kjt Posted August 11, 2003 Share Posted August 11, 2003 does any-body know the right procedure of boiling strings?do you use baking soda, vinegar,how long do you boil,does it matter if their nickle or stainless. im layed off and need every dime for rent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fig Posted August 11, 2003 Share Posted August 11, 2003 I don't know if there's a 'right' procedure, though I've heard of people adding vinegar, WD-40, etc. I just use straight water, coil the strings, and once the water is boiling, let them stay in for about 10 minutes. I figure that's enough time for the heat to melt that body grease gunk between the windings. Rinse with fresh water, dry 'em off. Do a search in this forum and on the internet and you'll probably find a suitable way for you. Bassplayers aren't paid to play fast, they're paid to listen fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chest Rockwell Posted August 11, 2003 Share Posted August 11, 2003 Straight water will do. But, this should be done in an emergency/desperate situation because the strings become brittle and have a tendency to break easily. Also, the strings' newly replenished luster will not last beyond a gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted August 11, 2003 Share Posted August 11, 2003 This subject comes up fairly regularly. It's always instructive to see what has been said in the past. Check out the words of wisdom of bass guru (and original moderator of this forum) Ed Friedland: ed\'s comment another of ed\'s comments Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassaddik Posted August 12, 2003 Share Posted August 12, 2003 not really worth it- they die VERY dead after a couple of days back on- as stated before, ..i know . i know... Praise ye the LORD. ....praise him with stringed instruments and organs... Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. excerpt from- Psalm 150 visit me at: www.adriangarcia.net for His glory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted August 12, 2003 Share Posted August 12, 2003 A cheap set of new strings is better than boiling old ones to get a few more days out of them - IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick_dont_fret_dup1 Posted August 12, 2003 Share Posted August 12, 2003 Like everyone else has said, boiling decreases string life quickly. What I've found that works wonders is the FastFret stuff from GHS. It's got a little brush-looking applicator with a chamois included (to wipe the excess cleaner off). It keeps those strings fresher, longer, than anything else I have ever tried. All for less than $7.00, I believe. Not too sure how long the applicator lasts, though. Well, I see greenboy is back, so why the heck not.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave da Dude Posted August 12, 2003 Share Posted August 12, 2003 Please forgive my lack of knowledge on this subject. Loved Ed's comments , but I ass..u..me that this deep interest in reviving old bass strings comes out of the expense of the bass strings (from numbers I've seen "here 'n there"), especially as compared to plain ole' geetar strings. What's a good, basic set of (4) strings cost anyway? How long will they last (assuming [there it is again ] almost daily practice for an hour or two and a coupla' gigs a week)? Dave Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick_dont_fret_dup1 Posted August 13, 2003 Share Posted August 13, 2003 Well, the cost of the string depends on a few variables.... 1.) the kind of materials used (i.e., stainless steel, nickel, both, etc.) 2.) the brand of string (some strings really just suck, so the price generally equates) And probably some other things. I play DR LowRiders, which are stainless steel. They cost around $25 before taxes (or something like that). Most nickel strings won't cost anything more than that, usually around $20. Steel usually lasts longer than nickel (though I know a few people that can make nickel last forever), and with the stuff I was describing in my earlier post, they should last even longer. Well, I see greenboy is back, so why the heck not.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninja Posted August 13, 2003 Share Posted August 13, 2003 I've never boiled strings, rather I drenched them in pure alcohol a couple of times for about half an hour, but I think the result is quite the same of boiling them. A wise piece of advice: as soon as you feel that your strings are about to die, just start sparing money to buy a new set!! www.myspace.com/fabrizioruggiero www.myspace.com/vanalientribute Who are we? People. Where do we come from? Home. Where are we going to? Home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave da Dude Posted August 15, 2003 Share Posted August 15, 2003 YEM, And probably some other things. I play DR LowRiders, which are stainless steel. They cost around $25 before taxes (or something like that). Most nickel strings won't cost anything more than that, usually around $20. Steel usually lasts longer than nickel (though I know a few people that can make nickel last forever), and with the stuff I was describing in my earlier post, they should last even longer. Hey, thanks YEM. Like I thought, the bass strings are a lot more expensive than geetar strings, and for only four. I usually pay $7-$10 (for six), although I've seen them as high as $15 or $20, but that's for super high end strings (and questionable increase in tone / life). Thansk again, Dave. Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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