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How not to stretch strings
- Thread starter Gorn
- Start date
I never stretch my strings, anymore. Just tune them to pitch, let them settle a bit and tune them again as needed. They seem to last longer.
Same here. When I was a starving musician with very corrosive sweat and long, nightly gigs, boiling was the only way I could keep a set of string live long enough to get a decent amount of play out of them before investing in another set to destroy. Brightened them right up and worked well if you payed attention to keeping the wrapping out of the boil. Took the color out of it.
Yup. I've heard of guys doing that and the nut flying out. That's why I hold the first fret "if I even do it witch is rare".
I wonder how long until be damages the nut or even bridge saddles by bouncing the bass up and down holding one string like a freaking yo-yo?
Roy Vogt
Supporting Member
- Sep 20, 2000
- 4,433
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- Endorsing Artist: Kiesel Basses, Ampeg Amplification, Hotone Ampero II effects
Pretty bizarre.
I remember a number of years back Bass Player advocated very gently stretching the strings at the 12th fret and moving up and down the fingerboard between thumb and a couple of fingers to stretch it out.. But this is like chiropractic with a sledge hammer!
I remember a number of years back Bass Player advocated very gently stretching the strings at the 12th fret and moving up and down the fingerboard between thumb and a couple of fingers to stretch it out.. But this is like chiropractic with a sledge hammer!
If you look at the suggested videos, he has another 3 where he gives his expert advice. Good stuff.
Incredible...
After you tune, if you press "a bit" on the strings at the bridge and nut, it helps the strings get the small kinks they will eventually get, and providing you wound the strings carefully, the tuning will be stable without this circus shown in the video.
+1
Wind the strings nicely (I only do a couple of turns too, I don't see any need top more, the string is well anchored at that point) and your tuning will be pretty stable from the beginning.
People (especially guitarists) change strings just before a show without tuning issues.
Pressing on the strings a little at the nut and bridge also helps quite a bit, by getting the "final shape" of the strings earlier... but it won't solve much if a string is wound sloppily, as you will have to get rid of all the slack before it becomes stable. At that point "stretching" may help some, but it's unnecessary and adds stress on the strings. They do not really stretch that much, what most people perceive as stretching is only the removal of the slack that was introduced during string winding.
- Mar 1, 2005
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- Endorsing Artist: Crook Custom Guitars
The one about right hand technique was, ummm, interesting.
I agree. He says there are three right hand techniques in existence and slap is the best.
LOL that's pretty extreme.
I stretch the strings on my basses. I find it settles/stabilizes the string and they stay in tune. It also makes the string tight around the post.
I like dead strings so stretching is first thing with all new strings, for me. Just without all the ridiculous abuse to the instrument. LOL
I stretch the strings on my basses. I find it settles/stabilizes the string and they stay in tune. It also makes the string tight around the post.
I like dead strings so stretching is first thing with all new strings, for me. Just without all the ridiculous abuse to the instrument. LOL
OMG!That guy shouldn't be allowed to be NEAR any instruments!
Expert Village's village idiot!
That's it,I'm ordering a CODE RED !
I'm stretching mine right now. 
LOL
I work with steel. Being a welder. Also a golf guru. which part of is golf club fitting/repair. So I bend golf clubs frequently.
I know how steel feels when it bends and what it feels like when it gets to breaking point. And you can feel when the string has stretched and isn't going to stretch much any more.
LOLI work with steel. Being a welder. Also a golf guru.
which part of is golf club fitting/repair. So I bend golf clubs frequently. I know how steel feels when it bends and what it feels like when it gets to breaking point. And you can feel when the string has stretched and isn't going to stretch much any more.
So, I've put my bass in the rafters of my garage and I'm doing pullups with the strings... Am I doing it right?
