Pete Academy Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 These seem like a good idea. Only available from the US, I would guess. www.bassbrites.com Quote
JTUK Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 maybe...but I take the strings off to clean the neck so at this time I rotate the strings. I generally don't like to add gunk..even though this implies this isn't more gunk. Quote
Musky Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 [quote]BassBrites have a special formula that [i]deoxidizes [/i]the strings in addition to cleaning them.[/quote]Snake Oil, right there. [quote]BassBrites clean out the dirt and oil AND prevent oxidation and corrosion that comes from acid in your hands.[/quote] WD40??? Quote
OzzyGreg Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 I realise people will probably howl in disapproval, but I have always boiled my strings in water to clean them. Doesn't last forever, but I bet this BassBrites stuff doesn't either! Boiling works a treat for me. ..... and its very cheap! Greg Quote
MoJoKe Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 this is why Elixir were invented... I used to boil too, but even then didn't give as good life as Elixir Quote
LeftyBiskit Posted September 21, 2011 Posted September 21, 2011 How long are you meant to boil 'em for Quote
OzzyGreg Posted September 21, 2011 Posted September 21, 2011 I generally let 'em boil for 5 minutes or so. You can usually see the scum building up on top of the water as it goes! YUK! Greg Quote
MoJoKe Posted September 21, 2011 Posted September 21, 2011 but they are never as bright as they were before, or for as long! Quote
MoJoKe Posted September 21, 2011 Posted September 21, 2011 you can also add a bit of vinegar, supposedly helps to remove your greasy deposits... All it actually does is stink out the kitchen! Quote
Ou7shined Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 [quote name='OzzyGreg' timestamp='1316644335' post='1381001'] I generally let 'em boil for 5 minutes or so. You can usually see the scum building up on top of the water as it goes! YUK! Greg [/quote] I like to boil up my strings when I'm finished with them and have them as emergency spares. But when I've done it, I've left them cooking for half an hour or more so it gets a chance to really heat the metal and re-tension it... I've never had scum on top though. Quote
daz Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) $11 for 30 wipes is a bit much, methinks .also P+P on top unless UK shops stock them? Edited September 22, 2011 by daz Quote
Pete Academy Posted September 22, 2011 Author Posted September 22, 2011 I've cleaned my strings in a dishwasher in the past. Works a treat. Quote
MoJoKe Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 [quote name='Pete Academy' timestamp='1316705542' post='1381748'] I've cleaned my strings in a dishwasher in the past. Works a treat. [/quote] top or bottom shelf? Quote
Beno Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 When I worked in London, in a Engineering Co (Lucas Aerospace) they had a massive ultra sonic cleaning tank and I used to bung my strings in there with a torpedo casing( I kid you not) and they came out as new. I haven't tried it on strings yet but I think Milton (baby stuff) is great for cleaning metal watch straps etc, so I don't see why it wouldn't do strings. NB- Milton is not good for silver, pure or plated. Quote
OzzyGreg Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) [quote] but they are never as bright as they were before, or for as long! [/quote] Yeah, I know that's what "they" say, but I've never noticed any difference to be perfectly honest. New (unboiled) strings need cleaning just as often as old, multiple-boiled strings. The contaminants build up just as quickly with either. The brightness disappears at the same rate too. (I reckon it's an old wive's tale myself, brought about by the old "my ears are superior to yours" crowd!) I'm no metallurgist, but I'm sure 100 degrees Celcius is nowhere near enough temperature to affect the steel's molecular structure in any significant way. I'm pretty sure that steel needs to be heated to at least 550 degrees C before it even begins to change colour! Not a great analogy, but ......If this was the case then car engines would underperform for the remainder of their now apparently much shortened lives if they ran up to that temperature ([i]without running out of coolant altogether[/i]) then cooled down a few times. Bass strings in boiling water?.... A bit of expansion and contraction, that would be about it, probably not a great deal more than a good hard pluck on a cold string during playing actually! (Ok, that's tension and release, not temperature-based changes, but the length of the string still alters and returns.) Greg [i](Always willing to go out on a limb and be shot off it for the sake of a discussion)[/i] Edited September 22, 2011 by OzzyGreg Quote
OzzyGreg Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 Actually, I just thought of something that might work very well without any heat.... White spirits. Soak them for a day, then swish the strings around in a container of that for a few minutes. I'm going to give that a go next time! Greg Quote
MoJoKe Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 I'm blessed with distinctly unsuperior ears I do know that no amount of boiling will remove tarnish, rust spots or the effects of aging when strings have been used a while and boiled a few times! Sadly the gloss [i]will [/i]fade. If you want to save a few bob then boil away, I did for years! It would be interesting to get the feedback on this topic from a manufacturer, other than the obvious " don't do it as we can sell more" Quote
Musky Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) [quote name='OzzyGreg' timestamp='1316728824' post='1382199'] Actually, I just thought of something that might work very well without any heat.... White spirits. Soak them for a day, then swish the strings around in a container of that for a few minutes. I'm going to give that a go next time! Greg [/quote] Yep. That's known to work quite well. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/105958-cleaning-strings-with-methylated-spirit Edited September 22, 2011 by Musky Quote
LeftyBiskit Posted September 23, 2011 Posted September 23, 2011 In the past i have just binned the old strings and stuck a set of new ones on. I did boil one set of strings for about ten mins(once) and a lot of scum did float to the top, I stuck back'em back on the bass they came off, but i didnt really find the results all that impressive, maybe I'll just put the boiled ones onto my P,for that "thump" or even stick 'em on my Bison.and keep the new ones for my J. That should save a few quid over the year. Quote
Dave Vader Posted September 23, 2011 Posted September 23, 2011 WD-40, spray it on a cloth, wipe strings off by wrapping it round the whole thing. Job done. Quote
Jay'Nathan'Cresswell Posted September 23, 2011 Posted September 23, 2011 (edited) I've discovered this really good trick..... I actually replace the old strings with new ones! Edited September 23, 2011 by Jay'Nathan'Cresswell Quote
Chris2112 Posted September 23, 2011 Posted September 23, 2011 Interesting. I remember buying some Spector strings, they came with a handy little cloth to clean them with. I suppose this is the same sort of thing, just with more of them. Quote
MoJoKe Posted September 23, 2011 Posted September 23, 2011 [quote name='Jay'Nathan'Cresswell' timestamp='1316771286' post='1382560'] I've discovered this really good trick..... I actually replace the old strings with new ones! [/quote] ...nail on the head I think! Quote
daz Posted September 25, 2011 Posted September 25, 2011 Kepping youir bass in a case or bag and washing your hands before playing make a big difference. For once i can claim to practice what i preach too. I now automatically (at least) rinse my hands in warm water if im going to play the bass. Quote
charic Posted September 26, 2011 Posted September 26, 2011 Boil them I hear you say White spirit I hear you say ... Who's going to be first to try boiling them in white spirit then? Quote
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