Strings

[David Houck]

I changed strings yesterday.  Cash flow being what it is, and the cost of strings being what it is, the strings I removed had been on the bass for 17 months.  I didn't have a new set on hand so the strings I put on were the set that was previously on the bass and had been so for six months.
 
Things I found out.  A set of strings that's been played everyday for six months sounds brand new compared to a set that's been played everyday for 17 months.  Strings that are six months old have a lot more sustain than strings that are 17 months old.  And, my house now smells like lemons.
 
I'm also having to re-EQ my rig, as I had been gradually making fine adjustments to my rig corresponding to the gradual deadening of the strings.
 
So, I learned stuff.  And I think I need to order some new strings.

[sonicus]

Dave
I have been buying  Bass strings lately from Elderly Instruments and I am very happy in the way that they do business.
Here is a Bass string link for your selection possibilities.
http://elderly.com/accessories/cats/STBS.html
 
      Sonic Regards _____

[David Houck]

Thanks; but they don't carry my strings.  Just Strings and Bass Emporium usually have my set.

[edwin]

What strings do you play?

[David Houck]

TI JR346

[benson_murrensun]

Dave's first post in this thread reminded me of the Red Green Show episode with Handyman's Corner featuring how to do an oil change on your car. You drain the oil from one vehicle, and put it in another. Presto! The oil has been changed! With this method you never have to buy any more oil, ever.
I usually take the strings off a bass prior to them wearing out; I do it just for the experiment of trying different strings on different instuments. I usually have a collection of used string sets around that I can move to another bass when the mood strikes. But in the interest of full disclosure I don't favor a bright ringy round wound sound, so the only way I can tell if my strings need replacement is if they don't intonate properly anymore, or won't stay in tune.

[sonicus]

I like them when they are stretched out but still sound bright because I really enjoy the higher string tension. For me this is usually about a week or two after they are on the Bass. It seem to me that they are then acclimated to their new home .

[David Houck]

In the past I too have found a preference for the week or two acclimation.  I'm certainly noticing a preference for the 6 month strings over the 17 month strings!  And looking forward to new strings, and two week strings, sometime soon.

[terryc]

Dave..have you boiled them yet??
Make sure you dry them in a warm oven as they corrode if not(experience noted here)
 
I would also put a drop of lemon oil in the pan at the same time..that way you get the strings clean, lubricated and the house smells wonderful.
Good advice if you have just cooked fish for your lunch and doing this job straight after.

[sonicus]

I very much like the smell of the lemon oil as well.

[David Houck]

No, but both sets are worn; i.e. fret indentations, especially the C and G strings.

[David Houck]

I've also heard of boiling in a combination of water and alcohol, being careful of course not to burn the house down.

[David Houck]

Oh, and I like the idea of the drop of lemon oil in the boiling water.  Might be a good thing to do even if not changing strings.
 
One thing I've done from time to time is wipe the strings down with alcohol.  But usually I just wipe down with a dry cloth.

[JimmyJ]

OK, I'll jump in with my own madness just to demonstrate how different everybody's approach can be.  
 
I still use ghs boomers on my fretted basses and I prefer them new.  The recording bass gets a new set for every session and the road bass goes 3 or 4 shows per set depending on how much sweating is involved.  The basses are physically close enough that I can pass strings from one to the other so strings used for only one day of recording will be saved and put on the live bass for a few gigs.  I think once you start to see fret marks on the bottom side of the strings they are becoming false and won't play in tune.  I'm very fortunate to have a discount relationship with ghs which allows me to sustain my expensive habit!
 
My fretless is a totally different story.  There I have RotoSound Superwound strings (bare-core, adjustable-ball) and haven't changed the current set in about 10 years.  (I don't think they make them anymore either, but I have two sets left...)  With no frets to dent them and only the core going over the bridge these strings seem to last forever.  I also don't play this bass as much as its fretted brother and I've never broken a string - knock on burly walnut.  When the strings do get dull I'll make some Bass String Soup - run them through boiling water and towel dry - and they come right back to life.  I never thought of the lemon oil idea, we should start a recipe book!
 
I know there are some very funky players out there who prefer their P-bass with the original factory strings - and I can dig that too.  For a minute I thought the elderly.com link above was a USED strings store.  HA!  
 
Strings are a part of our very personal setup choices and it's interesting to hear the ideas of other players.  Good stuff.
 
Jimmy J

[David Houck]

Jimmy, I think I learned my lesson about being too frugal with strings.  I think the fret marks may have been contributing to fret buzz as well, although I haven't confirmed that yet.