What to do with my old strings?

[Stanley Design]

Might be better off in Misc. but what is a cool thing I can do with my old strings? I seen some cool bracelets on here before, maybe some directions or other such cool stuff?

 

[Jonathan Starr]

They kick butt in a weed whacker. Different guages for different types of weeds.

Aloha,

Jonathan

 

[Magneto]

Might be better off in Misc. but what is a cool thing I can do with my old strings? I seen some cool bracelets on here before, maybe some directions or other such cool stuff?

Well you could send them to me so that I could "boil" them and reuse them..

I doubt if many "starving" bassists do this, but it's a trick that I learned a long time ago from some experienced players.

I roll the strings up, drop a set into a pot of boiling water+dishwashing liquid, boil for about 15-20 minutes. Cleans the oils and gunk out of them. Then I boil them again in some clean water to get all the soap out. Right after pulling them out, I wipe them down with a clean soft rag, then usually let them sit for a bit before installing them.

This takes a really dead string and breathes new life into it. It will sound almost as good as it did when new. I just did a set of roundwounds that sounded deader than flats, and they are bright and happy again. I've never had a string break because of this. The only problem is that reusing them over and over tends to cause the felt on the ends to become frazzled and frayed, but I usually only boil a set a couple times before chunking it.

Oh well.. for what it's worth

Mag...

 

[Mr.QuakQuak]

Got old strings eh ? Ever thing of crime fighting some baddies ? STRING MAN !!! DUH NAH DUN NAH..... yeeeah..

 

[Figjam]

Im saving all the balls from mine and am going to make a bracelet or something.

 

[VS]

I'd give you some examples,but it wouldn't be rated PG-13. -Luke

 

[Tyler Hole]

I save mine incase I break one on the new set so I'll have backups! Also, I let Soto borrow them if he breaks a string.

 

[Stanley Design]

I don't think these are any good for anything other then making something cool like a belt. Their almost 3 years old now, I didn't realize how tome dead they were until I bought new ones. These were stock strings when I bought my first bass, they didn't even have the fabric on the ends, just metal. They have been through a lot.

 

[BassGreaser]

you could always eat them

 

[bill h]

I give them to a friend who works on cars. He uses them to take out windshields.

 

[Lazy B.]

Boil them, stick 'em in your gigbag and re-use them in case of an emergency on stage.

 

[tplyons]

At the dudepit a string trade was going around for people who wanted to try different strings without dropping a lot of money. It was agreed that they'd be free, charging shipping at the most. I tried some nice flats that way. Perhaps we should start a string trade here.

 

[Treena Foster]

At the dudepit a string trade was going around for people who wanted to try different strings without dropping a lot of money. It was agreed that they'd be free, charging shipping at the most. I tried some nice flats that way. Perhaps we should start a string trade here.

I would be into the string trade idea, but I wouldn't want a set of strings to try that were three years old, how can you tell what the strings sound like?

Link Removed

Treena

 

[tplyons]

I would be into the string trade idea, but I wouldn't want a set of strings to try that were three years old, how can you tell what the strings sound like?

Don't be getting technical on me Treena, LOL. That's how I tried my first flats, I fell in love with Steels. It's great, and I may be putting something on my website, like a string trading forum or something. Gotta take into account a few things: headstock configuration, bridge type and scale length. Strings off Fenders work for almost anything, but off a Stingray only work for Stingrays and 2+2 headstocks in most cases.

Wow, I've thought this through way too much...

 

[Magneto]

Boil them, stick 'em in your gigbag and re-use them in case of an emergency on stage.

Right on bro.. we can call them boilwounds..

Mag...

 

[Treena Foster]

Don't be getting technical on me Treena, LOL. That's how I tried my first flats, I fell in love with Steels. It's great, and I may be putting something on my website, like a string trading forum or something. Gotta take into account a few things: headstock configuration, bridge type and scale length. Strings off Fenders work for almost anything, but off a Stingray only work for Stingrays and 2+2 headstocks in most cases.

Wow, I've thought this through way too much...

Let me know if you decide to do this, or setup a forum for it, I'll be glad to participate!

Treena

 

[Raymondn1]

Well you could send them to me so that I could "boil" them and reuse them..

I doubt if many "starving" bassists do this, but it's a trick that I learned a long time ago from some experienced players.

Oh well.. for what it's worth

Mag...

Approved! I've been boiling strings for ages... Saves a lot of money. But don't tell your string dealer or any manufacturers about it

 

[embellisher]

Don't boil. Use denatured alcohol instead. It works much better, and doesn't corrode the strings.

 

[tplyons]

Alright, the STRING TRADE FORUM is up! at [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Just register, trade, and do everything of the sort! Classifieds too! Not like I want to compete with TB, but the string trade is just handy!

 

[Tyler Hole]

I dig it bro - Nice forum! I think I'll have to sign up

edit: signed up on the new String Trade forum