When are flats too old?

[ead]

I have just acquired a lovely P bass from a member on here with, let's say, some well used 11-year old flats.  No need for string muting now.

 

Just for a bit of fun what's my next action....

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

An occasional wipe with a soft cloth with some mineral oil (or lemon oil) will keep them clean, or if they're a bit grubby it should help clean them up. If they're stainless steel flats like D'addario chromes (my string of choice for my mustangs), they should pretty much go on forever. If the surface is pitted or manky and/or they sound bad or don't intonate, its probably time to think about investing in a new set.

[Happy Jack]

Agreed. Assuming no actual corrosion, then those strings will form part of your grave goods.

[StingRayBoy42]

11 years?!

They're just getting going...

[diskwave]

Old dead flats really are the best kept secret ever. Currently running two pairs of Chromes, one set pushing 20 yrs the other about 15.  Superb gnarly tone, pure gold. YMMV.

[ped]

I must admit I like new strings when I buy a used bass. Using someone else’s seems a bit gross, but then again, flats are smooth enough that they can be cleaned at least on the surface, to an extent. Personally though I’d start a new set. 

[PaulThePlug]

A wipe with isoprop or them alcohol glasses wipes, screen wipes or first aid wipes... or electrical cleaner

Edited August 15, 2024 by PaulThePlug

[Lozz196]

Surely 11 year old flats are considered so new they’re still under warranty?

[ead]

14 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

A wipe with isoprop or them alcohol glasses wipes, screen wipes or first aid wipes... or electrical cleaner

 

Yeah, I have done the string cleaning thing already.  They are in pretty decent condition so highly tempted to leave them on the bass.

[Reggaebass]

11 year old flats are perfect for me, just breaking in nicely 

[Reggaebass]

Which flats are they ead 

[ead]

2 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Which flats are they ead 

 

I'm really not sure.  The have black silks, but only at the tuner end.  All the ball-ends are gold coloured.

[Reggaebass]

8 minutes ago, ead said:

 

I'm really not sure.  The have black silks, but only at the tuner end.  All the ball-ends are gold coloured.

They sound like labella 760FS , nice 

Edited August 15, 2024 by Reggaebass

[pn_day]

If there is no damage to the strings then keep them going!

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

They sound like labella 760FS , nice 

 

Anyone throwing out 11 year old La Bellas ..... TUT TUT TUT

[ead]

9 minutes ago, Munurmunuh said:

 

Anyone throwing out 11 year old La Bellas ..... TUT TUT TUT

 

I'm only now beginning to realise what a lucky escape I have just had.

[Jackroadkill]

1 minute ago, ead said:

 

I'm only now beginning to realise what a lucky escape I have just had.

 

Perhaps you've been doing it wrong all these years; you've been changing the strings on your basses, and should have been changing the basses on the strings?

[Reggaebass]

5 minutes ago, Munurmunuh said:

 

Anyone throwing out 11 year old La Bellas ..... TUT TUT TUT

Absolutely, I always take my old ones off if ever I sell a bass 

[Guest]

Meanwhile, since my dainty touch fails to get La Bellas' tone up and running, I play Chromes ..... and they get slung out every 6 months 😬

[chris_b]

Bob Glaub was being interviewed and he said the 42 year old flats on his Precision bass made it sound like a million dollars. So you have a way to go before you think about changing those strings.

[SH73]

The flats on my unknown Japanese brand jazz bass are over 40 years old, have no intentions to replace.

[fretmeister]

Ed Friedland has some 20 year plus La Bella flats on his basses.

[Burns-bass]

3 hours ago, ped said:

I must admit I like new strings when I buy a used bass. Using someone else’s seems a bit gross, but then again, flats are smooth enough that they can be cleaned at least on the surface, to an extent. Personally though I’d start a new set. 

I’m with you 100%. A strip down, clean and a set up is all part of taking ownership.

I did this on a double bass this week and now it feels mine. It’ll properly be part of the family after the first gig.

[ossyrocks]

I do expect my strings to outlast me. Having had flats on a all mine now for at least two years, there is no way I'm looking to replace them, they just feel and sound right.

 

Rob

[Guest]

37 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Ed Friedland has some 20 year plus La Bella flats on his basses.

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