Anyone know the "proper" method of stretching new bass strings so they stay in tune? I've read a few things about it but I feel a little nervous about trying a method that I found randomly on the internet. Has anyone done this before? If so, how did you do it? Even a link to a known-good technique would be appreciated.
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Stretching New Strings
- Thread starter stilla
- Start date
I tend to install the strings, tune them to pitch, and gently tug the entire length of the string, including between the nut and tuners. I then retune the string and repeat the process until the string holds pitch. Then I check / set the intonation if needed..
I've always strung and tuned the bass and then tugged the strings once or twice and re-tuned. Should only take a few times through this process to get them settled. Hope this helps!
I don't do this at all. I change my strings, tune, then play away on it for a few minutes. Then I retune, play, retune, done. I just don't see why it is necessary to yank on the strings so that they hold pitch right away. I can only see this as causing damage to the structure of the string, depending on how hard you are pulling on the string of course.
+1
I do exactly the same when changing my strings and have never found the need to stretch them.
- Jun 19, 2004
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- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
I have always stretched my strings with no problems. I hold down the 1st fret with my left hand and yank the string about an inch off the fretboard (with my right hand pulling up around the 12th fret), for about 1 second, 5 times or so. Then, I move up to fretting the 12th fret, and pull up the string with my right hand again, around the 24th fret, about an inch off the fretboard, again about 1 second each time about 5 times. I learned this from a Fender rep re: Fender strings. If DR says don't do it, and you use DRs, maybe you shouldn't - I still would. YMMV.
Yeah, but an inch isn't exactly much. I'd be more concerned about people hearing about yanking on their strings to help them settle, and find out they yank them several inches off the fretboard. Where is the video of that one guy that holds his bass by the strings and shakes it?
Ah, here it is.
DO NOT DO WHAT THIS GUY DOES IN THE VIDEO!!!!!
This is the worst advice I've ever seen, and I can just picture a bunch of people that are new to bass using his advice and breaking strings. When I first saw this video, I thought he was joking, but I don't think he is...
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
P.S. I didn't see anything on DR's website about stretching strings, so I emailed them the question. I'll post their response when I get it.
By the way, did you know that DR uses mostly Guilds for testing DR strings, because the founder of DR Strings is the son of the founder of Guild Guitars? The DR company has what is thought to be the first ever Guild guitar, which they use for string testing... I thought that was pretty cool:
http://www.drstrings.com/main.html
Click on "About Us" - uses Flash so I can't post a direct hyperlink
By the way, did you know that DR uses mostly Guilds for testing DR strings, because the founder of DR Strings is the son of the founder of Guild Guitars? The DR company has what is thought to be the first ever Guild guitar, which they use for string testing... I thought that was pretty cool:
http://www.drstrings.com/main.html
Click on "About Us" - uses Flash so I can't post a direct hyperlink
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
Oh, dude, f'in Dalton... I've talked to that guy before, actually about that exact video... I told him to hold down the first fret because otherwise, the string will come out of the nut and if it rubs the wrong way, it will break. I also told him to take down this video because he's teaching other people how to do it incorrectly - "just yank on it as much as you can... even 2 minutes for each string... I like to take out my frustrations on it...." And he's a so-called expert!
Two points:
- You can't "stretch" a string with your hand with anything close to the tensile force that winding the tuner creates.
- When you pull a string away from the neck, some, or even most, of the movement that occurs is happening because of the neck flex rather than the string flex.
DR string user also and heed their advice. I don't think it's all that necessary with any bass strings. Maybe guitar strings too?
Yes, when he picks up the whole bass with the string and shakes it, it makes me cringe.
Yes, when he picks up the whole bass with the string and shakes it, it makes me cringe.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
1. Um, sure you can. Try this: fret the 12th fret with your left hand, pluck the string with your right hand, then reach over with your right hand and pull up on the string *behind* the 12th fret, while still holding down the fretted note and sounding the note. When you pull up on the string even one inch, you will hear the tone raise in pitch as much as an fifth. This is equivalent to tuning up a fifth, if only for a second.
2. No, it's not. If it were neck flex, the pitch would stay constant in the above demonstration. The neck stays relatively stable, and the string tightens. You can even feel the string getting tighter and see the windings move toward the direction of the pull in relation to fixed markers - the nut, frets, etc.
Have you ever used a whammy bar? What do you think that's doing? You positively tighten the strings by pulling on them
OK, sure. But why do that?
...right...what's this point about? Did I say that it wasn't possible to affect the tone of a string by tightening it?Have you ever used a whammy bar? What do you think that's doing? You positively tighten the strings by pulling on them
I propose a duel. Each of us will have a .105 gauge E string. You hold yours in your hands, mine will be strung on a bass. Each of us tries to break the string only by challenging its tensile strength (i.e. no crimping). I do it by turning the tuning machine, you do it by pulling on the string with your hands. He who breaks his string first is owed $100 by the other man.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
Oh, I see what you meant by "you can't." I thought you meant, one can't pull on a string, while it's on a bass (as in, for example, stretching it) to anything close to the tensile strength of a tuning machine... and I thought (and posted), sure you can, just pull on it, the pitch raises, ipso facto proof of increased tension to the same degree as a half-dozen turns on the tuning machine key. I didn't realize you meant with bare hands!
As far as the second part, I still say, when you pull a string away from the neck, you are increasing the tension of the string, and not flexing the neck much (certainly not any more than if you tuned the string to a higher pitch equal to the same amount of tension, and certainly not MORE than you're tightening the string).
As far as affecting the tone of a string by pulling on it, are we talking about affecting tone, or pitch? I think you meant pitch but I'm not sure, just wanted to clarify.
As far as your bet; I'll pass, knowing you meant with your bare hands. However, if you're talking about we both start with a bass strung-up, and I pull on the .105 E string (off the fretboard) and you tune your .105 E string up with the tuning machine, and whoever breaks a string first wins $100, yeah, I'll take that bet!
As far as the second part, I still say, when you pull a string away from the neck, you are increasing the tension of the string, and not flexing the neck much (certainly not any more than if you tuned the string to a higher pitch equal to the same amount of tension, and certainly not MORE than you're tightening the string).
As far as affecting the tone of a string by pulling on it, are we talking about affecting tone, or pitch? I think you meant pitch but I'm not sure, just wanted to clarify.
As far as your bet; I'll pass, knowing you meant with your bare hands. However, if you're talking about we both start with a bass strung-up, and I pull on the .105 E string (off the fretboard) and you tune your .105 E string up with the tuning machine, and whoever breaks a string first wins $100, yeah, I'll take that bet!
Tslicebass
Commercial User
Dont waste your time...just put em on tune up and rock out with your c*** out 
Stretching strings is for guitards
Stretching strings is for guitards
