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I just hate bass strings

Just arrived four days later...six per bag:
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Boiling doesn't really work. But what DOES work ist putting the strings in a glas of
methylated spirits for one week. They will come out better as new and they will last as long as a new set if not longer. I am a professional bassist and I've been doing it for many years. Try it you won't be disappointed!
 
I play guitar and piano
But bass is my love

I love everything about playing bass but I hate bass strings

I mean really 4 weeks and they sound dead
And they cost like 30 dollars a pop?

I have eight basses

And I am forced to not play all of them because I can’t afford to buy multiple bass string sets.

Boiling strings give you an extra week of life
I’m just bummed
Do you wipe them when done playing? I tend to wipe mine down with alcohol every time I play, and Usually get up to a year. I play tape wound only, and not looking for a Bright sound, but~~~
 
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Honestly, I had a fender bass for 13 years & never changed the strings.sold it with the original strings. I can't tell the different. Now I have 2 ubasses, the poly strings I will have to change, the frets chew them up, I'm going on my 3rd set in 3 years. They are also 30.00
 
A couple of suggestions: I've found that I've gotten far more life from d'Addario strings (ProSteels and Nickels) than any other brand, oddly enough. (In particular, GHS Boomers and Ernie Ball greenies went dull in a couple of weeks). As a bonus, you can get them on amazon.com for about 15-18 bucks.
 
As a professional woodcarver, I have worked with many apprentices and longer term wood carvers in a factory setting of forty + hour weeks. Most have no trouble with the steel of the tools but I have seen a few where the tool would speckle rust and acquire a distinct texture overnight if not wiped with 0000 steel wool and oiled daily. Definitely body chemistry can affect the steel. Body chemistry can leave your fingers black with use of some steels. Lemon juice will wipe off the black btw.
 
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I play guitar and piano
But bass is my love

I love everything about playing bass but I hate bass strings

I mean really 4 weeks and they sound dead
And they cost like 30 dollars a pop?

I have eight basses

And I am forced to not play all of them because I can’t afford to buy multiple bass string sets.

Boiling strings give you an extra week of life
I’m just bummed

Come over to the dark side and play dead flats. I buy one set of strings for the life of each bass. Done.

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For most gigs, I love the feel and sound of dead strings in the mix. They provide the sonic real estate that is needed to ground the music and not interfere with the rest of the frequencies of other instruments in the landscape.
 
I wanted to add to this post as well since everyone’s body makeup is different. My friend burns through strings even though he washes thoroughly before playing and yet my strings will last much longer, it has to do with the oils and sweat you secrete while playing. But I have noticed that friends that sweat more than I do usually will have to change much more often.
 
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I play guitar and piano
But bass is my love

I love everything about playing bass but I hate bass strings

I mean really 4 weeks and they sound dead
And they cost like 30 dollars a pop?

I have eight basses

And I am forced to not play all of them because I can’t afford to buy multiple bass string sets.

Boiling strings give you an extra week of life
I’m just bummed

Hello there.
Hmm? You can afford to buy eight basses but can't afford strings? Something's not right there. I have about twenty basses - do what I do - don't buy strings! Some of my strings are probably 15 - 20 years old and I still like the sound. Yes, boiling them brings them back to life.
Well, I don't mean "don't buy" just don't buy expensive ones. I last bought strings about two years ago. 6 X 4-string sets. About $9 a set off EBay. Still sound fantastic and twangy.
I have them on an IBANEZ ATK300. '82 IBANEZ Musician, KAWAI F2 to name a few. Sound great. My advice - buy cheap. You will be surprised!
AL
 
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I have been using DR Lowriders on my Roscoe Beck V. They last me quite a long time. But I also wash my hands before each set or rehearsal, Don't use hand lotion and I wipe them down during and after each set/Gig. Some people just have a different chemistry in their sweat and can destroy strings in a week.
I'm with the guys that have recommended Elixer. Their coatings seem to extent the life of the string. Cheers
 
If you try Elixir strings (my only choice for all stringed instruments) PLEASE REMEBER....all other string "fixes" go out the window. The strings must be left alone. Their type of coating is FAR different than any other coating. You can't boil them, you can't wipe them down etc. Wiping them down is a useless concept on this type of coating....you would only tear the coating. They are an amazing option if you understand the coating. It is like putting panty hose on your strings in that it is ONE solid coating that can be torn....so, no goofy pick scratching or crazy pick playing. If you actually make Elixirs "shred" or "fray" that is because of YOU, not the strings.