questions about boiling

[tubadude]

hey i have some questions about boiling strings.
first, how long do i boil them? and if i boil them too long what would happen? what kind of pot should i use? regular stainless or would a dutch oven work (cast iron)? also, i have coated warwick strings currently on the bass. is it okay to boil them would the coating still be there? they are about 3 months old.

[Four Symbols]

boiling?

[IllegalPanda]

Originally posted by Four Symbols
boiling?
i second that..

why the hell are you going to boil your strings?

[tubadude]

many people on this site say it brightens the tone of your strings without buying new strings. and i was thinking about it and i dont have 40 dollars to buy new ones

[Four Symbols]

Originally posted by IllegalPanda
i second that..

why the hell are you going to boil your strings?


now i know im not alone.... thank you



anyway,.... sorry but idk much about that procedure

[IndieSucks]

boiling?, what the hell is that gona
do for your string that new ones wouldnt!

[tubadude]

^save you 40 dollars
and a trip to the store

[Helical]

Meh, boiling strings works ok. I've done it a couple times, but theres a better thing to do. Dip the strings in denatured alcohol over night and you'll have much, much better results.

You can either get some PCV pipe the longth of your strings, close one end, fill it up, then put the strings in, or put them in a tupperware container. The only problem that the latter option presents is that the string rappings at the end of the strings may come undone. But yeah, just leave them in the alcohol over night and they'll come out much better than they would if you had boiled them.

[Four Symbols]

you're going to have to buy new strings eventually... plus new strings work a wonder to tone

[Helical]

Originally posted by Four Symbols
you're going to have to buy new strings eventually... plus new strings work a wonder to tone Yeah, but by using denaturede alcohol, you can't get that new string tone for awhile longer, and it saves miney, so why ot do it?

[Four Symbols]

how do you get the strings back on after you take them off?

[Helical]

Are you kidding me? The same way you put them on the first time.

[Four Symbols]

well see... i never reuse string so i cut them off lol...

[tubadude]

okay i have tons of denatured alcohol at work, ill take them off tonight and bring them in to work

[Unplugged]

Something I also heard, is that it's important you don't use that same pot to cook food with after boiling your strings, but I have no idea if that's true.

[UtBDan]

^ it is true. Just like you don't use the can opener for catfood that you do with human food. Just don't mix "****" with "goods", simple as that.

[fleaflicker182]

A really good thing for boiling is to add a little vinegar to the water. My brother did that on one of our bass string sets and it doubled the life. I don't know about coated strings, however.

[SRX700]

Originally posted by Four Symbols
well see... i never reuse string so i cut them off lol...

Right so... you cut them off. Then how the hell do you put on new strings? Because if you cut them off the ends will still be on the bass. You do know that if you loosen them enough they come out easily right?

[BrianApocalypse]

no, no, no.

Get a rag with vodka on it, and put it on your strings, and let them soak in the vodka. Do this every weeks or so, wipe your strings down every time you play, and you'll keep all the tone you could need.

[UtBDan]

No cleaning technique will ever fully replace buying and putting on new strings. New strings will still sound better than boiled, denatured alcohol'd, and vodka'd strings.


Now I support the doing it to make your past strings work better and all, but, you don't friggen know how to put on strings? Stop what you're doing and buy some new strings. If you've been playing as long as you've been registered, THEN IT'S PAST OVERDUE.

[el_ryano88]

DON't DO IT!!! i did it a couple of weeks ago and i ended up getting a really clanky metallic sound out of them. DON'T DO IT!!!!

[herrly]

Boiling the strings works. It gets out all the bacteria on the strings, it sorta renews the life of the strings, but they will never sound brand new. You can only boiling strings once or twice because after that, it's not that affective anymore. But it works, I only boil my strings when I have to play soon and dont have any cash for new strings.

[tubadude]

^im in the same situation and i want to try it too. but earlier in this thread someone said that denatured alcohol works better than boiling, so i have them in some right now, but i heard acetone works better because its denatured alcohol without alcohol. ill put them on tommorow and i will let you guys know

[Helical]

Yeah, acetone, I think does work maybe a little better, but I just mentioned denatured alcohol because I figured it was more common.

[tubadude]

hey i put them on today and the strings sounded brand new, unfornuately, i didnt have time to bring my bass home, i had to help a friends grandma get up (a fall with 2 fake hips)

[Sören]

Hm, will try it too in a few days.

[the_scientist87]

How often should strings be replaced?

[UtBDan]

Depends on how serious you are. None of us here can probably afford to buy them as often as the sound wears out, but if you go more than a couple months without new strings, ouch.

[Secondhandloser]

Originally posted by UtBDan
Depends on how serious you are. None of us here can probably afford to buy them as often as the sound wears out, but if you go more than a couple months without new strings, ouch.
I replace mine weekly :)

But, hey, getting them for free tends to help out on the financial side, I just got $180 worth of free Elixirs....

[brycerb]

Originally posted by Secondhandloser
I replace mine weekly :)

But, hey, getting them for free tends to help out on the financial side, I just got $180 worth of free Elixirs....

how are you getting free bass strings?! i wish i could:(

[lost_it_again]

Originally posted by SRX700
Right so... you cut them off. Then how the hell do you put on new strings? Because if you cut them off the ends will still be on the bass. You do know that if you loosen them enough they come out easily right?

if you are intending to reuse the strongs DO NOT cut them otherwise it will be physicaly imposible for you to get them back on. just turn the tuning peg the way you would to make the note lower but keep going so that the string is completely loose and after it's completely unwound you'll be able to just pull it out from the hole in the top. (this is for the thread starter) when puting them back on just do the opposite , put the string in the whole (some basses have different kind of necks but they all have a hole for the string0 and then tune it back up again

[mangablade]

well i dont know about you guys and your "man, i wish i could replace them weekly thing"...

i find the tone lasts fine for months at a time.

[doormatt]

just get ghs bass boomers they NEVER die.(well not never, but...)

[boba899]

My strings ALWAYS break at the bridge. I play like Co&Ca's bassist (lots of right hand movement) so I hit the strings quite hard (but not hard enough to hit the pickup)/ I buy new strings once every month, not out of choice. But how does Secondhandloser get free strings?!

[herrly]

You see that guy's rig? The people at the music store probably saw it too and was in and just said 'here, have some free strings.'

Ha, I don't know, but he's lucky, that's for sure.

[boba899]

Is he! Strings are like £20 a set... He must save hundreds a year!

[blue_white_bass]

OK, just one question, can I just use normal home brewd alcohol, like 60% is enough?

Nobody is drinking this stuff, since it's the first thing that comes out from brwing (contains methanol). So I'd like to put it to good use...

[JPJ ZEP BASS]

ive never really herd of the boiling method but it seems like a good way to clean string
i wouldnt boil them for too long however

[Secondhandloser]

Originally posted by brycerb
how are you getting free bass strings?! i wish i could:(

One of my bands sent a demo EP to ErnieBall and got free tshirts, dvd's, and strings, and I sent a demo of me (on bass, guitar, vox, drums, and piano) and got a bunch of free strings.

[boba899]

I'm so sending a demo :D

[Greenday389]

ya im sending a demo if i get free strings:D

[boba899]

Errr... Anyone wana form a band..? :D

[Greenday389]

we could make a band over the internet then have some one send in the demo


I can play the bass(apparently) and the electric guitar

[boba899]

I can play bass and thats it :D I can help with riffage..

[Greenday389]

i already hav 1 song done that has a bad artificial bass part because when i made it i didnt hav a bass and the drums are pretty bad on it so we need to work that out. but the guitar part is kewl and its in drop B tuning.It sounds reall heavy.


I hav a guitar part i havnt recorded yet because its only 45 sec long so i still need to get more riffs and stuff and since i havnt recorded it it dosnt have drums.



I think we need a singer because i suck at singing and i dont have a mic.But if you can find some1 to sing PM me.

I'll PM you the metal song

[tubadude]

i think its funny in the 40 some odd posts, no one answered my question. but i don't care, i cleaned them and they are fine. i get free sets (but not too often) from warwick because im a beta tester for one of ther types of strings.

[boba899]

People answered, we've told you to use acohol and how to clean your strings, how ungrateful.

[tubadude]

i mean for how long and what would happened if i over
boiled them. but i am grateful.

[Rik_Sixx]

Boiling NEW strings is handy as it stops them dropping out of tune like new strings have a tendancy to do. Never heard of boiling old strings though, I figured that would just **** em up. DUnno how long or nothin.

[83lespaulstudio]

buy new strings. boiling will get a few more weeks out of them but they still don't sound new. boiling new strings is crazy.
strings are not tea, and you can't over boil them. it will clean out some of the finger "crud" on them. try a set of Rotosound Swing Bass strings.(don't boil them). new strings, is the only answer.
Edit: strings tend to rust quicker, after boiling.

:cheers:

[John Swift]

Originally posted by Rik_Sixx
Boiling NEW strings is handy as it stops them dropping out of tune like new strings have a tendancy to do. Never heard of boiling old strings though, I figured that would just **** em up. DUnno how long or nothin. Youve got to come from Bradford with an answer like that! Don't ruin your new strings by boiling them send them to me I'll send you my old strings to boil.
I used to boil my old strings but not anymore it only lasts for a little while and as '83lespaulstudio' wrote they rust soon after.

PS only joking about Bradford



:cheers:

[UtBDan]

Originally posted by tubadude
i think its funny in the 40 some odd posts, no one answered my question. but i don't care, i cleaned them and they are fine. i get free sets (but not too often) from warwick because im a beta tester for one of ther types of strings.

how'd you score that sweet job?

[tubadude]

i have a good friend who is a luither and makes upright basses. and i guess his company is assoicated with warwick, so he got me strings and told me to give him monthly reports on how the strings are, like if they are too bright or they fade. quality control kinda.