Double Bass Oil clogging string? How to clean....

[gabehizer]

So I put Watco rejuvenating oil on my fingerboard in an effort to stop the darkening of my fingertips from the black polish the maker seems to have put on in the factory.
While the oil did indeed seem to work--or at least reduce the black fingers--I now swear that the strings sound duller, thuddier! (Spirocore weich)
Assuming that the oil entered the string, that makes sense.
If so, what is the best way to rejuventate the strings?
I think I read that soaking them in isopropyl alcohol overnight then shaking them around in the solution, then drying, can dissolve any gunk that may have seeped in and bring back the like-new string sound (they are only on the bass a couple of weeks).
Any thoughts?? Thanks.

 

[Don Hergert]

Depends on the kind of strings that are involved, but with any wound strings oil tends to at least temporarily mute them.

To start, you might try wiping them each thoroughly with a dry cloth. I prefer fresh and dry paper towels.

What kind of strings are you using?

 

[gabehizer]

I just added that they are Spirocore Weich strings. I already tried removing any oil via wiping them up and down with a tightly wound alcohol-soaked cloth, but it didn't seem to do anything.

 

[Don Hergert]

The alcohol may drive any oil deeper. But ultimately it may just all dry out over time. If it were me at this point I'd just keep these Spiros dry and play them.

If these were synthetic strings this may have caused more serious damage, causing materials to degrade. In general wrapped strings and oils are not a good combination.

Some people use various kinds of cleaning oil on strings. With thick strings like on a double bass they may clean off outer gunk and temporarily lubricate but they can also seep between the windings; with round wound strings they tend to leave an adhesive residue that attracts dust.

Best cleaner for string tone is a dry or just barely moist (with water) cloth.

Best of luck with this!

 

[statsc]

Do this (from luthier Nick Lloyd):

 

[gabehizer]

I just added that they are Spirocore Weich strings.

So for just the strings, I only need to run the 0000 steel wool up and down the loosened string. Worth a try!

 

[CaseyVancouver]

If I encountered the op’s problem I would wait it out and not do anything.
I suspect everything will be fine after a few weeks.

Over 5 decades of playing jazz I have never oiled my ebony, nor allowed alcohol near the strings (or bow hair).

I have very occasionally wiped the ebony fingerboard with a wet cloth (water) or paper towel.
Never needed to scrub Spiro strings with anything. I have used Spiro’s since they were named Dr Thomastiks.

A good habit is to wash hands before playing. And wipe rosin off strings, bass and bow after playing.

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

Most players prefer their Spirocores to sound a little dead.

 

[gabehizer]

So for just the strings, I only need to run the 0000 steel wool up and down the loosened string. Worth a try!

Well, I followed the advice of wiping the strings with 0000 steel wool, and it indeed seems to have helped. It seems to have restored the high end that was suddenly missing after my Watco treatment of the fingerboard and reduced or eliminated the thuddiness. Hardly a scientific experiment, but I'm happy with the results!

 

[Don Hergert]

Do your fingertips still turn black?

 

[gabehizer]

Do your fingertips still turn black?

Slightly, but much much less than before I started all this! I'm hoping that in time the Watco will dry out even more and seal better. With two coats of the stuff on, now, there's not much else I can do.

 

[Don Kasper]

From an earlier "..dipstick/fingerboard oiling..." Thread -

When I got my German back form Jeff Bollbach, he rubbed the fingerboard down with bowling alley wax,

Let it be acknowledged that I am passing up a perfectly good straight line here...(i.e., "basslines/gutterballs", etc...)
That is all.
Thanks.

 

[robobass]

Just one more thing. Oil won't dissolve in alcohol. If you still want to clean the strings then try lighter fluid. I don't think either would harm any type of string. I use denatured to clean my strings and fingerboard.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

I don't know if this would be appropriate for double bass strings, but for roundwounds on an electric bass, I saw a recommendation for an electric toothbrush, the more expensive type that emits ultrasonics as it cleans. In conjunction with an appropriate solvent, and small wads of soft paper to soak it up when it's got dirty, this method is allegedly very effective at cleaning what little else can get at. I've never done it though, it seems like a lot of work for a possibly uncertain result.

 

[AGCurry]

Just one more thing. Oil won't dissolve in alcohol. If you still want to clean the strings then try lighter fluid. I don't think either would harm any type of string. I use denatured to clean my strings and fingerboard.

Umm ... alcohol is a universal solvent. If oil didn't dissolve in alcohol, the oil companies couldn't put ethanol in gasoline / petrol.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

Umm ... alcohol is a universal solvent. If oil didn't dissolve in alcohol, the oil companies couldn't put ethanol in gasoline / petrol.

I use a simple 250 ml mix of water, isopropanol, white spirit, and a few drops of washing up liquid, as a general cleaner of grime on stuff. Very few things get attacked by it in any way, and the alcohol's ability to help mix water and white spirit, combined with the few drops of detergent, help emulsify it so after shaking it I can bring small globs of it to bear on something without it dripping everywhere.

Again, probably not right for expensive strings on delicate instruments, but in general it's extremely useful, and cheap.

 

[robobass]

Umm ... alcohol is a universal solvent. If oil didn't dissolve in alcohol, the oil companies couldn't put ethanol in gasoline / petrol.

Sorry dude. This is what happens when you try to mix denatured with olive oil. The oil companies have very sophisticated processes for their various adventures, but I stick to my premise that isopropyl is useless in removing any kind of oil or grease. A lot of the stock that comes into my shop needs to be degreased before being worked on. I have some experience with this.

. I work with various metals which sometimes come coated with

 

[gabehizer]

Just one more thing. Oil won't dissolve in alcohol. If you still want to clean the strings then try lighter fluid. I don't think either would harm any type of string. I use denatured to clean my strings and fingerboard.

"Lighter fluid"?

 

[1st Bass]

Isopropanol is a different critter than “denatured.”
Denatured seems much more aggressive.

 

[Eli Brockway]

Isopropanol/isopropyl alcohol is a secondary alcohol, and it is polar. It won't mix with oil without an emulsifier.

Denatured alcohol is primarily ethanol, which is miscible with oil and is generally considered a universal solvent, although the water content isn't, which is why generally when mixing ethanol into fuel you're dealing with anhydrous ethanol (less than 1% water).

Other alcohols have their own things going on in the same way that I have a lot of run-on sentences whenver I start talking.