Is it a good idea to sand down your strings?

[davrip]

What would be the best strings to sand down for metal?

Boom Tish

 

[Rabidhamster]

I always sand my new strings flush with the fretboard after I install them. I even have a dedicated belt sander to take to gigs. I usually do a complimentary string and fretboard sanding for the other musiciaNs on the bill but no one appreciates it as much as they should

 

[Gorn]

its not really finger noise im concerned with in all honesty. im just looking for a more focused sounding string by reducing the overtones to get more of a flatwound like sound without the loss in sustain. iv been considering TI flats though and may be my best option.

DR Hellborgs fit this description.

All fundamental with very little fingernoise and plenty of sustain.

 

[Huge]

Sorry to resurrect a zombie thread, but for those saying it won't work, I just did it, with good results. I took an old e string, and went at it with some 100 grit sandpaper (while off the bass, of course), then gave a few wipes with 220. Took a lot of wiping down afterward to remove all the black gunk left over, but it worked. Not perfectly flat, but made it smooth enough that I'm having a hard time not overshooting the notes on slides. Plus it really is thumpy and woody sounding now. Actually, now I understand what that woody tone sounds like after hearing this. Took about a half hour, but was worth testing out. Try it, I bet you'll like it.


Btw, i resurrected this thread for future people who are thinking about doing this...

How is this better than just buying different strings?

 

[karl_em_all]

There has to be string sanding expert somewhere on TB to help this fella out!

 

[SoVeryTired]

So, who is going to be first to admit sanding down their tapewounds or coated strings?

 

[kohntarkosz]

Its a shame mastershake hasn't been active since June last year...

I hear the best option is to buy flats and grind a roundwound-like texture into them using a jewelers saw....

 

[pfox14]

YES! Go ahead and sand away. You should use 40 grit. Don't worry about the metal shavings getting in your pickups - not a big deal.

 

[friedtransistor]

Its a shame mastershake hasn't been active since June last year...

I hear the best option is to buy flats and grind a roundwound-like texture into them using a jewelers saw....

Oooh, that sounds cool. Then you'd get the tone and stability of flats with the rough feel of rounds... Or am I the only one who finds that texture satisfying? It seems like everyone wants the smoothest string possible, but Idk... I mean, the smoothness of my newly-ground string makes me want to pet it every time I walk by, but nothing gets my d... Er, hair standing up like grinding my fingers on steel rounds.

Also, for the guy asking why not get different strings, some of us just don't have the money to burn on trying something different. Not trying to be rude, I'm just telling the truth.

 

[Huge]

Also, for the guy asking why not get different strings, some of us just don't have the money to burn on trying something different. Not trying to be rude, I'm just telling the truth.

So you risked wrecking your strings by sanding them?

If I can't afford to buy new strings, that's the last thing I would do.

 

[friedtransistor]

So you risked wrecking your strings by sanding them?

If I can't afford to buy new strings, that's the last thing I would do.

They were old strings that I just had laying around as spares. No, I would never touch my new strings! I only got them a couple months ago. What I used (and recommend to anyone else) is a strig I hadn't played for a long time, and had no use for. I mean, by all means, if you want to mess with your only set of strings, go right ahead. But I recommend using junk strings to try on. Hence part of the reason I keep all my old strings. Mainly I just use them for backup, or when I get bored. I cannot tell you how many times I have overhauled my bass out of sheer boredom.

Oh, and I only have a few strings set aside for experimenting. I just know that the day I mod my last spare will be the day I'll break a string...

 

[MikeBass]

i saw it on a article, i was just curious.
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***??????

 

[bassman blue]

Why do I keep coming back to read the new posts on this thread? Haha, you have to admit it's pretty freakin funny...

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

And how about sanding the frets on your bass? That would be a great idea. Let's see, what else can I do with sand paper? "kitty, kitty, come here and show your teeth to daddy"

 

[My name is Mudd]

If you sand down your pickups, you'll get a smoother tone.

 

[BlueTalon]

This thread is comedy gold! (Sanded down gold, of course.)

 

[sbass traveller]

I don't think strings will necessarily get you the sustain you're looking for. That all comes down to the mass of the bridge and the headstock I believe. As far as finger noise goes, flats will take care of most of that, or you can adjust your playing style, which is never a bad thing. Try some cheap C clamps from your local hardware store (or any you may have on hand) or a GH Fat Finger.

 

[friedtransistor]

Holy crap! I went ahead and sanded down a little more on the string I had done, and the little patch is like touching water! It's so smooth that I keep touching it. I went to get the rest of it done, so I can string it up again. I so wish I had some money so I could try a set of chromes. But now I'm torn, since I love the rough feel and bright sound of fresh steels, but now I also love that smooth feel and thumpy tone. Hopefully the weather warms up soon so I can make another bass.

 

[Wojster]

Hey - I am a guitar tech and I had old strings with 1 rust spot that I was going to replace with GHS pressure wound strings but I thought for fun I would sand down the strings and save the new strings for my other bass. Part of why I wanted to sand the strings is that the bass is very short scale (27.5") and string are hard to get for it. Also note that I made the Bass from a kit under $200 from Solo Guitars. So the risk is very low.

I sanded with 400 grit black oxide and mineral oil and then a quick 00 and 000 steel wool. I worked on the bass with very loose strings (being short on time and used to working on instruments) hardboard between the strings and the Bass. I tried just one string and got great results so I did the rest. I was not going for flat but just half round. I took 20 mins of sanding and 10 mins to clean it up with WD40 which I had not tried before but worked great as well.

I would not do this on a bass over $500. I have been playing it for a number of days now and a variety of songs to evaluate them and they are great! They are a little more towards flats then half rounds but still a bit more punch then flat strings. Sliding on the strings is smooth and fret noise is gone.

This was an experiment and I was ready to throw the strings out anyways. (Side note the cabinet behind the bass I made as well)

is it a good idea to sand down your strings (rounds) with a high grit sand paper? i know i would have to use a heavy gauge to compensate for the loss mass.

edit note:i know about grounds and other variations so no need to recommend them.
please try to read through forum (or what you can) before commenting.

 

[MikeBass]

Wait….what?
Uh,