Boiling strings???????????

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:49 am

I tried it a few times when I was a kid during the early 70's and used to change my strings all the time to keep up with that "modern" RW sound, I found it to be a waste of time. Now I put grease on them and stretch them for a couple of years to properly "thud" them up before using. Works great. Lot cheaper too. I find it's time to change my strings when they break.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:44 pm

I have found boiling roundwound strings in a pan of water with vinegar CAN bring dead strings back to life for a while. It works if, for instance your have a new set of strings, and do a couple of particularly sweaty gigs and your strings go dead very quickly. IF the strings are actually old then boiling doesnt really work - i tried it once and got lots of odd overtones and bad intonation up the neck. However, at least with the stainless strings that i use, the output drops somewhat so its not really worth doing.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:52 pm

Ed, should we all send you our old strings for your art project?

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:10 pm

I read somewhere that pm[mecca] used to boil his strings thats probably where this came from.he probably did it to save money on buying new ones.

scanman17 · Post by **scanman17** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:59 pm

yeah, mine break before they get bad enough to go to the kitchen

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 2:08 pm

I wash my hands before playing bass, and it never fails that when a guest bassist plays my bass, it feels greasy to me afterwards. I keep a hand towel on top of my amp, too. Gotta keep the hands as clean as possible.

I change my strings when they sound dead and have pronounced 'creases' at each fret on the back of the string.

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:55 pm

don't forget to put some salt otherwise the roundwoundpasta will be tasteless... Italians cook it better

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:43 am

Do you put salt on flatwoundpasta, also, or does it taste good without it?

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:09 am

roundwoundpasta take the sauce better than a flat one...yes you better salt it too

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:14 am

flatwound pasta needs a LOT of spice ... otherwise it goes THUD in your mouth ... all starch and no flavor ... bummer ... I prefer round wound pasta ... it is zesty!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:05 am

I put my flatwounds in 90 weight axle grease for three months, you can get some really great slides after that. It's also good for your hair if you play rock a billy.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:18 pm

Those were the days, weren't they? At $18.50 a set, the used Rotos always got boiled once to give 'em a little more time. I used to do it in my grandmothers pasta pot too. When they were done, she would see the schmaltz that would leave a ring at the waters edge and threaten me with large cooking utensil if I did it again. Never underestimate the determination of an Irish grandmother protecting her cookware with a LARGE cooking utensil! My wife has another term for anyone who would do something like that to save a set of strings.

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:15 pm

I like my Rotosounds cooked al dente, robusto with the iron supplement I need!!!!

yfoiler · Post by **yfoiler** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:22 pm

If you can find any; "Doc Farley's String Sudser".

It works, lasts surprisingly long. Never used it on a Ric with a finished fretboard however---just Fender's with rosewood fretboards.

Have not seen the "Farley's" around for quite some time. Maybe the EPA says they can't make it anymore.

Marty

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 9:26 pm

Gene
yes, "al dente" is the right way to eat pasta in Italy... not the sticky stuff they give you abroad