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My strings die out so quickly. Help!!

#41
Thanks again for the tips!
have bought a set of DR fatbeams. I have started washing my hands religiously, and wiping down my strings. The set has only been on for less than a week, so i cant really tell if this is working but they still sound and play great so im not worried. I am also considering the denatured alchohol method.
2 questions though;
-what exactly is DENATURED alchohol and
-how much time do you usually spend wiping down your strings?
 
#42
the JT said:
Thanks again for the tips!
have bought a set of DR fatbeams. I have started washing my hands religiously, and wiping down my strings. The set has only been on for less than a week, so i cant really tell if this is working but they still sound and play great so im not worried. I am also considering the denatured alchohol method.
2 questions though;
-what exactly is DENATURED alchohol and
-how much time do you usually spend wiping down your strings?
Click to expand...

Denatured Alcohol is pretty much grain straight alcohol with some nasty stuff thrown in to keep the bums away. You can find it at any harware store, usually 5 bucks for a half gallon. I don't wipe the strings, I take them off, or swap them out, and soak them overnight. This can be done in as little as 4 hours, you don't need to soak them very long to get the crap off 'em. I'm so rabid about this method that I'm building PVC string cleaning rigs for all of my bass playing friends for Christmas.
 
#47
Marley's Ghost said:
Labella Deep Talkin Flats. Mine just had their first birthday and they keep gettin better! :smug:
Click to expand...

Wow. Major envy to you my friend. What is your bass set up? I reckon different basses have different string life qualities.

My bass teacher told me about one of his students who had an active J bass, and his strings stayed new for over 8 months, even though he played every day, and i dont suspect he cleaned his strings.

Sounds like a far away dream to me.:bawl:
 
#49
the JT said:
I have had this problem with every set i buy. After about a week of playing, my stings have lost their punch, sustain and clarity and play badly. I use DR lo riders, or d'addario XLs (when the music shop has them). I am a teenager with limited funds so i cant justify forking out 80 bucks (AUD) for a set that lasts about a week.
I have tried lots of things, like string cleaner liquid, boiling my strings and i wash my hands before i play, but nothing seems to work! HELP ME !
Click to expand...

I posted this in another thread as well, but here it goes. Soak 'em in pure ethanol for a day or two, brings them back brand new. I've sets I've soaked 5-6 times, and they're still going strong. The only set I've had to replace was a set where the frets had worn down the string windings to the point where they broke.
 
#50
Another option is acetone, it thins grease even better, but is more poisonous than ethyl and izopropyl alcohol.

I had a bad experience soaking strings in ethyl alcohol for two weeks - it seems like some atmospheric moist got to the alcohol and strings corroded. The most striking thing about this was that the string windings were bronze, but the rust was brown and the only steel part of the strings was the core. I even didn't try to put these strings back on the bass - they look not dead, but violently murdered.

Washing hands is good. I'd recommend using a cheaper (not hands-friendly) dish washing fluid - my hands feel dry for an hour or even more after dish washing with Fairy.
 
#53
Stuggi said:
Acetone dissolves most plastics, and it not nice to work with.

I've never had those problems that you describe, are you sure you used 98% pure ethanol?
Click to expand...

I'm not even sure it was alcohol. :D Actually it was, but it came from black market. It's hard to obtain alcohol of going quality in Russia until you make it yourself or are well-conected with medecine or research workers. :(
Alcohol and particularly pure alcohol attracts moist from air, so if a bottle has been opened for half an hour it is no more pure alcohol in it.

Polyethylene and mylar aren't affected with acetone, so, say, a coke bottle may be safely used for curing strings. Some extra attention may be required, but it is usable.
 
#54
Stuggi said:
I posted this in another thread as well, but here it goes. Soak 'em in pure ethanol for a day or two, brings them back brand new. I've sets I've soaked 5-6 times, and they're still going strong. The only set I've had to replace was a set where the frets had worn down the string windings to the point where they broke.
Click to expand...

Yes i think that could be the answer to my problem.
The only concern i have however is that with repetittive taking off and putting back on of the same set of strings, that they will become stretched and snap.
I dont know why, but i tend to break a lot of strings. I broke the A string on my last set of DRs. My bass teacher says this might be due to some rough surface on the bridge saddles?
 
#56
I have the acid hands which eat strings very quickly, just like you. I've started using Cleartone strings, which have helped tremendously. They're coated but you can't tell they're coated. They're not quite as bright as a set of hi-beams out of the box, but two of my basses have maintained consistent tone for 8 months now using these.
 
#57
optikhog said:
I have the acid hands which eat strings very quickly, just like you. I've started using Cleartone strings, which have helped tremendously. They're coated but you can't tell they're coated. They're not quite as bright as a set of hi-beams out of the box, but two of my basses have maintained consistent tone for 8 months now using these.
Click to expand...

That sounds good!
how long were youre strings lasting prior to using Cleartones?
 

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