Boiling Bass Guitar Strings

Looking for "brand new" tone on your bass guitar but don't have the money for new strings? In this video, Bob the sound guy shows you an old school trick to getting some more life out of your old bass guitar strings. www.bobthesoundguy.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bass guitar strings
• good tone
• studio recording
• live sound

[Nymphetamine2791]

I heard that you want to have a dedicated pot for this if you do this with your strings because all the gunk will still reside in the pot, 2nd opinion?

Also I hear that putting your strings in the oven can dry off any remaining water in the strings to help prevent rust, it sounds a little rough on them, but makes sense logically. What do you think?

[Ranalli44]

@Nymphetamine2791

Yeah you want to use a dedicated pot to do this. I've never heard of putting them in the oven though. Remember , this is an old school trick, and also this technique used as a last resort option if say you're doing a recording session and you forgot to get new strings, or the local music store is out of your particular brand and you are in dire need.

[SLASHFANG]

use vinegar... keeps the stringers from rusting as fast!

[Ranalli44]

@SLASHFANG

Great idea! I'll try it!

[G36n]

Can you do this on Guitar strings? :)

[Ranalli44]

@G36n

I wouldn't since guitar strings are cheap to replace as opposed to bass strings which hang between $18-$30 a set. The winds on bass strings are much wider and further apart than guitar so the effect on guitar strings is negligible. Plus the top 3 on guitar are usually plain steel, so this method woudn't do anything to those. This method is really just a way to get the gunk out of the strings and save a buck or two.

Great question!

[hanzimaster]

add s&p to give flavour

[xXNiTeBriGAdEXx]

not poor or cheap players, just clever players ;)

[Jayguitardude]

Man I boiled my strings for 20 min then put a layer of sauce and some oil with garlic.

They are IMPOSSIBLY hard to eat.

Should I boil the strings longer?

[666patrickbateman666]

EPIC FAILURE

DO NOT EVER BOIL your hard earned strings

Soak them in denatured alcohol for 24 hours instead and they become like new or sometimes even better !

[bayoubengal1961]

I was taught to never, ever boil your bass strings due to the corrosion factor ... the best way I have found to recycle my strings is to soak in DENATURED ALCOHOL for 24 hrs .. DENATURED ALCOHOL is different from isopropyl, or rubbing alcohol, because it has 0 water content ... DENATURED is pure, and will not lead to corrosion. Trust me, I have tried this method and my strings come out brand new. Remember, DENATURED ALCOHOL, not Isporopyl or rubbing alcohol!! Do it - Don't boil again!

[TK456Mimic]

Great Idea Chef Boyardi! Imight try it!

[erichofmanis]

@xXNiTeBriGAdEXx Yep. Bass strings are not cheap and if you do nothing but gig for a living you need to take into account all of your expenses. Do a $150 club/bar gig minus $25 in gas to get there and back, minus tips/food expenses (if any), minus $35 for a set of strings and you are coming home at 3am with $75 or so. If you can trim any of the fat you are doing yourself a favor and just being a good business person. Boil 'em ONCE before tossing 'em and make a better living!

[bigvelvetdog]

I forget where I first heard this from but I've done it tons of times myself. Great to see this old school tip on youtube. Great video!

[MCshlthead]

@G36n i WOULD do it on guitar strings and do it all the time, ive saved shit loads of money and still have a great sounding guitar. but as Ranalli44 said theres no point in doing it to the thin non wind strings as they do not have a build up of gunk inside them.

[crazymetalfingers]

@jonannlou I hear the meth just makes the waiting around more fun...

[Dedamn666]

@Nymphetamine2791 depends how metal you are. I cook ravioli in the water and im a metal god ;)