Outlaws
New member
Here is my contribution to making this thread longer than it ever needed to be -
I don't own a bass so I can't help anyone.
I don't own a bass so I can't help anyone.
lbanks
Banned
None of my strings have more than 20 hours. I try to rotate each axes playing time.
Garry Sharp
Lost Cause
I tried that boiling the strings thing once. Couldn't quite figure it out - the only receptable large enough was the bath, took 18 kettles to fill it. Got water in the pick ups and everything. Buying new strings is cheaper...
Hard2Hear
New member
ez_willis
.
Rokket said:
It works but the strings go dead pretty quickly after that. I read somewhere on this forum, can't remember who posted it but it seemed like a good idea, haven't tried it yet either so I can't vouch for it. They suggested getting a piece of pvc pipe, 3/4" or 1", get 2 caps, glue one on one end, put your strings in it then fill it with alcohol and cap that end without glueing it and let 'em soak for 24 hours.
By the way, that's isopropyl alcohol, not whiskey.
Oh, then put 'em back on your bass and TUNE IT!
Rokket
Trailing Behind Again
That's just too funny!!!!Garry Sharp said:
Rokket
Trailing Behind Again
I'd heard that too, and was going to try it, but I am just not wanting to go through all that trying to wind them on after they've already been crimped. I'll probably just wait until one of them dies and I've got $30.00 that needs a purpose..ez_willis said:It works but the strings go dead pretty quickly after that. I read somewhere on this forum, can't remember who posted it but it seemed like a good idea, haven't tried it yet either so I can't vouch for it. They suggested getting a piece of pvc pipe, 3/4" or 1", get 2 caps, glue one on one end, put your strings in it then fill it with alcohol and cap that end without glueing it and let 'em soak for 24 hours.
By the way, that's isopropyl alcohol, not whiskey.
Oh, then put 'em back on your bass and TUNE IT!
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
took 18 kettles to fill it
LOL
As for me, I tried changing strings every time somebody said I was out of tune, but that got extremely expensive. Now I just change when I can no longer tell what key I'm in.
No, that's not true, that's most of the time.
OK, I change strings when, um.
1. After my stepson, with corrosive hand sweat, plays a bass. I have literally watched a set of strings go from "new" to "black" in an hour or so.
2. When I find out about some new killer string that will make my playing more percussive, present, rhythmic, bottomy, trebly, or otherwise better than what my playing sounds like now.
3. I find some for under $10US per set. I have never recovered from happening into a music store that was discontinuing all their bass strings and buying their entire stock of D'Addario ground rounds wounds for $10US per set. I bought $100 worth, and didn't buy bass strings for ten years after (hey, that sounds like a great name for a band!).
4. There is no 4. I just don't change strings.
LOL
As for me, I tried changing strings every time somebody said I was out of tune, but that got extremely expensive. Now I just change when I can no longer tell what key I'm in.
No, that's not true, that's most of the time.
OK, I change strings when, um.
1. After my stepson, with corrosive hand sweat, plays a bass. I have literally watched a set of strings go from "new" to "black" in an hour or so.
2. When I find out about some new killer string that will make my playing more percussive, present, rhythmic, bottomy, trebly, or otherwise better than what my playing sounds like now.
3. I find some for under $10US per set. I have never recovered from happening into a music store that was discontinuing all their bass strings and buying their entire stock of D'Addario ground rounds wounds for $10US per set. I bought $100 worth, and didn't buy bass strings for ten years after (hey, that sounds like a great name for a band!).
4. There is no 4. I just don't change strings.
Rokket
Trailing Behind Again
I've heard that a lot of bass players don't change their strings until one breaks (how often does that happenlpdeluxe said:
). I don't do it because I am a cheap bastard. But also because I don't really like the sound of a new pair of strings. Too much excess noise. I play round wound strings because they have more punch, but I don't like the sound until they've been on my guitar for a couple months. Of course, that's just me. Opinions vary and are welcome...
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
I don't like the sound until they've been on my guitar for a couple months.
That's why I like ground round wounds (currently, GHS Brite Flats): they sound like round wounds that have been broken in.
That's why I like ground round wounds (currently, GHS Brite Flats): they sound like round wounds that have been broken in.
U
Unsprung
New member
I could probably do with a better set of tunning pegs on my Johnson acoustic/electric bass. Last year when I played it more regularly than currently, it seemed like I was tuning it every time I went to play it. It only went unplayed maybe a day or two, but it went out of tune nonetheless. The only time my other bass and guitars go out of tune is when they sit for weeks unplayed, but that's probably also a symptom of their strings being "older than dirt," as I'd mentioned in a previous addition to this thread.
Matt
Matt
Rokket
Trailing Behind Again
May have to give them a try. I've been a D'Addario man for the better part of 20 years.... I guess change is always good!lpdeluxe said:
Rokket
Trailing Behind Again
Humidity and other atmospheric elements play a part in that too. I have to tune all my guitars before I record, because Japan is so damn humid all the time. I don't have a dehumidifier in the house, so...Unsprung said:
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
D'Addario vs GHS
I only bought the Brite Flats because, after 20-some years, apparently D'Addario no longer made the Ground Wound Rounds. Four and a half years ago I bought my Carvin LB20, which came with round wounds, and I really missed the GWR sound. The closest I could come to the D'Addarios was the GHS Brite Flats. THEN it was a matter of finding them cheaply enough (list price in the US for these is $41) for a parsimonious, and nearly in tune, bass player to buy.
I only bought the Brite Flats because, after 20-some years, apparently D'Addario no longer made the Ground Wound Rounds. Four and a half years ago I bought my Carvin LB20, which came with round wounds, and I really missed the GWR sound. The closest I could come to the D'Addarios was the GHS Brite Flats. THEN it was a matter of finding them cheaply enough (list price in the US for these is $41) for a parsimonious, and nearly in tune, bass player to buy.
Garry Sharp
Lost Cause
lpdeluxe said:
So you've foundthegroundroundwoundsound.
Astound(ing)
(PS do they stay in tune? - Back on topic
)
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
Good summation...
...hey, I'm a bass player! How do I know whether they are in tune or not?
...hey, I'm a bass player! How do I know whether they are in tune or not?
Rokket
Trailing Behind Again
Price is the main reason I am so glad they last longer than guitar strings. Even buying them in bulk (lpdeluxe said:
) they are just too damned expensive. I paid $50 US for the set that is on my five string right now (here in Japan). I can get a nice set of strings for my guitar for less than $8...
Rokket
Trailing Behind Again
LOL, play it loud enough with the eq cranked and who will notice?lpdeluxe said:
Rokket
Trailing Behind Again
I've noticed that I pay a bit more for that 5th string, so I wonder how much it would cost for an 8-string or *gasp*, a 12?
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
I've noticed that I pay a bit more for that 5th string
I just bought a set of Labella nylon-tape wound 5s for my Ibanez, and while I was at it I got a set of 4s for future mischief. The 4s were $19US, the 5s, $25.
I just bought a set of Labella nylon-tape wound 5s for my Ibanez, and while I was at it I got a set of 4s for future mischief. The 4s were $19US, the 5s, $25.