Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anyone notice with Pyramids that when you wipe the strings down (especially when they're newly installed), there's a lot of black that comes off on to the polish cloth??? Not from sweat. I don't find that as much on other strings. Love the Pyramid flats though.

Chromes are the same way. Must be oil from the manufacturing process. I wipe them down a few times with 99% denatured alcohol before putting them on my basses.

I noticed that with TIs also. No big deal, it goes away soon enough.

But I've never seen it with LaBellas or GHS.

I've seen Chromes that where terribly dirty, and other sets that where clean without any trace of residue.

I just bought my first two sets of Pyramids for use on my V63 and Lakland hollowbody. I find that the E string on both basses has much less sustain than the other strings. Is this the famous Pyramid "thud" or does the string need to break in a bit more? The amount of "dirt" (for lack of a better word), on these strings is also a bit surprising - my fingertips are almost black after playing. Still, they do have a unique sound - I'm especially digging them on the Lakland.

Ok, so based on this thread I went out and got my first set of flat strings in twenty years - D'Addario Chromes. I installed them on my Jazz Bass tuned to Eb. Not only did they have a residue, they smelled like machine oil. I wiped them down with denatured alcohol but I have to say they still seem "oily" and turn my fingers black. Will this leach out and evaporate or can it damage the fretboard wood ( and my white shirt!) They sound alright so far, but feel wierd - kind of like the first day after shaving off a beard.

Wes, I have bought 3 set of Chromes recently and only one (thank God) had the residue. I must be lucky because I have heard a lot of people getting the strings this way. To my knowledge it won't hurt the fretboard, but probably stained your shirt for good The residue wil go away soon, and the strings will feel fine.
That's flats for you, nice and smooth. Chromes are not the smoothest feeling flats. I think LaBella's are about the smoothest feeling.

Before I put Chromes on my basses I wipe them down a few times with 99% denatured alcohol. Then I have no issues with any residue. They do sound great on my '73 4001!

I wiped my chromes down before stringing up my 4005 and they are fine.....no residue on my fingers after playing, and I played it from about 6pm to 11pm last night!! I have never tried the Labellas...don't know if I have to now...these chromes are smoother than my Pyramid golds and sound just as good or better...