Do you wipe down new flats before installing?

[Sbassman Scratch]

Not that you have to, but I do Here's why. They are made by grinding down round wounds. Not the manufacturer's problen. But this is the result




I use a solution of dilute isopropyl alcohol and run the string through a soft cloth. So each line represents one swipe of the string.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Huh? Pyramid Gold are nickel flatwounds, not groundwounds.
Groundwounds are ground rounds. Flatwounds have a flat outer ribbon. And then of course there are pressurewounds where some flattening of a round outer wrap is achieved by rolling instead of grinding

 

[michael_t]

I use 99.9% isopropyl alcohol wipes for cleaning all strings before installation.

 

[dbflats]

Yer asking what I do with flatwound strings before installing them on my bass? I can't remember -that was twenty years ago

 

[Sbassman Scratch]

Huh? Pyramid Gold are nickel flatwounds, not groundwounds.
Groundwounds are ground rounds. Flatwounds have a flat outer ribbon. And then of course there are pressurewounds where some flattening of a round outer wrap is achieved by rolling instead of grinding

Oh dear. I've had it wrong all these years. What do you suppose causes all that crud?

 

[dbflats]

Isn't there something they put on strings that makes your fingertips black sometimes? Have had that happen with new guitar strings.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Oh dear. I've had it wrong all these years. What do you suppose causes all that crud?

Pyramid gold are pure nickel flat ribbon. That gunk is oxidative reaction with your skin sweat/oils. And maybe some factory gunk they might polish the strings up a bit with

 

[michael_t]

Oh dear. I've had it wrong all these years. What do you suppose causes all that crud?

It's the residue of the compound used in the final polishing process left on them from the factory.

 

[Sbassman Scratch]

It's the residue of the compound used in the final polishing process left on them from the factory.

Thanks!

 

[fretno]

Ground wounds are too rough for me.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

​

I've never wiped down any new strings before installing.

If you wipe them down again in a week, and you'll get a similar result - at least to some degree.
That's just what happens with steel.

 

[Low Main]

I have forever strung LaBellas and TI's right on the bass without ever wiping them down.

I work with my hands every day. They are sensitive to foreign substances. I would know if strings needed wiping down.

One set of strings that I do need to work on are D'Addario Half Rounds, which are ground down roundwounds.

They have a rough, grabby, tacky feel right out of the package.

I clamp the ball end of each string in a metalworking vise, pull the string out to its full length and smooth it down with a piece of used 400 grit sandpaper. Then I wipe the string down with naphtha to clean it up. Really helps improve the feel. Not trying to polish the string, just smooth it out.

There is one set of strings I've had over the years that I could tell needed a thorough degreasing right out of the package. Without question.

And that set was - a 4 string set of Fodera rounds. Oil soaked strings from an exquisite lutherie shop. I was surprised.

When I saw how long it was taking me to wipe down the first string, I just coiled them back up and stuck them in a naphtha bath for a while.

That helped, but I still had a fair bit of wipe down to do afterward.

Back at that time, those strings were being made in a small shop somewhere in upstate NY. I don't know where Fodera strings are made these days.

That's the only thing I've ever bought from Fodera. I never bought another set. I will say, they were very reasonably priced.

Not only were they oily, but they were just not special sounding or feeling at all. I sold the bass that they were strung on and never looked back.

 

[Five or Six]

I wipe mine down before I put them on and after I play.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Today I got to know about something that I never thought about in my wildest dream: some people clean the strings *before* installing them.

 

[funkinbottom]

Never once. Flat or round. Open package > string up bass > tune > play.

 

[OlyWhite]

I installed some TIJFs (accordion accessories) about a month ago and they felt gross and sticky!

I wiped them down with alcohol, but I still hit random sticky spots now and then.

Urgh.

 

[iiipopes]

Um, hate to correct the OP, but true flat wound strings are wrapped with flat ribbon wire and then polished or not depending on the manufacturer. Two of the best known polished strings are D'A Chromes and La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats. Only those strings labeled as ground wound or similar are actually ground, such as GHS Brite Flats or D'A Half-Rounds.

 

[bikeplate]

Just dont buy them in the first place

 

[Paul New]

I soak mine overnight, and then cook them in the crockpot all day on low.

No, wait, excuse me, i was thinking of the black beans.

 

[Mili]

No and it's fine!