I Boiled My Bass Strings Today

[drumvsbass]

I used to boil my strings. Now I do this...

 

[john_g]

I used to boil my strings. Now I do this...

I tried that and didnt get the results I get with my "string tube" (a long tube filled with denatured alcohol that the strings hang in) or back when i used to boil my strings. I boiled all the time back when I was a teenager or early twenties. Actually I used to take the boiled strings and put them in a towel and then into the freezer for a bit. Why? Why? Im uh...not sure. Sounded good though

 

[drumvsbass]

I tried that and didnt get the results I get with my "string tube" (a long tube filled with denatured alcohol that the strings hang in) or back when i used to boil my strings. I boiled all the time back when I was a teenager or early twenties. Actually I used to take the boiled strings and put them in a towel and then into the freezer for a bit. Why? Why? Im uh...not sure. Sounded good though

ahhh the isopropyl tube, done that too. Agreed that just the smack doesn't bring them back quite as much as iso, but, if you're in a pinch on the road, or if you're need a little extra zing, it's a quick fix. I over boiled a set of rotos once, almost like a finish was boiled off them, they sounded amazing for the ten minutes it took me to break them... super piano.

 

[FugaziBomb]

Depending on how valuable or invaluable our time is, a new set of strings is probably the practical way to go.

$22.95

KEN SMITH SRL SLICK ROUNDS BASS STRINGS, LIGHT GAUGE 4's 40-103 | eBay

Right?

 

[drumvsbass]

Also, last time I checked, divine beings are harpists, we on the other hand

 

[Altitude]

Next time, try soaking your strings for 24 hours in denatured alcohol. It will thoroughly clean the strings, have them sounding like new, and is far less destructive than boiling. And if you strain the alcohol through a filter afterwards, you can reuse it.

I've been posting here for 15 years. Its interesting how the bass playing culture has changed during that period.

The string boiling/soaking topic was once a top 20 recurring discussion around here, because people's tone goals were different than they mostly are today. Now it only comes up periodically.

Anyway, denatured alcohol is the way to go. I'm a hardcore experimenter all my life in this area, and in my experience the alcohol approach is about 40% more effective than boiling. Easier, too.

Here's what you do.

This is a picture of my string soaking tube:

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and buy a 4 foot PVC tube like this one, along with two matching caps. The caps seal pretty well, but you might want to get a tube of PVC joint adhesive to fortify the bottom cap. The whole order will cost under $20.

Fill it with denatured alcohol. Slide your strings into the top and cap it off. Leave 'em there a day or two, then pull 'em out, dry off, and reinstall or store. Great results.

I drilled a hole in the top cap and screwed in a cupholder hook (and sealed around the hole) so there would be something to hang the strings from inside. Really though, they tend to stand up on their own in there and aren't hard to just fish out.

Big fat claim. I gig about 20 nights a year, so "some but not much." I have sets of strings on a couple basses that I've kept going for 7 or 8 years this way, and they still sound great.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

 

[Vinny_G]

View attachment 3852249

The advantage of this method is that you can choose the flexibility of your strings.

 

[7615]

I find that after a few boilings they no longer make a good tea.

 

[Killing Floor]

Can't imagine a more delicious way to make tea!

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Next you’re gonna tell me you wouldn’t eat scrambled eggs cooked on your engine exhaust manifold.

Maybe he's got a Car-B-Q. There's nothing like Car-B-Q chicken!

 

[Altitude]

Maybe he's got a Car-B-Q. There's nothing like Car-B-Q chicken!

I fried an egg on the asphalt in Houston one summer. Didn't eat it though, just wanted to see if it would work. Did.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

BTW, I have heard a thin coat of CA (Cyanoacrylate or super glue) applied to the silks, can keep them in good shape and prevent fraying.
Here is a pic from Stew-Mac

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

Yup, I did it, ill just list the steps i took.
1-Soak in 90% Ethyl alcohol for 10 minutes
2-Rinse with water
3-Boil for 10 Minutes
4-Wipe down strings with alcohol soaked napkin
5-Fresh Clean Strings!

The amount of gunk and dead skin i successfully removed was astonishing

Anyway, tell me how im wrong with your comments!

Also the tone was significantly more bright and lively after the boiling.

I tried it years ago. Yes it worked! The results were not long lasting, maybe 60 days.

My hands are clean and my perspiration ph is close to 7.0.

I tried this years later, with an ultrasonic cleaner, better results.

Ultrasonic cleaner, about $80 at Harbor Freight.

Blessed that this isn't something I have to do. Taking strings on an off, a PITA!

 

[Altitude]

One other thing though. I do find that it takes a little longer soak, and maybe even a once-over with a toothbrush, to get a B string sounding back to new. I guess there's just too much gack in the windings on those.

 

[BassNugget]

Nah man, "The dirt keep the funk in!"

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Has anyone tried an ultrasonic cleaner?

 

[Diminishedfilth]

Starting out on bass at 14, I obviously had very limited resources (not to mention no transportation), so I started to boil my GHS Boomers, the only offerings from the local Music Shop.
My Dad was livid! Told me his Dinty Moore beef stew started tasting like steel broth.

 

[cableguy]

I boiled the strings on both of my basses. I figured with all the clubs shut down, why not. I'm not playing live or practicing with the band during this time, so why not. Save $50. I'll put new strings on when I'm ready to gig or record.

 

[sedan_dad]

Roto-Sound soup! Yum Yum!