New String Tone

[Altitude]

If you're looking for that new string tone and don't want to buy new strings regularly, try soaking your strings for 24-48 hours in denatured alcohol.
The alcohol will clean your strings, removing the oils and gunk that dulls the sound, making them sound similar to how they sounded out of the package. They may not sound exactly the same, but close enough; they'll sound like pretty new strings, night and day compared to how they sound after they've been played for a three months. If the original sound of the strings when new was bright and zingy, this soaking will make them bright and zingy again.

Make sure the alcohol is denatured, otherwise it may have water content which could rust your strings. You can buy denatured alcohol at your local Home Depot, Lowe's, or (I imagine) any hardware store. I coil mine up and put them in a tupperware container, filled deep enough with denatured alcohol to immerse the strings.
Good luck!

+1.

How on earth did it take 30 responses to get to the answer?

I'm beginning to think the people surfing this forum have almost totally turned over in the last few years. This used to be a popular DIY. There was even a thing about making a long piece of PVC into a container for the soaking strings.

 

[CGremlin]

Don't have much to add, but i saw this the other day... Didn't try it yet, so not sure how it works, but worth a try...

Snapping strings like that has been moderately effective for me for years - I don't get quite a "like new" sound, but it does help brighten them up by getting some of the funk out of the windings. I snap them from a few different places along the length of the string, though, and I don't bother detuning beforehand. Takes about 30 seconds to do all four and I'm good to go.

 

[Dan Bass]

I've always changed my strings about every year or so and sometimes longer... However, recently, for the first time ever, I changed my strings the day before a gig. As a result, I absolutely loved the tone that I had during the gig and during the days following... due to the newness of the strings. Are there strings available that always have that new tone or similar tone for the life of the strings?

No, sooner or later they will go dead, in the meantime check out some new strings and keep buying the new ones you have on there now that you like until you find the ones you really want. Maybe the strings that you just put on there are the ones, you seem to be real happy with those.

 

[sikamikanico]

+1.

How on earth did it take 30 responses to get to the answer?

I'm beginning to think the people surfing this forum have almost totally turned over in the last few years. This used to be a popular DIY. There was even a thing about making a long piece of PVC into a container for the soaking strings.

I would suggest it if I thought it was a good approach... I tried it, tubes and all, and did not like the results enough to go through the hassle of doing it...


Actually, ultimately my solution to the problem was to change my attitude, and embrace the thumpy nature of old strings (rounds and flats)... Maybe if I had the budget of Entwistle or Steve Harris, id change them for every gig (or, better yet, have my tech do it)... As a hobbyist, I find it more viable to get used to old string sound...

 

[BASSically Awful]

I truly enjoy the Steve Harris Rotosounds. But, I must admit, the Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwounds seem to have so much life in them. Even with my relative inexperience with this topic, the EB Slinkys sound so bright and explosive........ all day long! They really seem to have a long life. Love 'em!

 

[Ahzidal Engineer]

It's a great feeling isn't it to hear and feel new strings? I love it. But yeah, it sucks that they don't hold their pizazz for very long. My personal favorite strings are Ernie Ball Stainless steels. They generally last for a while, maybe dead after a month or so. I've also heard D'addario's last for a long time, but i wasn't super impressed with their tone. I suppose it depends on the person though. If I had unlimited money I would buy a new pair of strings every two weeks, but unfortunately, money is a thing.

 

[BAG]

Many people have mentioned the Elixirs and I would agree wholeheartedly. We use them on every guitar in the house and they keep their tone for much longer than anything i've ever used. I've had a set on my 12 string for over two years and there is no sign of corrosion on the plains and the wound strings still sound like the day they were put on.

From my experience they are not quite as bright as uncoated strings on the first day, or maybe two, but from that point onwards their brightness stays virtually the same. If you like it bright the Elixir Stainless Steels would probably work very well for you. Yes, they are a little more expensive but if you like their tone you'll save a stack of dollars in replacements.

The only reason I don't use them on my basses is that they don't make short scale and they don't make flats.

i wonder if anyone has tried attaching an ultrasonic cleaning device to one of those home-made PVC string cleaning tubes? That would really clean out all the skin cells and detrius!

That's something i've thought of but never got around to doing.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Flats will last for years as well as will tapewounds. For noncoated SS rounds, Dean Markley Blue Steels sound great to me and also last me at least 6 to 12 months a set. For coated, Elixers last me about 8 months to a year. But longevity doesn't matter if you don't like the sound, so you won't know until you try. You may find a set of Elixers slightly used under accessories for a bit less money so you can try those without laying out 35.00 for a new set.

 

[Antisyzygy]

i wonder if anyone has tried attaching an ultrasonic cleaning device to one of those home-made PVC string cleaning tubes? That would really clean out all the skin cells and detrius!


Chromes are too ringy to me right out of the box.

Me too.... both times I tried flats they were Chromes. I didn't like it and I'm normally a roundwound player. I think I need to try a warmer flat next time.

 

[Gizmot]

The only strings that will sound good for more than a few months are Thomastik Jazz Flats. I've had a set for about 2.5 years with no negligible tone degradation. I've recorded and compared - they're unbelievable. Read other TB reviews on these - I'm not nuts

 

[HiEnd Basses]

I change my Strings every 3 months, like clockwork.

 

[HiEnd Basses]

Short answer: No.

Some strings hold their sizzle and zing longer than others. But I've yet to hear any string that sounds as bright as when they're first put on. Most lose it within a few days at most. Some (Like Rotosound Swings) simmer down within the first several hours. They're still pretty bright. But if that effervescent 'new string' top end is what you're talking about, I don't think there's any string made (or likely ever will be made) that can keep that quality indefinitely.

Depressing...

 

[40Hz]

Depressing...

Like most things governed by physics it seems.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Like most things governed by physics it seems.

Gravity's not depressing. Unless of course you fall off a cliff. But then again if you have a parachute it may be fun! But then again if the chute turns you may crash into the side of a hill. But then maybe the chute will get tangled in a branch and prevent you from striking the hill....So in reality physics may be depressing, but it's not a definitive statement to say all physics is depressing. I'm tired. I should probably go to bed. I'm usually up until at least 4 am because I go to the gym at 2:30 am but I skipped it this morning..... I think I'm rambling now. I got a bit off topic. Good night all.

 

[jazzyvee]

I've always changed my strings about every year or so and sometimes longer... However, recently, for the first time ever, I changed my strings the day before a gig. As a result, I absolutely loved the tone that I had during the gig and during the days following... due to the newness of the strings. Are there strings available that always have that new tone or similar tone for the life of the strings?

I wish new strings kept their day one sound as I really love that clean full range sound.

 

[HiEnd Basses]

It's a great feeling isn't it to hear and feel new strings? I love it. But yeah, it sucks that they don't hold their pizazz for very long. My personal favorite strings are Ernie Ball Stainless steels. They generally last for a while, maybe dead after a month or so. I've also heard D'addario's last for a long time, but i wasn't super impressed with their tone. I suppose it depends on the person though. If I had unlimited money I would buy a new pair of strings every two weeks, but unfortunately, money is a thing.

Brand new Rotosound Stainless Steel Swing Bass Strings every two weeks. I could definitely see the benefit of that!!!

 

[FourBanger]

Alcohol soaking won't bring back the day one sound.

 

[Rib 13]

I'm a working bass player so I change strings every 25 hours of play (roughly every four to five gigs) or when they start losing life per bass, which means I spend a lot of money on strings (dont read into this - some basses get little play and, therefore, have had a set of strings on them for months). Often, strings start dying on one bass just requires a swap to a different bass which make them sound bright again. I buy whatever roundwounds are on sale that I get the best deal for. I also boil strings when necessary if Im a little tapped on funding

 

[HiEnd Basses]

To me, this is the most interesting topic on the forum. Ultimately, we will be changing strings regularly. Although, it may be a daunting task financially; the quest for the perfect string and changing them every 2 to 4 weeks; God, I so much love my gear, and playing Bass!