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Strings Storage - Have You Found The Perfect Container?

Smallmouth_Bass

Smallmouth_Bass

Dec 29, 2005
8,019
6,048
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
#1
So, over the years I have accumulated quite a few sets of strings, both used and new. I have a couple of old shoe boxes that are sized well for string packs, but would like something a little nicer and stackable. I was looking at Bankers Boxes and Sterilite clear containers, but they both do not appear to have a model that is sized close to string packs.

Have you found a good one? How do you store and organize your strings? (links and photos welcome and encouraged!)
 
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#4
Smallmouth_Bass said:
...sized well for string packs ...a little nicer and stackable.
Click to expand...
Depending on how many packs you're looking to store, I've got something that's bang-on for that description. I originally bought this for something else, but once I had it in my hand, I realized it was also a perfect fit for bass strings. It's a "6x6 scrapbook case" from Michael's. Each one holds about 4 packs (maybe 5 if you stuff them in there). With the raised lip on the lid, and the feet below, they're also stackable:

String Bin 01-win.jpg


String Bin 02-win.jpg


String Bin 03-win.jpg



At ~5 bucks each, even cheap gits like me won't mind picking up a few of them. 🤑 😄


Good luck!

:thumbsup:
 
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#5
Those Michaels boxes look about perfect, but yeah... saving them for what? I save (1) set of the old ones in the package the new ones came in, in case one breaks, and then throw that old set out when I get the next new set. realistically though, I can think of only one or two bass strings that broke over the last 40 years or so.... I recently bought a set of Rotosound Swing 66 stainless for my Ric, and they arrived, in the sealed packages, slightly corroded, so maybe throw a couple silica gel packs in the box to preserve them for.. what exactly? I suppose you could "retire" string sets once they get a little too broken in and swap them onto other basses, though with flats that never seems to be necessary.
 
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#6
The packs they came. Or ziplocks and label them. Winslow’s system is better.

Once they become a pile of unidentified strings, I think the trash. You could possibly recover some with a caliper.

On the other end of this, I had a list of what got put on a bass, but it’s easy to fall behind on that. Next up is using the label maker to put a discreet bit of info on the bass itself.
 
#7
Smallmouth_Bass said:
I have accumulated quite a few sets of strings
Click to expand...
Based on the responses I see, I have a different interpretation of what I consider to be "quite a few" - which to me, means "dozens".

I re-purposed a couple Rubbermaid clear media storage boxes I had (from the era of CD-Rs & DVD-Rs)
Unfortunately, they don't appear to have anything remotely similar available now.

They're not tall enough for a lid - but that doesn't matter to me. You'd need something minimum 7.5"w x 7.5"H to accommodate a lid.
Sterilite may have something that'll work, and Target seems to have a large selection.
 
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#8
Most any lock-top or sealable plastic container is good. Keep new strings in their packaging. Buy some silica gel packets to stick in the box where you store your strings to ensure moisture is captured. Why are we keeping old strings? I can understand keeping flatwounds if they are transferable to another bass, or back on the bass from which they came, but dead old rounds get recycled or tossed, at least for me.
 
#10
New strings stay in the original package and are lined up on a shelf (as if they are books). I keep a couple of old sets of strings so I can alternate when boiling, but that's it. In the past I'd save my old strings and send them to Cuba with friends who were visiting there, but that stopped being a possibility so now I just toss them.
 
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#11
J-Bass RMR said:
Based on the responses I see, I have a different interpretation of what I consider to be "quite a few" - which to me, means "dozens".

I re-purposed a couple Rubbermaid clear media storage boxes I had (from the era of CD-Rs & DVD-Rs)
Unfortunately, they don't appear to have anything remotely similar available now.

They're not tall enough for a lid - but that doesn't matter to me. You'd need something minimum 7.5"w x 7.5"H to accommodate a lid.
Sterilite may have something that'll work, and Target seems to have a large selection.
Click to expand...

Yes, it seems I have accumulated dozen(s). Which reminds me, I have to go through them!

I generally put the set coming off in the package I am replacing them with and I will label them. That set becomes the backup set, so if I were to break a string, I could quickly replace it as it is all pre-bent and ready to go. I guess I haven't been discarding the backup sets as I change strings!!

I have only ever broken two strings and had one dud out of a new package, so it seems I wouldn't need that many backups! (but I do have a fair amount of basses, so...) ;)
 
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#16
Winslow said:
To be clear: I don't save or re-use old strings. If they come off the bass, they go in the trash. New ones go on. The only packs of strings I store are fresh packs / spares.

To each his/her own, though. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Same here! Right now, my only exception is a set of Chromes that I took off one of my Rics because they were too light for D Standard tuning. That set is in a Ziploc bag for storage.
 
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#17
MrAB4003 said:
Same here! Right now, my only exception is a set of Chromes that I took off one of my Rics because they were too light for D Standard tuning. That set is in a Ziploc bag for storage.
Click to expand...
I similarly have a set of 5-string flat would TI's that I had briefly on a Dingwall SP5. They're expensive as hell and I am not chucking those!
 
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