Stretch or no?

[NobodyImportant]

I quit stretching after I had the D-string on two consecutive sets of EB slinky cobalt rounds break. No other strings I’d ever used up to that point had ever broke on me, I never thought that I tugged that hard on them. Now, I just slap ‘em on and play something heavy to break them in. Re-tune, repeat.

 

[Gizmot]

I think the recommendation from DR is for strings with round cores. DR makes fantastic strings, so it isn’t a problem with their products.

 

[meatwad]

Nah, I’m stretching. I’ve done it as far as I can remember, and it’s only helped with tuning stability.

 

[LBS-bass]

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. They really only ever need one or two retunings before they're good, no matter what I do.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I apologize in advance if this is a topic that’s already been beaten to death.

I’ve always stretched new strings when I install them. Recently I saw a video, from DR I think, that said to never stretch your new strings, and that only poor quality strings need stretching to keep their pitch. They seemed to feel strongly enough about it to repeat the statement several times. So, of course, I’m now conflicted and seeking the wisdom for those who know. You folks. thanks!

I tune a step up, and stretch them sort of outrageously. Then, tune to pitch, and do it again. They're usually good to go by the next day after that.

If I don't do that, it takes a solid week to stay in tune for a gig.

 

[BAG]

I think a lot of what stretching accomplishes is tightening the windings around the tuning peg.

Yep.
From what I have learned over the last 30+ years you aren't actually stretching the string as such, but helping it settle in on the tuning post and over the bridge. On basses, setting the witness points achieves a lot of what "stretching" would do.

I worked as a roadie back in my younger years in the late 80's and that's where I picked up the habit.
When strings are being replaced on an almost nightly basis, if you don't do the "stretch" the strings won't stay in tune for the first few songs and will have to be retuned between songs.

The way I do it is hold the string down around the 12th fret, give it a bit of a tug (less on the high strings but more on the low strings) move the fretting hand down two or three frets, do it again and repeat 4 times or so moving down the neck. I would be quite vigorous with this on acoustic guitars and have never broken a string doing so on hundreds of string changes over 30+ years.

 

[retslock]

I never stretch them. I just put them on and give them a really solid workout at home before they go to work. They settle in, the windings tighten as I correct the tuning along the way and all is good.

 

[bassrique]

This guy seems to know what he's talking about.

When I saw the thread title, I thought of this video. It's been posted here over the years a few times. When I googled it, I was led back here to your post. Ha!

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I install strings, bring them up to pitch, set witness points, and bring up to pitch again. I have noticed setting witness points definitely makes the string go flat the first time, often the second time & occasionally the third time on the lower / larger dia. strings. After that, I bring them up to pitch again and set intonation. If setting witness points is stretching, I stretch my strings. If it’s not considered stretching, I don’t stretch.

I set witness points by pressing down on the string in front of each saddle, and pressing down on each string behind the nut while holding the string down at the first fret. It does stretch the string to some degree, but maybe not how others stretch…

 

[Turnaround]

There’s no such thing as an electric bass string that doesn’t need to be stretched, at least a little for proper tuning retention.
A warning about this from DR is understandable because the windings on their round core strings are only held on by a spot weld in the middle of the string. This weld could be loosened/broken during a rough stretching session, although I’ve never broken a DR string on the rare occasions when I used them.

First off, "stretching" a string doesn't actually stretch it - it remains the same length. What "stretching" does is to set the witness points. But it does so indirectly. As you pull on the string, the increase in the tension tends to flatten out the "hump" of the string over the saddles and nut and the bend between the nut ant tuners. It's far more effective to set them directly. If you do so you won't have that initial "break-in period" when the sting goes flat for the first while. If you're really sold on stretching by all means continue. But directly setting the witness points is a better alternative.

There are no weld spots in DR strings.

 

[sawzalot]

I don't stretch them. They stretch out just fine from playing them. I just make sure to change strings a few days before a gig and play them a bit to get them through the initial stretch phase.

 

[drumvsbass]

I used to VIGOROUSLY stretch in new strings. Now I tune them to pitch, set witness point, let the bass sit for a couple of hours. Strings last me a LOT longer.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Stretch relatively gently until they hold pitch for an hour of playing. New wire does stretch but much of what stretching does is just seating the string on the post. Why in the world would you wait for that to happen by playing, instantly going flat and retuning 100 times? Get a gig stage teching and see how well handing the boss a guitar that won't stay in tune for the rest of the set goes for you. If you have issues with string life after stretching lighten up because you're pulling too hard...which is pretty hard to do.

 

[Tom Bomb]

This was fired across my bow, a little while ago,

A material behaves elastically when it returns to its original size after being stretched.
String elasticity is a property that seems to be widely misunderstood. There is a belief that new steel strings permanently elongate before they settle down and can be relied upon to tune to a stable pitch. It is even commonly recommended that this supposed stretching-in can, and should be accelerated, by grabbing the string somewhere around its middle and forcibly yanking it away from the guitar. This is an unnecessarily violent thing to do and can damage both the string and the guitar. It may result in a permanent kink in the string by flexing it beyond its elastic limit. Once this happens, the strings harmonic purity is compromised, even though the kink may seem to disappear when the string is tuned to pitch. Pulling on the strings can cause the ball ends to bite hard into the bridge plate, accelerating wear in this area. Any tuning instability for a new string is not due to permanent elongation, but to settling and slippage at the bridge and tuners. Careful and correct installation of new strings will minimise and even eliminate this movement. [emphasis added]

The site this quote was drawn from, Acoustic Masters, is on ice, today. Back then it was a genuine blessing. From that day forward, I curved my ways, for an infinite stretch Gave in to good science. The debate rages on. Many still get strung out. The choice is yours. Elasticity in a string, and pristine wood, is a finite asset. Worth remembering. Don't get bent out of shape
​

 

[Marc DLarosa]

OK... yeah... some of you players with that "soft touch" may not be (so much) victims of an "unstretched" string that gets beat on the way mine do.

So really... I think that this is where the reality sits. I may be wrong.

Play on, Bruddahs,and Sistahs!!!
Peace

 

[BlueTalon]

I apologize in advance if this is a topic that’s already been beaten to death.

I’ve always stretched new strings when I install them. Recently I saw a video, from DR I think, that said to never stretch your new strings, and that only poor quality strings need stretching to keep their pitch. They seemed to feel strongly enough about it to repeat the statement several times. So, of course, I’m now conflicted and seeking the wisdom for those who know. You folks. thanks!

I use DR strings, with few exceptions. I always tug them a little bit, never seems to hurt them.

 

[steveinohio]

I stretch them. I think they hold tune quicker. Other people don’t. That’s not a big deal either. No right or wrong. Just your preference.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Acoustic Masters, is on ice, today.

Here's Acoustic Masters - Strings 1 and Acoustic Masters - Strings 2, making amends
​

 

[mmon77]

Maybe I'm really setting a witness points, I don't know, but I gently stretch the strings after installing. I worry about it far more on guitar vs bass, but I still do it.

IME, without stretching the strings, on a guitar with a Floyd, you are in for a hell of a first few weeks. I understand that bass is different, but a little tug isn't going to hurt anything, and I think it helps.

 

[albertus]

never stretched a new string. when they settle they keep in tune. maybe if I had to change it in the middle of a gig would be a good idea. but not in a normal changing strings situation