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Keeping roundwounds clean and fresh.

#101
Fascinating thread! When I went shopping for denatured alcohol, the hardware stores no longer stocked it. Evidently it's banned in California now. Woodcraft still sells it as "shellac thinner," though. I don't know if isopropyl alcohol (aka rubbing alcohol) is still around.

When people refer to boiling the strings, it's often noted that the grease doesn't go away. My friend Richard, the bassist with the British group "Gee Baby I Love You" gave me this formula for "boiling the strings"

"Boiling your used dull bass strings can revive them. I used to add a spoonful of washing soda to the brew. Put them in about an inch of cold water in a medium to large saucepan, add the washing soda then bring to the boil and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Mmm, delicious!"

It seems that the "washing soda" (aka sodium carbonate, not to be confused with sodium bicarbonate) is the key ingredient here to neutralizing the grease. I assume he rinses the hell out of the strings and dries them quickly.
 
#107
I like slippery strings especially on the picking hand so I will often use sweat from my brow to get that feeling. A trick I picked up from my first bass teacher. I use GHS Fast Fret once a week or 2 weeks to keep the strings bright. But it's a bit of a love hate relationship. They do indeed go dead faster than after boiling them. So I have to keep using it. But it beats taking the strings off and doing something more drastic to them. The mineral oil also keeps my unfinished fingerboard in good condition. It has been working for me for 20 years or so. I buy new strings once per year or less, but I don't really need that super bright sound on a fretless anyway. This method is the best compromise for me.
 
#108
I started using Stringjoy's string conditioner recently, I'll report back if it seems to matter or work.

It made awful/sticky stainless steel strings feel really nice, at least :thumbsup:

"Before and after playing, apply conditioner directly to your strings, then wipe off with a clean cloth."
 
#109
Here is a photo of my string and guitar secret weapons...
Cleaner for strings, body and neck- Ronsonol lighter fluid. Doesn't harm the finish and is excellent at removing grease and gunk, especially from the back of the neck. With the strings you have to make sure you're using a cloths that doesn't leave fibers behind in the string winds. If you want to get the crud out of the string winds first, loosen the strings and snap each string a couple times against the fingerboard. There is a video out there demonstrating this. After getting the crud out of the winds, then wipe the strings down with Ronsonol to clean them.

FWIW... I have used Ronsonal on all sorts of finishes, including nitrocellulose and it doesn't harm any finish. Best guitar/bass cleaning solvent out there IMO.

After cleaning the strings, Finger-Ease will bring back slipperiness, decreasing string noise and making it easy to get up and down the strings. I don't usually spray the strings, but use spray a pad from an old XLR-8 lubricating kit. The XLR-8 doesn't have much lubricant even when new, but the pad of a defunct XLR-8 system is useful as it allows the application of the Finger-ease without spraying, which prevents spray from going all over, but use far less of the Finger-Ease itself, making one can last for a couple years, even if used regularly. Spray the pad instead of the strings, then wipe the strings with the pad. Today I sprayed the pad and ran it over 3 basses with less lube than I would spray on one bass.

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#111
p12bassnut said:
As the title states.
Looking for a 2nd 5 but would like these specs as that's what I'm used to.
Thanks
Click to expand...

gigetto said:
Put your old strings in dishwashing machine.
Click to expand...
Interesting approach to cleaning strings. I suppose you have to make sure that they are tied off somehow so they don't accidentally get wrapped around moving parts! I wonder if the dishwasher would be as thorough as an ultrasonic cleaner? On my U/S cleaner I can see the crud particles floating around after the cycle.
 
#112
vindibona1 said:
Interesting approach to cleaning strings. I suppose you have to make sure that they are tied off somehow so they don't accidentally get wrapped around moving parts! I wonder if the dishwasher would be as thorough as an ultrasonic cleaner? On my U/S cleaner I can see the crud particles floating around after the cycle.
Click to expand...

Yes a fully floating pochet (Xmas for example) to put them safely in. This method is from a friend bassist that suggested me instead boiling with....
 
#115
I simply install new strings. That has become increasingly less expensive since I culled the bass herd from nine to four and went fully 4 string. Fortunately, from years of buying multi packs on sale I have a case full of new string sets. I’m probably good barring the unforeseen for 3 to 5 years.
 

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