Ever boil your bass strings?

[brandondrury]

Great post PhilB,

It appears that denatured alcohol is the way to go. However, soaking for 24 hours is not reasonable for me in most situations, but it's something I'll definitely pass on to my clients a few days before recording.

In my case, I boiled the strings to track one single song. The boiling worked just fine and the tone we got was exactly what I was looking for...(the new string sound more or less).

Some guys mentioned that boiling won't last that long. That could be true. I haven't tested it yet.

Brandon

[Matt]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

I think it's because most people are braindead and deaf when it comes to tone.? People are content with playing old strings.? Back when I serious about guitar playing, I could never get more than 3 weeks out of my strings and that was pushing it.? It was totally worth me spending $4 per month on strings to get tone that was light years ahead of the alternative (dead strings).
Brandon

I couldn't agree more.

For the last year, we've had essentially had at least one gig a week (sometimes 2-3). I change mine the night before the show...practice/noodle around on those string the following week. Then, change the strings the night before the next show.

I play a telecaster which is a pretty bright guitar. The difference between new strings and strings that are 2 weeks old are like night and day on this guitar.

I suppose using gobs of gain and stompbox effects could cover some of this difference up. In other words, someone who tap dances over 25 effects pedals through a heavilly distorted amp might not hear the difference because their sound is 'muddied' by the over-use of effects.

That, or they are braindead and deaf!!!

-Matt

[PhilB]

I'd say rubbing those bass strings regularly with the denatured alcohol or lighter fluid should be just fine. Obviously the overnight soak is too labor instensive to do regularly - taking strings off and back on is a pain, a good scrubbing with cloth and de-n alcohol is a breeze.

pb

[brandondrury]

I suppose using gobs of gain and stompbox effects could cover some of this difference up.

I've back in my metal days, when I was using relatively high gain, I thought strings made an enormous difference. You didn't lose brightness like you would with a Telecaster through a Fender amp so much. However, you did lose "texture". It was an enormous difference to me and once I learned just how good my tone was with brand new strings, it was very frustrating leaving them on for more than a week.

I'd say rubbing those bass strings regularly with the denatured alcohol or lighter fluid should be just fine.

Agreed. I'll be buying some of this stuff to have around the studio. It sounds like it's the way to go. Being poisonous is just an added plus!

Brandon

[Matt]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

I'll be buying some of this stuff to have around the studio.? It sounds like it's the way to go.? Being poisonous is just an added plus!? ?

Brandon

Is there room for this stuff next to "THE JAR"?

waka waka waka!

-Matt

[PhilB]

Originally Posted by PhilB

Agreed. I'll be buying some of this stuff to have around the studio.

yep - I just squirt a little on a spot of cloth, wrap that part around each string,
and go up and down the axe.

Minimizes contact of liquid with the neck.

Originally Posted by PhilB

Being poisonous is just an added plus! Smiley

!!

[brandondrury]

I've got a friend who says he'll be trying this trick tonight. I'll be recording him in a couple of days, so we should get some feedback immediately

Branodn

[tarim69]

Jean-Yves "Blacky" Theriault, Voivods well regarded bass player commented on washing and boiling his strings during recording Dimension Hatross and Nothingface.

[joebingo]

I never boil my strings - water and metal don't really mix in my books.

I always have a bucket of methylated spirit with strings in it, change them round whenever my strings start sounding dead. works well!

[Odobenus]

i did it once, wasn't too pleased with the results. so...never again. i'd rather just spend the money on new strings, rather then expend the effort on something that yields sub-par results.