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Strings: Old or new?
- Thread starter Philbiker
- Start date
I like my strings to sound new, usually I like them out-of-the-box except for ultra-bright strings like DR Hi-Beams where I prefer their sound on the 2nd day.
How can I make them last longer though? Just wash my hands before each time I pick up the bass?
How can I make them last longer though? Just wash my hands before each time I pick up the bass?
depending on amount of playing I like to get 3-4 months playing time per set. Before the string goes from its freshly broken in sound to starting to get dull sounding in comp to new sound. However since I switched to DR neon green bass string I should expect to get more like 8 months use per set. Lol. I prefer the new and nicely broken in yet still fresh sounding tone to the old and getting dull sound.
I don't remember what brand my strings are and I haven't changed them for 2 years.
As for cleaning your strings..
http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/how_to_clean_bass_strings.html
http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/bass_string_cleaning_tube.html
I'd build one myself but I lack the patience and the resources, besides, I want to get a set of D'Addario Chromes anyway.
As for cleaning your strings..
http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/how_to_clean_bass_strings.html
http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/bass_string_cleaning_tube.html
I'd build one myself but I lack the patience and the resources, besides, I want to get a set of D'Addario Chromes anyway.
At the local music shop there's a used LTD that hasn't sold since I started coming in there..
Probably because the strings are the stock strings from about eight years ago o_o
Needless to say, they're absolutely filthy and feel awful. Stuff a whole sock under your strings near the bridge and that's bassically what they feel/play/sound like
Probably because the strings are the stock strings from about eight years ago o_o
Needless to say, they're absolutely filthy and feel awful. Stuff a whole sock under your strings near the bridge and that's bassically what they feel/play/sound like
When I bought my first bass, it still had on the stock strings (after 3 years). I didn't know any better so I played this way for 6+ months.
COULD NOT BELIEVE the difference when I finally replaced the strings. I was thumping away at duds, and I hadn't a clue I could do anything about it
Nowadays - new strings are a tad too bright for my taste. I break 'em in before a gig.
COULD NOT BELIEVE the difference when I finally replaced the strings. I was thumping away at duds, and I hadn't a clue I could do anything about it
Nowadays - new strings are a tad too bright for my taste. I break 'em in before a gig.
I try to change mine every 3 months or as finances allow. There is nothing better for me than the bright clack of new strings, it's like music to my ears (pun intended).
Washing your hands helps, but check out BassBrites in my signature. I made them for this exact purpose.
I change the strings when I feel the time is right, but strings will last me between 3 and 6 months, although I do prefer them when they're fresh.
Will C.
Pretty much the same for me, although if I'm playing very frequently, I'll also change the strings more frequently than this. During times when I'd be playing out several times per week, I'd change the strings at least once per month, and preferably every two weeks.
I can understand the appeal of broken-in strings. I've never understood the appeal of dead strings. Not only are they almost completely devoid of resonance and tonality, they're just about impossible to intonate. Playing them doesn't even sound like playing a musical instrument.
MM
I have never noticed a difference between fresh and old. Admittedly, I am a newbie, and I could have just gotten accustomed to the sound and not payed attention. The only time I'd ever changed strings in my 5 years of playing is when my A string randomly broke one day. I remember not really doing anything, maybe playing some light notes, when suddenly the string just... falls off. It was really odd and it made me very angry because I couldn't play anything that used the A string for a week or two until I could afford another set.
I like the sound of day-old rounds and old flats. Glad the voting closed, otherwise I wouldn't know what to pick!
I usually change my strings before every gig, but they are not "new" strings. I keep 3-4 sets in rotation, one set soaking in the denatured alcohol tube (they'll soak for anywhere from 2 days to a month, depending on how much I'm playing out), the "clean" sets go in my "bag-o-tricks", and a set on my bass. I can get about 5 or 6 rotations out of each set before I get nervous about breakage. The tuning end of the string tends to get work-hardened and a little bit brittle after a few re-stringing procedures. That said, I haven't actually broke a string in many, many years.
Ok I'll play. 1 bass with old flats, 1 bass with new rounds, Nickle, about every 2 months. I do have a question for string experts. Many of you mention how you sweat a lot or have acidic skin, how exactly does that effect stainless steel or nickle? By what method is the amount of salts in sweat or acid in sweat (I'm not sure I buy that) deaden strings. I accept that you feel it is what is killing strings but how? I'm really curious.
The deader the better for me. I don't change strings till they break or the corrosion is so bad it's dirtying up the bass or my hands or both. And when I do, I try to kill them as fast as I can so I can get back to dead dead dead ASAP.
That's the only way I can get the 70's porno-flick-soundtrack bass tone, like this:
https://soundcloud.com/unclejane/girard
This bass (L2K) had the same set of Chrome flats on it for almost a decade when I recorded this. When I fixed the fingerboard recently I replaced them with a new set of rounds. I'll probably go to my grave with the bass with those strings on it if one of em doesn't break. Same with my other basses, not until they rot off....
LS
That's the only way I can get the 70's porno-flick-soundtrack bass tone, like this:
https://soundcloud.com/unclejane/girard
This bass (L2K) had the same set of Chrome flats on it for almost a decade when I recorded this. When I fixed the fingerboard recently I replaced them with a new set of rounds. I'll probably go to my grave with the bass with those strings on it if one of em doesn't break. Same with my other basses, not until they rot off....
LS
Sweat contains more than just water. It also contains salt and whatever toxins you've been putting into your body. Some people have cleaner sweat than others. Sometimes your sweat is downright corrosive. So whatever is in your sweat goes into your strings and dirties them up.
At least that's the dumb guy who doesn't know science that well version. You'll have to google it or wait for an actual scientist to get the real answer.
