Nothing else even comes close for deadening flats. Eucerin Aquaphor does OK at it, but it's only OK. And forget the other medicated formulas. Plain white Eucerin cream is the ticket for making your new flats thumpy quickly. Store brand substitutes are fine as well, but some can be runnier than others. Takes a couple overnight applications and wipedowns to really work, but the first application takes care of the worst of the zing while the second makes them sound like they've been played in by a sweaty person for a month or two. Even works on zingy-when-new Chromes. Results were more dramatic with Dunlop flats, which are less zingy when new, but the Chromes G string can be tricky. Still it's way tamed down and barely clinging to life. It also takes a decent amount of edge off new strings if you're pressed for time and can't do anything but one quick coat. Best of all, you don't have to skeeve it like rancid chicken grease or some of the really nasty bodily secretions some of you suggest (you really need help, people). No need to turn your bass into a breeding ground for microscopic parasites if you don't have to. You can argue with me till you're blue in the face about this or that foreign substance, but to put it simply, you are wrong. For deadening strings, Eucerin is king. If you use anything else, you're jackin'. EDIT: This quick string deadening method does not work on TI Jazz Flats, any kinds of strings with similar silk or synthetic windings if there are any, or coated strings. The cream can't work its way into the windings on these types of strings.
Jimmy, the 'original formula' Eucerin is extremely benign. A friend recovering from shingles was advised by her Dr. that that was the ONLY thing he'd allow to aid with the scarring and itching on the way out. All organic, and should, incidentally, be harmless to finish and electronics. . . . . and I far prefer that to rubbing the strings with a fried chicken bones . . . . .
Dear @JimmyM, I have several outdoor gigs coming up. I don't want to risk string burn, so I ask you... ... what is the best SPF for rounds? Sincerely, Sunny Disposition
I learned something new today. Having only played flats once, I didn't know that they ever had any zing.
Good to know. I mostly string with TIs. So if I still remember around 2027 or thereabouts when I do need to change them, I’ll have to give it a try maybe. Actually …TIs are already pretty deadish sounding right out of the box IMO. It takes a bit of steady playing before they fully open up and come into their own. Got anything to smear on that’ll speed up that process? (Kidding aside, thx for the tip Jim! )
My DR Legends have finally fully broken-in on my Starfire after a few months of playing. Not sure why I didn't go the moisturizing lotion route this time... it used to be my go-to method. My hands are practically never clammy or sweaty, which is great in practically every other context... also helps prevent plain-steel guitar strings from oxidizing. Anyway, will get back into it for this new set of Fender flats I just put on my Precision bass. That hollow metallic new-flats sound is unfortunately a necessary evil.
I draw all my new strings thru a soiled baby diaper. Has to be formula fed baby; BF babies are not watery enough to penetrate.
I was going to make a joke about this being something I can finally use to make new strings tolerable, but it looks like this is actually what the post was about.
Does it work well on rounds? Some of us prefer a well worn set of rounds and getting them to simmer down can take quite a while, it would be great if this could speed that process up without risking salmonella or E. coli.
I didn't even know that you could make a dead string any deader (is that a word?). Learn something new every day, even though I'll never use it. Now, how can you make new round wounds even zingier?