Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

While were talking strings. I put a set of TI-JF344s on my 1970 4000 3 years ago. I bought them because the neck on this bass seems a bit weak and TIs are suppose to have low tension. (BTW, I haven't played the bass much since but I swear the strings haven't lost tone, or haven't gotten muddy, since. LOL!) The bummer with the TIs strings, IMHO, is that the 'A' string is only a 70 and the tension if a bit TOO low as compared to the 'D' and 'G' strings. Even says so on the package! WHY TI would do this is a weird. I get a buzz on the 'A' string on the lower frets. A good adjustment might help (old truss rod system!). This is one of the reasons I retired the bass other than because of its age/value. Any TI players notice the 'A' string thing?

rickenbrother wrote:

johnallg wrote:A word of caution: lower percentage isopropyl alcohol (70-80% range) usually has mineral oil in it. You have to hit the 90+% to not get that. Medical supply or such. Read the labels.

You're right, John. I should have mentioned that when I use isopropyl alcohol, it's at least 90%.

Yes, thanks very much for the clarification.

Cheers!

Hi Gang
heres a trick i learned a long time ago...keep the bass clean aways..i put 3 paper towels between the strings and the neck..spray with windex let soak a minute or two..use a tooth brush to clean out any gunk that didnt disolve and than wipe it down...i have had the same set of strings on for 4 years and they still have that boing..the strings are ernie ball med gauge wire wounds..hope this helps...

I soak my strings in a mixture of Labatt's Blue, Jack Daniels and a pinch of second hand bar smoke.

Keith Richards approved!

Rock on!

Mmmmmmm....LaBatt Blue!

rickaddict wrote:Mmmmmmm....LaBatt Blue!

I've had a hard time concentrating on my work after typing that! I may call it an early day!

teeder wrote:

rickaddict wrote:Mmmmmmm....LaBatt Blue!

I've had a hard time concentrating on my work after typing that! I may call it an early day!

It's Friday, go ahead!

Yeah! Have a nice weekend, everyone!

paul_yan wrote:Yeah! Have a nice weekend, everyone!

+1! You too, Paul!

Thanks, Joey! I'm sure I will, 'cause I've just got a Fulltone Bass Drive pedal from a very dear friend as a gift. Will hook it up to my Marshall JCM 800 Super Bass rig and blast myself silly in the daytime tomorrow!

May you have a fantastic weekend!

How do you get rid of it? I have a a new set of TIs and I can't stand their sound new, all zingy and just wrong... I want to relic my strings

jamespaul71 wrote:How do you get rid of it? I have a a new set of TIs and I can't stand their sound new, all zingy and just wrong... I want to relic my strings

Start a new thread!

jps wrote:

jamespaul71 wrote:How do you get rid of it? I have a a new set of TIs and I can't stand their sound new, all zingy and just wrong... I want to relic my strings

Start a new thread!

haha. The 'Fresh String' sound can be great for a certain sound, I'll give it that for sure.

I used GHS fast fret for years (no silicones but Im not sure about the mineral oil bit) and now use the old fast fret brush things with "Uncle John's Famous String Goo" (no silicones but Im not sure about the mineral oil bit)
I used to boil my Rotosounds but often they would break whrn trying to refit them and I thought they would only sound good for about 15 minutes and then sound all out of tune (intonation would alter)
I always liked the Rotosounds fresh out of the pack but with Daddarios I think they sound better after a day or too
Clean hands are a must.

I kney this guy who made a frame to tension strings to pitch (to open the windings) and then bath them in trichloroethane 1,1,1 and this would really clean the strings no doubt. I wonder if he is still alive?

eden.

weemac wrote:I kney this guy who made a frame to tension strings to pitch (to open the windings) and then bath them in trichloroethane 1,1,1 and this would really clean the strings no doubt. I wonder if he is still alive?

eden.

My guess is he died an early death from cancer.