Pete Academy Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 These seem like a good idea. Only available from the US, I would guess. www.bassbrites.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 20, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted September 20, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzyGreg Posted September 20, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoJoKe Posted September 20, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyBiskit Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 How long are you meant to boil 'em for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzyGreg Posted September 21, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoJoKe Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 but they are never as bright as they were before, or for as long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoJoKe Posted September 21, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted September 22, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted September 22, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 I've cleaned my strings in a dishwasher in the past. Works a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoJoKe Posted September 22, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beno Posted September 22, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzyGreg Posted September 22, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzyGreg Posted September 22, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoJoKe Posted September 22, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted September 22, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyBiskit Posted September 23, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 WD-40, spray it on a cloth, wipe strings off by wrapping it round the whole thing. Job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay'Nathan'Cresswell Posted September 23, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted September 23, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoJoKe Posted September 23, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted September 25, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted September 26, 2011 Share 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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