It should be noted that if you're going to do the alcohol wipe method, either be super careful or remove the strings before attempting on a nitro painted bass. Nitro and alcohol don't play well together.
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New simple method to clean and revitalize old strings!
- Thread starter jdy
- Start date
Thanks for this helpful heads-up! All of my current basses are finished in poly. But good to know if I someday try this method on a nitro finished bass!
Something that works for me- part of the issue with old strings (not the entire issue of course) is corrosion. I don't think you can remove much corrosion with alcohol. I use a bottle of deoxit...dip a corner of a patch of microfiber cloth (similar to bore cleaning patch) in the deoxit. Wipe the strings with the wetted patch and let sit for awhile. Repeat the same step and let dry. Works very well for me, and much cheaper than the bass bright things or whatever they are called.
Alcohol (or boiling, for that matter) will remove any manufacturing lube/protectant from/between the windings hastening salt (sweat) induced corrosion which is also caused by oxidation.
Would love to try the isopropyl method but trying to convince the pharmacy dude that I'm not going to drink it gets a bit taxing after a while. So I tried some baby wipes on the 3 month old strings, not hoping for much. Pretty much like new. Had ordered some new strings, really cool knowing I won't need need them for a while.
You can buy gallon jugs of denatured alcohol at the home improvement stores, no need to hit the pharmacy--well at least here in the States.
I do a scrub with a white cotton bore patch pad wetted with 91% Isopropyl alcohol that I get from the local pharmacy. It works well on my chrome flats.
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My two cents:
All of the wiping methods work ok. I use Bass Brites occasionally for this.
The trouble is that they don't get down between the windings where the crud builds up.
I still maintain that this is the most effective method of cleaning bass strings that I have ever tried.
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My two cents:
All of the wiping methods work ok. I use Bass Brites occasionally for this.
The trouble is that they don't get down between the windings where the crud builds up.
I still maintain that this is the most effective method of cleaning bass strings that I have ever tried.
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