Keeping roundwounds clean and fresh.

[pbass6811]

I always thought about getting a long piece of pcv tubing and sealing off one end so that the strings could be completely suspended in some kind of cleaning solution. I thought maybe you could thread/glue some kind of a nipple at the bottom so you could hook up a hose from a fish tank pump so that it would create a nonstop bubbling action. With the whole thing sitting upright the bubbles and alcohol would clean the grime off the strings. Never ended up making one but I always thought it would be cool.

I've got one of these. I'll post a pic below...

A two minute ultrasonic bath with distilled water. Strings are fresh as new.

View attachment 3247024

Interesting. Where would you get one of these?

Ive been using that tube/denatured alcohol system for years. It works far better than boiling which I did for ages but can rust strings if not dried well. I made a tube as shown in the info from the link. The alcohol tube system cleans them up and makes them sound like brand new straight out of the packet. Check it out as its not hard to make one.
The Bass String Cleaning Tube | Bass Gear | StudyBass

I'm digging the cork idea. I need to find a bigger piece of cork, or a piece of wood to fit in the endcap...

If regular isopropyl alcohol is just as effective as denatured alcohol, I'll switch to that...

 

[Kaplan]

I
Interesting. Where would you get one of these?

Round shaped ultrasonic cleaners aren't that common but Amazon offers some starting at $ 50.

 

[scottfeldstein]

I used to boil strings when I was a broke kid. It brought back some zing for a week or two. Nowadays I just replace them every 4 months or so. Unless it's a bass I haven't been playing much, then maybe not even that often.

I think the alcohol wipes thing sounds convenient. I might try that. What I do not understand is this vertical PVC pipe thing. So you, what, put six gallons of alcohol in there and suspend your strings in them? Like overnight or something? Presumably you're leaving your bass with no string tension on it for that time. I dunno. I have some misgivings.

 

[dwade]

These days, I change my strings every gig. There's something awful in my sweat. It just kills my strings.
I remove them & soak them in a PVC tube filled with denatured alcohol. I get 3-4 gigs out of each set using this method. But it's still labor intensive. I mean, 15 minutes or so. But that's a long time when time is short. Well worth it though.
In the '80's, I used to change my strings every week. I'd boil them and get an extra week.
I got tired of the labor & just started replacing them.
I liked stainless strings. They lasted just a little bit longer but destroyed my frets. I'm not doing that again.
I've tried Elixirs & Dragonskins. No good.
I buy individual strings in bulk. end up costing about $10-$12 for a 4 string set. A little more for 5.

I like the idea of the ultrasonic cleaner. I may give that whirl.

 

[dwade]

A two minute ultrasonic bath with distilled water. Strings are fresh as new.

View attachment 3247024

Can I ask where you got this particular unit?

 

[fauxtoe]

I wipe them down with one of these - [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[2strings2frets]

Keep my hands clean, occasionally wipe the strings down with an alcohol wipe and replace them about every Presidential Inauguration. That’s 8 sets so I need time to save up!

 

[Lunatique]

Doesn't clean the strings, but certainly extends the life of roundwounds

I just tried this and it totally works. I recorded the bass before and after and the difference is night and day.

 

[vlad335]

I made a tube out of 3/4" PVC with a glued cap on one end, the other end unglued. Would remove strings, insert into tube with denatured alcohol and let then sit overnight, take out wipe off, etc...Seemed to work pretty well. Saved the alcohol too!
Also need to note, these are double ball end strings I've used this for. Not sure how long scale would work inside the PVC...might be ok, though.

I have been doing this for probably 2 decades.



Strings come out like brand new and it seems like this can be done indefinitely.

 

[vvvmmm]

Clean and fresh?

Summers Eve.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Hey guys I was wondering something. I have a jazz bass that I play maybe once or twice a year but the strings end up corroding for whatever reason. I pulled the bass out this morning and the strings felt like new, never played it after I replaced the strings for the same reason last year. My other basses don’t have that issue whatsoever.

 

[bassdude51]

Keeping roundwounds clean and fresh.

Wash hands thoroughly before playing bass.............keeps strings clean and fresh.

 

[Cristo]

I've boiled, used alcohol, WD40, and Gunk engine cleaner. They all work to some extent, although i can't say which is proven "best." Basically, they all do the same thing by removing oils and built up skin/oil/dirt/dust.

The method MarloweDk demonstrates in that video is pretty cool. Haven't tried it, but I guess maybe it is physically knocking loose some of the deposits from the winding once it is loosened.

Nowadays I am not as obsessed about new string tone, I play less frequently, and I can afford to buy more.

Plus now they cost half what I used to pay when I had to boil them!

 

[gigetto]

I used to boil the strings in basses who have the fast locking. But now I've decised to keep the string not boiling anymore (except some cases) and in my Gig bass I use the covered that are long lasting, no more alcohol, or others things

 

[JrII]

I like the Keyser Dr. Stringfellow string cleaner extender stuff.
I try and wipe down often, after every extended play.
Different strings just go dead fast.

 

[songwriter21]

A little bird once told me that Elixir is just white-boxed Dunlop

I think they're GHS, but the only ones with Elixir's proprietary coating around the entire string.

 

[songwriter21]

If you can adjust to the feel and learn how to eq the more scooped tone, then Elixir are a no-brainer. Buying eight bazillion cheap sets of other strings over and over makes no sense to me, and nothing kills inspiration/fun for me like a dying string. I like a crisp, piano-like tone, and Elixir pay for themselves and then some...as in a year's worth of frequent playing or more from one set. Yes, this was with playing two nights, 3-4 hour shows, every weekend for a years on end. I've messed around with some other brands, but keep coming back to Elixir. The tone stays the same, and having consistent tone is a beautiful thing!

 

[gigetto]

After a year more boiling strings, that clear as well old strings but reduce the second life of the same, I've decided to do nothing for all life of the strings.

More long life, less aestetical...I also use covered strings for my gig bass. Less tone but more long lasting and less decrease of strings.

There are two choice now for me. Strings with their character until they die doing nothing or covered more long lasting but in my honest opinion withouth the full character of a not covered string.

 

[SteveC]

I may or may not remember to wipe them down after I play. I don't boil or anything. When they seem dead I simply put on a new set. New strings also help when I feel a little twinge to look at a different bass. New strings fights G.A.S.

 

[MrLenny1]

I wash my hands often and wipe down the strings really well
top and bottom.
I've tried boiling but it wasn't worth it to me. A bit of improvement
but still not enough to forego a new set.