Refreshing Strings?

[bassfingers]

Bill,
    Salmon in a dishwasher??,now that's just plain  strange! ) Thanks for posting that,now I don't feel like such a weirdo.I know the potential for fish jokes is enormous but I shall rise above it.
 
Dave Of The Purple Heart Rogue,
    Thanks for the link,they have a UK outlet too so I might give StringLife a try,possibly with a set of their strings.Good call Brother.
 
Keith,
     Please coil those strings carefully if you decide to try it.I'd hate to be implicated in any marital dis-harmony,especially at this time of year! )
 
Rich,
    I bet when you originally posted this you had no idea that one day soon,and in a little over 2 hours,we'd have covered polymer based technology AND new and exciting ways to cook a big fish!!.Can't wait to see where this topic goes next.I hope at least one suggestion will work for you,and I can imagine a lot of Bassists benefitting from reading your posting.Nice one.
 
                  Best Wishes guys,
 
                                  Simon.

[richbass939]

This thread certainly has taken some interesting turns.  I thought it was dead, then all of a sudden it raised its head, talked about screaming strings, enzymes, fish, denture scrub, etc.  Next I expect medical marijuana and dark beer to appear.
Seriously, thank you all for the ideas.  Grease and grime are not the issue.  These strings have never been played before.  I wonder about the nickel oxidizing or something.  Any chemists out there that know about something that will deoxidize nickel without putting on some sort of solid that will get jammed down around the string windings?  Or am I asking a question that will bring forth stories of blowing up the kitchen and really ticking off the spousal unit?  With the history of this thread, who knows?
Rich

[lembic76450]

Did someone mention dark beer?

[tom_z]

Ahhh . . . now this is a full-blown Alembic thread. I was wondering when someone would mention beer. Perhaps you could refresh your strings with beer - it always refreshes me. =)
 
(Message edited by tom_z on December 20, 2005)

[dadabass2001]

Give your strings some fresh air. Put them in a knap sack and take them for a ride on your motorbike....
 
...There... Now we've got all our favorite thread topics working together.
 
Mike

[bob]

After being reminded that these strings are unused, yet supposedly appear tarnished, something didn't sound right. Not being a materials expert, I did a quick google, and found the following statement in WikiPedia:
 
On account of its permanence in air and inertness to oxidation... (link)
 
While WikiPedia has taken some flack recently for a few deliberately misleading entries, I also read that a recent study showed them to be slightly more accurate than Encyclopedia Britannica (though based on a very small sample). As with anything you read, use your own judgement.
 
I would suggest that the term pure nickel, used for marketing purposes on strings, is not quite as tightly regulated as some of the wording we see on food packaging these days. Some are more pure than others, and if they have truly tarnished/oxidized, then they aren't.
 
Even so, as long as they are unused, I would start by simply wiping them down with alcohol or something, before resorting to more drastic measures. Maybe what you're seeing is residual manufacturing oil or something. And since you paid only about $1 per string, I would personally just throw out the ones that sound bad to start with (especially since it's your dollar...).
 
Oh, and I think I'll continue to broil my salmon, at least until I get a new dishwasher (I hear those Miele's are pretty sophisticated).
-Bob

[lbpesq]

Simon:
 
As I recall, the recipe calls for placing a whole salmon, well wrapped in aluminum foil, into a dishwasher and running the wash cycle twice (without any soap, of course).  You wind up with a poached salmon!  IIRC, this recipe came out of Canada or Alaska.  
 
Rich:
 
You can always get my attention with a medical cannabis reference! LOL
 
Bill, tgo

[alembic76407]

here's how to do it!!!
 
1st: remove strings from bass
 
2nd: coil strings up and place them in a good size pot
 
3rd: bring to a boil, and let boil for 22 minutes (no longer)
 
4th: remove the strings from pan (be careful, strings will be hot)
 
5th: let Strings cool
 
6th: put strings in the trash can and don't be such a tightwad, go buy a new set of strings!!!!
 
David T

[bassfingers]

Bill,
     
    Why,it's so crazy it just might work
 
    That's excellent info,thanks.Quirky and odd  things like that really brighten the day.
 
    For the record I did believe you,given the temperatures involved,but now you've posted the method I've gotta give it a go.I'll give you a shout when it's ready,call over!!
 
    You want Fries or DR's with that?
 
     All the best Bill,
 
                  Simon

[bassfingers]

David,
 
     Tightwad eh?.Bah,Humbug!!.
 
     I did say earlier that this is only a temporary and/or emergency measure - eg; the last minute call to do a gig when the shops are closed.Now I just feel cheap. ;o)
 
     However,I'm with you 100% on the point you made.New strings as often as possible is the way to go.No amount of cleaning will prevent the intonation issues that go with a played out set.I neglected to mention that.Good point.
 
         Best wishes
 
                     Simon

[alembic76407]

Simon,  
don't feel bad, I'm just turning into an old crotchity fart. and full of s..t most the time
 
 
old strings on an Alembic is alot like changing the oil in my Porsche by changing the filter and adding a quart, its just not right
 
David T

[bassfingers]

Hey David,
 
         I hope the opening of my message didn't come across as abrupt.Reading it back,I fear it may have.If it did please accept my apologies,it wasn't meant to.
 
          And if I was the owner of your gorgeous Series 1,I would never cheapen her with anything less than new strings.Ain't nothin' crotchity in that.
 
          Rehearsals beckon,so if I don't get chance before,Happy Christmas to you and yours.(And everybody else and theirs!).
 
                   Simon.

[alembic76407]

Simon, no apologies needed, were all just having fun here, and by the way, I buy $3.00 a set bass string and change them every gig, they sound great for one night
 
have a great Christmas to you and yours
 
David T

[bassfingers]

David,
    I'm stunned.Bass strings at $3.00 a set?.Oy!,I gotta emigrate.
          Simon

[mpisanek]

This thread sounds a bit like a country song!
 
Cook your salmon in the dishwasher, pack it up with some cold beer, get on your motorcycle and go for a ride with your Alembic!  This could be something!
 
By the way, salmon cooked in the dishwasher is great.  As long as you seal the foil properly.  Another way to cook salmon is by just soaking it in something like grapefruit juice (al a gravalux).  If the water in your house is hot enough, (140 degrees or so) you can even cook salmon under the hot water tap!
 
Where did you say we could get $3.00 sets of bass strings to last one night?