Ernie Ball, Dunlop and at least two other brands I can't think of right now.

 

[Nedmundo]

If I strongly dislike the strings, I'll recycle them or give them away. Otherwise, I usually keep them as backups in the gig bag, just in case.

When I remove a set, I always label it with string type and the bass it came from, so I know the basses on which it will work. My fours are all basically the same, but one of my fives has 4+1 and the other is 3+2, so I have to keep track with those.

 

[John K]

chuck my dead ones. If I have extra sets (new) of strings I no longer use, I sell on Reverb.

 

[matti777]

I never reuse strings. Once they come off, that's it.

I don't root through the laundry hamper to find underpants for the day either.

Never?

I have a set of nickel Roto's I took off to put on LaBella's on the shelf.. Still not sure if I love the LaBella's yet or not on the Precision. Giving them plenty of time to break in etc before I decide. I will probably try them on the Jazz too just to hear them on the Jazz.

I just did the opposite. They were used Rotos so no loss when I took them off after an hour and tried the old Chromes which are very promising.

 

[RattleSnack]

I recently cleaned up that box and threw away like ten sets. But I do that generaly, so when I (inevitably and with out any logical reason) flip or trade one of my bass guitars, I can quickly find good match.

 

[StyleOverShow]

I’m trying out strings on a fretless, have a bunch of sets that were on for a couple days/hours. The witness points make them impractical to install on other instruments so I toss them unceremoniously

 

[GTHintz]

I have a giant pile of old strings and at some point I'm donating them to Strings for hope that takes the raw materials and makes jewelry. They use the revenue to aid substance abuse and physical abused women. Aside from that I do have sets that aren't dead yet that I keep intact in case I want to use them. Once in a while I will use them on a new bass or if I need something on a bass I'm selling.

 

[matti777]

I have a giant pile of old strings and at some point I'm donating them to Strings for hope that takes the raw materials and makes jewelry. They use the revenue to aid substance abuse and physical abused women.

I wonder if there is something like that up here. My wife does make jewelry (copper enamelled) and did work at a women’s shelter but hasn’t confiscated any yet.

 

[GTHintz]

I wonder if there is something like that up here. My wife does make jewelry (copper enamelled) and did work at a women’s shelter but hasn’t confiscated any yet.

I see you're up in Edmonton Alberta. The place I mentioned was in Tennessee. I'm not sure what Canada might have for non profit but I've heard of those guys for years and to this day it's the only one of its kind I know of. The String joy company has partnered with them as well which has been great for them. Both are from the same area.