My Bass Strings Die Too Quickly

[Whippet]

how do i find my pH?

i was about to say the same, piss on a litmus paper or something like that. Make sure it isnt the pregnancy stick. LOL

 

[HazyMan]

I have a question. Would it be a good idea to pour some hand sanitizer on a dry cloth and use that to wipe the strings?

 

[michael_t]

I have a question. Would it be a good idea to pour some hand sanitizer on a dry cloth and use that to wipe the strings?

NO!

 

[HazyMan]

NO!

thanks for your reply. how so though?

 

[michael_t]

how so though?

Would you use Turtle Car Wax on yourself after showering?

 

[JRA]

I despise new strings! I can't wait for them to die. If I need to restring, and perform right away, I'll rub them with some BBQ sauce.

hot?

 

[HazyMan]

Would you use Turtle Car Wax on yourself after showering?

oh, lmfao

 

[Duckophile]

Have you considered wearing a musician's practice glove on your fret hand?

 

[Skybone]

Change to Stainless Steel strings.

Keep a silicon gel sachet (or two) in your bass case.

 

[HazyMan]

Have you considered wearing a musician's practice glove on your fret hand?

no. what about them?

 

[HazyMan]

Change to Stainless Steel strings.

Keep a silicon gel sachet (or two) in your bass case.

what do the silicon gel sachets do?

 

[Skybone]

what do the silicon gel sachets do?

You usually find them in the packaging of electronics / cameras etc.

Basically, they absorb moisture. The theory that I work on, is that they will absorb any residual moisture on the bass / strings when it's back in the case.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Not necessarily a suggestion, but just something you may want to think about...

I used to NEED that new string sound and replaced my strings regularly. Ironically, that was at a time I couldn't afford to really do that. Now that I can afford to do that, I just kind of stopped caring while brainwashing myself that the "funk" is really "in the gunk." What I've discovered, for me, is that it's not as important as I used to think it was. As the strings age, the treble goes up a bit on my amp and I'm good. The new attitude has made me a happier player .

That being said, if you MUST have new strings I think it's all pretty much been said here already. The only thing I'd add is to keep trying different strings, as I believe they all act differently with different people's body chemistry.

Oh yeah, and I'd stay away from nickels, nylons and flats .

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

It's been ages since I've used stainless steel roundwounds, but Rotosound Swing Bass 66's are the strings that I personally think of, when I think of piano-string bright. However, for me, that brightness lasted maybe a week, if that. I don't have sweaty hands, and I'm pretty good about regularly wiping my strings down, -and washing my hands before playing. I guess that's why players like John Entwistle and Chris Squire would change their strings before every show.

But, IMO/IME not-so-new Rotosounds still sounded plenty good, to me, - even without the new string zing, -for at least a month.

All I can recommend is to experiment with different brands of stainless steel roundwounds, to find which set lasts the longest for you. I've never tried coated strings, so I can't comment on them. I have found that strings with an iron/nickel outer wrap last the best for me, - but the I no longer work towards a super bright bass tone.

I know GHS Progressives seem to get positive reviews. I haven't tried them, but they have an iron/nickel outer wrap, that is referred to as "Alloy 52", which might be worth a try.

I used to NEED that new string sound and replaced my strings regularly. Ironically, that was at a time I couldn't afford to really do that. Now that I can afford to do that, I just kind of stopped caring while brainwashing myself that the "funk" is really "in the gunk." What I've discovered, for me, is that it's not as important as I used to think it was. As the strings age, the treble goes up a bit on my amp and I'm good. The new attitude has made me a happier player .

Joe, I couldn't agree more. I'm in the same exact camp these days, however I use nickel plated roundwounds. Over 10 years ago, -and on a hunch, I started pushing more low mids and midrange with my amp's eq. For me, this makes my bass more audible amongst the guitar(s) and drums. When necessary, add in a touch of overdrive or grit to my tone, and my bass' sound leaps forward.

 

[mcnach]

okay, thanks! the constant tuning changing could BREAK a string tho if used too much right?
someone told me that if i change tunings constantly my strings could break so im wondering if constant tuning changing can damage my strings in any way. thanks for your response!

nah, no problem.

sure, changing tension back and forth will add stress... but it's going to be minimal and will barely affect the life of the string. Lots of people do that with a variety of strings without issues (me, for starters).