Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It doesnt work. It does IN THEORY. But its impossible to dry them properl and moisture gets stuck under the windings. The metal of the pan you use and also any vinegar, detergent whatever, will make the surface of the strings feel odd.

Its just not worth bothering with (unless you know something i dont)

2-3 years or more.

>>With Rick basses, the slots of the nut are sized to accomodate the Rick nickel string set which has a guage of 45/55/75/105.<<

This is a little confusing...the manual that came with my new Laredo said that the stock strings were 40/55/75/95. But I have seen (I think even on RIC's website) the 45/55/75/105 mentioned quite a bit...

I don't have calipers at home (I should) so I can't be sure what's really on, but I have Fender 9050 ML's on my J Bass (50/65/85/100) and the E on the J Bass seems to be bigger than the E on the Laredo.

Not sure if JH could be drawn into this discussion, but some clarification from the top would be nice...

"It doesnt work."
Sure it does. There was a time when I was a poor boy with only two basses! Money was tight and bass strings were expensive. There were times when I had a gig and couldn't afford new strings but I liked a bright tone. Boiling brightened the old strings up and they sounded fine for one show. I never added anything to the water, and when they were "done" I would spin 'em over my head a few times then set 'em out in the hot Texas sun to dry.

I put a set of TI flats on my 4001 and expect several years with them.I use a number of different basses to get different sounds and also find that some basses bring out different things in my playing. I have some TI flats on Pbasses that are going on four years now.I have another Pbass that I love with old rounds. I have no idea how ancient those strings are. I like fresh rounds on my Stingray for that barky middy bite and also like the sound of my G&L when the rounds are just breaking in.....It seems that I like fresh rounds on active basses and flats or dead rounds on passive ones....
I was after the Mac thump with the Ric rather than the clank people usually associate with them. Many people have been surprised at how well the Ric does thump with a set of flats on it.
"edit"
I also used to boil my Rotos in the old days to keep the tone fresh and it worked like a charm. They did not last as long as new ones though....

When I used to use Rots I'd get maybe a month out of them and if I were desperate I'd boil them, I used to get maybe two more weeks from them, my mother wasn't too thrilled though when I used her pots and pans.
I agree though Owen they were never felt the same to me (I don't live in Texas like Ronn, maybe the cold Massachusetts snow had something to do with them not turning out right) and I only did it when I really felt I had too.

I completely agree with Ronn, I love a "new string" sound, and have often boiled my strings over the years; still do VERY occasionally, and it definitely works. Was out of work for 2 years and a student for 4, so it had to be done (when I was out of work boiling my strings was the least of my worries; if that's being a cheapskate, well fair enough!). Sure they don't last as long once boiled as new strings, but they sound pretty much like new. Any perceived change in feel has never been enough to bother me. Now I can get strings for half of what they used to cost so its not really necessary anymore; plus of course I now have a job.....

"Sure it does. There was a time when I was a poor boy with only two basses!"
You were lucky with two. I had 3 at one time but I sold the other two. They were inferior to my Rick. I only have the Rick now. I'll have two basses is a few months time and they both will be brand new.

I tried boiling my strings once a long long time ago. The biggest problem I found was intonation - I think it's partly due to damage from the frets, and also the fact that the string isn't going on the same as it was before, so you may get a twist or other irregularities.

Read the article in BP about Stephen Stills. He left flats on his 1960 Jazz bass for nearly 10 years! It’s all about the desired sound. Didn’t realize he played bass on every CSN track…

Says everything he does is bass driven!