I don't get buying used strings!

[dave64o]

I love the sound of broken in rounds, so I’d consider buying them if someone were selling strings liked. If I could find someone who loves nickel Lo Riders but takes them off after a month or few to put on new ones and keep that new string twang, that sounds like it could be a win-win arrangement.

 

[five7]

First thing I do when buying a used bass is put new strings on and clean the neck and body with alcohol. There is a company here in colorado that makes bracelets out of used strings, they are always looking for some.

 

[Stevorebob]

I recycle my strings through D’Addario’s Playback program: Playback - The World's First String Recycling Program.

 

[fdeck]

Maybe it's more of a thing on the upright side, where strings are expensive. Folks will try a new type of string, decide they don't like them, and pass them along to someone else who wants to try them. If you've gone through "string hell," you might have a drawer full of barely used strings.

In some cases where strings are known to last forever, such as Spirocores, used strings can be good for bringing an old bass to life without breaking the bank.

 

[MD]

If they're LaBella 760N's with five years, moderate, not beaten to death use, for ten bucks you can play'em for five more years.

Cats sell strings, as mentioned above, on the DB side all the time.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I'm a little too obsessive compulsive to get strings from someone else & believe that they're gently used.
Who's to say they're not worn out & don't sound like they do when they're new?

 

[bolophonic]

I love the sound of broken in rounds, so I’d consider buying them if someone were selling strings liked. If I could find someone who loves nickel Lo Riders but takes them off after a month or few to put on new ones and keep that new string twang, that sounds like it could be a win-win arrangement.

That’s what I’m talking about. Some people like to imagine that everyone’s strings wind up coated in Cheetos and ball sweat. I got a KILLER set of Labella Lo Tension Flats for like, $12. I would never have gotten religious about GHS Pressurewounds if I hadn’t scored a like-new set for $10-15 bucks the first time.

 

[scuzzy]

I have never bought used strings, but I reuse my strings all the time.

 

[Sequential]

Although I’m not a Howard Hughes germophobe type, I regard it as unsanitary.

 

[SunnBass]

I am so opposed to used strings that once they're on and in tune, I rip 'em off and start over.
20 years later I still haven't played my bass.
Gotta go and change my strings, see ya.

 

[CatchaCuda]

Buying a used phone, tablet or laptop is much more scary.
I even tried to buy used flats, but was messaged by Lardass5000 and he gave a lot of info with his experiences with different flats. So, I pulled the trigger on my first ever set.
I'll just have to source my skin, sweat and Dorito dust elsewhere.

 

[petrus61]

I don’t buy used strings, but I do sell them here all the time. Always flats, I don’t bother selling rounds anymore. Flats are way more resilient and easy to maintain, therefore they still hold value if they have been properly cut and cared for.

 

[petrus61]

I love the sound of broken in rounds, so I’d consider buying them if someone were selling strings liked. If I could find someone who loves nickel Lo Riders but takes them off after a month or few to put on new ones and keep that new string twang, that sounds like it could be a win-win arrangement.

I’m planning on giving nickel Lo’s another spin. I’ll know very quickly whether they work for me or not, so they won’t be up for sale in anything but almost new condition. I’ll hit you up if that’s the case!

 

[sikamikanico]

In the past couple years, I bought several sets of lightly used flats that were cut for 4-in-line fender-type headstocks (like my Lakland). I trusted the sellers, all TBers, that they were lightly used. I wiped the strings down when I got them, just in case... I put them on, tried them for a few hours, and typically sold them for around what I paid. This allowed me to audition several kinds of flats without breaking the bank (and I didn’t catch any nasty diseases either). I’d personally never keep them on for a long time, due to concerns regarding their integrity... I’ll get a new set when I decide to switch to flats (I’m on pressurewounds now), and know exactly what set I want.

Rounds, that’s a different story... they get crud in there, and they’re rather cheap new so there’s not much room for cost saving. That throws the cost-benefit ratio way off imo... I do keep my old ones, just in case, as long as they’re not completely dead... sometimes I want to do a quick AB test, or just have a backup that’s aged (I like my rounds a bit old too).

 

[Nephilymbass]

I can say with 100% confidence that in all my years playing I’ve never once considered buying used strings. I rarely let anyone else touch my own basses partially because I don’t want their finger grease on my strings lol. I saw a bass once that the strings were so old it looked like their was something growing on them. So hell to the no

 

[maplenecked]

I’d be worried the previous owner teabagged em’

 

[Copperhead]

Title says it all. Unless Jimi played them, their desirability to me drops to about zero.

Glad you told us. Now everybody can sleep tonight.

 

[pcake]

I’d be worried the previous owner teabagged em’

 

[pcake]

Although I’m not a Howard Hughes germophobe type, I regard it as unsanitary.

do you play guitars and basses at the local music store?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Glad you told us. Now everybody can sleep tonight.

I think you misread, but feel free to be offended.