Double Bass Putting on new strings before putting bass on consignment?

[A Spotless Mind]

Hello,

I'm putting a bass I'm trying to sell through consignment at a very well known shop. The strings on the bass are about 1 year and 7 months old. Is it worth putting on new strings before I leave it with the shop? I won't be able to play it much before it's out of my possession, so there won't be much break in time. I just want the bass to sound and feel and good as possible to up its chances of getting bought.

Is this a common practice? Is this worth doing? Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[C Stone]

Depends, what strings are on it now?

 

[g-dude]

Are you putting on the same strings the new buyer wants?

If the existing strings aren’t horrible, you could be throwing money away.

 

[the_Ryan]

Most shops I've been to will allow potential buyers to change strings when they're trying the instrument out in the store, so IMO it shouldn't really matter what's on the instrument when you hand it over.

But definitely check the shop's policies.

 

[A Spotless Mind]

Depends, what strings are on it now?

Right now it's got Bel Cantos on the G and D and Permanents on the A and E/Extended low C

 

[Opus_Pocus]

Right now it's got Bel Cantos on the G and D and Permanents on the A and E/Extended low C

Bel Cantos seem to last a couple years for me before they start to feel dead, and even then they still sound passable.

 

[C Stone]

Right now it's got Bel Cantos on the G and D and Permanents on the A and E/Extended low C

Oops DB side out of my wheelhouse…
FWIW since I commented I did take the time look them up, some mention the Bel Cantos get a little stale after a year and the Permanents SB replaced 1.5 yrs
Apologies, I’ll see myself out. Good luck.

 

[Jason Sypher]

I wouldn’t bother. Most strings IMHO need time to really get their fundamental in order. The bass is settled and happy. Change the strings if a serious customers asks you to.

 

[AGCurry]

It depends. If the current strings are in good shape, and you'd be happy playing on them, leave them on.
If not, change them.
I wouldn't BUY a new set of strings, though ... I would find something in my collection.

 

[bassdude51]

Are you putting on the same strings the new buyer wants?

If the existing strings aren’t horrible, you could be throwing money away.

Exactly!

Save your money! There are no less than over hundreds of different kinds of strings and gauges! Just about no 2 bass players ever agree on string type.

Probably the first thing your potential buyer will do is rip off your strings and put on something that he/she likes.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

The thing that’s going to sell your bass is for it to be the best sounding one in the shop in it’s price range.

 

[ILIA]

It depends.

If you are trying to sell a bass that normally would be played by bass players with a discerning ear, then those players will be able to hear the potential of a bass, whether the strings were fresh or not. And like previous posters mentioned, those same discerning players will put their own favorite brand of strings on the bass, after they buy the bass. The more fanatical players will try every Tom-Dick-and-Joe string known to talkbass.com discussions.

If you are trying to sell a bass that normally would be played by bass players who are not so discerning, then a fresh set of strings would help sell the bass, IMO. Slap a set of fresh Spirocores on a low-end bass for un-discerning jazz players or a fresh set of Flexocor Deluxes on a low-end bass for un-discerning classical players, and the bass will sound amazing to them. Hell, a fresh set of cheap-a$$ed Helicores would do the trick, too.