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Too many myths about boiling guitar strings?

#101
I don't boil my strings. It has nothing to do with the temperatures or the ability of boiling water (or alcohol) to remove dirt and grime. I'm sure boiling or soaking strings can make them clean.

But they are not new, nor are they like new. Boiling and soaking strings can't fix the divots that frets make in the strings. It can't fix the kinks from the bridge and nut. It can't fix the stress of winding and unwinding a string. And it definitely doesn't help with intonation.

So, I'll give you that the strings are probably cleaner and brighter, but I'll continue to drop $15 for a new set when mine wear out.
 
#102
I've boiled strings in the past; but only out of necessity rather than a practical routine. Before I had a career and modest, yet decent, money flow I'd remove and boil my strings. This was especially true if the gig(s) was right before payday. I did this several times in my 20's. However, I'd buy a fresh set of strings with the money I got from those gigs.
I revere the process of boiling strings to be the equivalent of slapping on that spare tire to get you to the garage. I've never boiled the same set of strings twice. YMMV, but that's just the way I see it.
 
#104
Tanner5382 said:
With what dipping sauce?
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Molten_boron.png
 
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#105
"I wonder if I can make soup out of this?" --Nina Hagen, "Born in Xixax" (Nunsexmonkrock)

I used to boil strings when I was younger. It helped with dirt, but as has been stated by others, did nothing for the shiny wear marks on the windings. I might do it again if I decide to keep the D'Addario XL Reds on my Precision, because those strings haven't been made in a very long time (and lawdy, that copper plating can build up some grime).

However, I've found that my alternative to boiling strings is to develop a liking for older, duller strings. :)
 
#106
Honch said:
round-vs-hex.jpg


After being in water just stretch it, or tune it up and play it so it vibrates, it goes SPROIIIINNNNGGG! You feel the water drops spatter around. As you see the fluid - any - can pile up, just as finger gunk does, inside the dead air space of string. The inner core is hex. On Round core there's little less that risk.

It's when the outer wrap of the string, is something like this, double wrap on top of each other:

i3cZj.png


Just tore it up for demsonstration. But as you boil them, gunk, as well as water can stay in there and be hard to cram out, or squeeze out. But everything expands as it gets heated up, so you can actually loose some of the grip, like the outer wrap looses grip on the inner wrap. It may not cool down and go back to its previous state, it can get quite askew hence the dead spots and intonation problems.

I favor isopropyl ethanol to anything boiling in water. Bass strings only. Guitar strings are a bit too cheap to take care. AND ONE THING: It only makes sense (if any) on the wound strings. Plain strings have nothing to get boiled off of. Plains strings you can soak in isopropanol and cloth and wipe it. No wraps or air spaces that can collect gunk.
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Interesting, tnx for the explanation. Let's push it one step further, is isopropyl ethanol aggressive for string coat? As you know, many strings are nickel plated, and we do want to keep this feature as much as possible.

Best
Fabio
 
#107
Option 1 Buy new strings. If for some reason option 1 isn't feasible, option 2 play a different bass. If neither 1 or 2 are available, option 3 buy a new bass. If not option 1, 2 or 3, quit bass take up playing the kazoo. I could go until we get to option 289 or so when I would consider boiling strings then still wouldn't. Too much work and hassle for 2 days of diminishing returns.
 
#114
My personal experience was that it did indeed work, but not all that greatly, and for me only lasted a couple of days. In the long run, I decided it wasn't worth the effort, especially as I kinda like the sound of old strings whether they're flats or rounds.
 
#115
michael_t said:
Was the bass naked (ie without strings) while you were boiling the strings? If so, it's possible the neck got out of proper adjustment due to the lack of string tension. Just a thought...
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Yeah, but it was naked for no longer than 30 minutes, and the action now is significantly higher than it was before... Still buzzing. Pretty strange.
 
#116
MDBass said:
I'll generally boil and reuse a set anywhere from 5-10 times.
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Since you do that so often, haven't you noticed this weird fret buzz I was describing? Even with action nearly twice higher, I seem to get strings buzzing.

In this YouTube video some of that buzz I'm talking about can be heard. But mine is a lot more severe.

 

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