Get the most out of your strings

[BobaFret]

Slap the sh!t out of them.

I've never heard of this technique before, but it's interesting and easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8OYeN9mAL4

 

[Gorn]

This guy's great. The deader the better for me, but this is still awesome.

 

[JimmyM]

Respect to Marlowe, but I just tried it and I couldn't tell a difference.

 

[Gorn]

So is the basic concept behind this like beating the dust out of a carpet? Banging the loosened strings against the frets is supposed to knock the gunk off and therefore brighten up the string?

 

[Chasarms]

While I am skeptical, I suppose that technique could loosen and release some of the various funkiness that collects in the windings, but it can in no way account for oxidation and metal fatigue which also are reasons strings die over time.

But if it makes you feel better, wear it out man.

 

[GLEN18INCHSPICA]

I did hear a difference in his video. I"ll give it a shot, boiling strings never worked for me. A bath in denatured alcohol is the best method I've found.

 

[Stingray5]

I'm skeptical as well, but gonna give this a try when I get home later. Still think d-alcohol is best though..

 

[Jon Moody]

So is the basic concept behind this like beating the dust out of a carpet? Banging the loosened strings against the frets is supposed to knock the gunk off and therefore brighten up the string?

That's what it looked like to me.

From what I understand, he did this after a friend borrowed a bass for a weekend of gigs to knock the gunk off the strings (which were new at the time of his friend taking the bass). So yeah, it's much like beating the dust out of a rug after a weekend of having friends and family over.

I would be very curious if he did it with a set of strings that had been played for a solid couple of months, when they're really starting to go dead.

 

[mmbongo]

Makes way more sense than boiling, that's for sure. Really nothing to lose here.

 

[Chasarms]

. . .Still think d-alcohol is best though..

I have always believed that changing the strings to new ones is the best!!

 

[BowserBass]

it works

 

[BrandonBass]

wow, this guy is gonna single handedly force all string companies into bankruptcy!

 

[gregmon79]

I'm curious if it depends on the brand of string too. I'll try it out as well but maybe the brand makes a difference.........???

 

[gregmon79]

I just tried it. It actually works. Neat trick. I'll probably be using this in the future.

Thanks to whomever posted this, good stuff.

 

[Stingray5]

Well it does in fact work. Not as good as a soak or new strings, but it's definitely a nice trick and a quick on the spot fix.

I still don't know the science behind it, I didn't see any visual evidence of gunk on the bass after doing it.. ??

 

[bunkaroo]

I can't wait to try this. I never kill strings through age because they are always dead due to my sweating long before that. I've been doing denatured alcohol soaks, and that works quite well, but I have to wait for them to soak overnight. I had just put a new sounding set on a bass last weekend, sweated my ass off playing for 45 minutes and they were dead as a doornail when I got home. Sounds like a perfect scenario for this technique.

 

[GK Growl]

This has worked for me for years. I read somewhere from a popular tech (Rick Turner maybe?) that this also stress relieves the string at the witness points when you do it while the instrument is at pitch which would theoretically improve vibration.

 

[JustForSport]

Strings are wound under more/less tension and while being played, they likely 'settle' from what their 'fresh-wound' state was. Some that are under more tension and 'lubricated' with sweat, chicken grease, whatever, then played hard likely settle faster and tighter.
Shaking them up, beyond their normal playing excursion and while under less tension gets them out of the 'groove' they've settled in (like rocks in a bucket, sort-of).
Then they sound more like they were when new, until they settle again.
The more lube, and harder they're played, the faster they'll settle.
...IMO

 

[Jensby design]

This really works I might not have to buy new strings for awhile. . . sorry Skip.

 

[maxiegrant]

That's what it looked like to me.

From what I understand, he did this after a friend borrowed a bass for a weekend of gigs to knock the gunk off the strings (which were new at the time of his friend taking the bass). So yeah, it's much like beating the dust out of a rug after a weekend of having friends and family over.

I would be very curious if he did it with a set of strings that had been played for a solid couple of months, when they're really starting to go dead.

I had a set of strings that were never changed on a Squier Jazz 5-er that my stepson left at my house. This bass has been in my house for 4 years and we've never bought new strings (he wasn't very enthusiastic about learning).

I just tried this thing with it last night and it worked marvelously. So, yes, it will take more than a weekend's worth of dirt off the string.