10 Myths About Bass Strings (Stop boiling your strings)
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- Does boiling your strings actually work? Do you need flatwound strings on a fretless bass? When do you need to change strings? How long do they last? Find out ten popular myths and misconceptions people generally say about bass strings and why they aren't true. Are there more? Let me know in the comments!
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:16 Myth 1 You only need to change strings when one breaks
00:43 Myth 2 Flatwound strings don't eat your frets
01:24 Myth 3 Heavy gauge strings sound better
01:51 Myth 4 Strings sound better once the brightness is gone
02:36 Myth 5 You need flatwound strings on a fretless bass
03:13 Myth 6 Removing all the strings at once will damage your bass
03:40 Myth 7 You always need to trim your strings
04:15 Myth 8 Flatwound strings last forever
04:38 Myth 9 You need a five-string bass to play a Low B
05:03 Myth 10 Boiling your strings will make them new again
05:38 Bonus Myth
FINALLY someone demystifies the "flats on a fretless" subject! If I don't like the feel of the flats under my fingers why on earth should I use them on a bass that requires even more attention and skill, to play? I put rounds, that make me feel "at home", and there you go!
Actually I only use the flats on a bass I know I can play with a certain level of spunk. ("precision, plettro e ignoranza", as we say :-P )
That’s funny bc I hate the feel of rounds.
Been playing since I was 14 (I'm in my...uh...*whispers 40's*....). I cannot stand dead strings. I love the clank and clink of new roundwounds ;) This was another great video, Oliver - thanks for doing it!
Good vid. Snappy and to the point. When I got my fretless I immediately changed to flats wounds. Rounds on a double bass - never.
Awesome! 4 string bass player here, one a J and one a PJ, both with flats. The bassist from Durran Durran is on UA-cam saying that some "tech" had cut all the strings on a bass of his from in one go that had been on since the 80's. He was a bit "miffed". Here in Aus a set of standard flats are ~AU$90...
Bassist don't change their strings because they cost a lot of 💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸 😅. I like fresh bright sounding strings myself
Love this video. Not necessarily "myths" as much as "things you shouldn't let dictate your life as a bass player" but that is a terrible title, so good show! I love Jamerson and Jaco as much as the next guy but a lot of people take away the wrong things from them.
Thank you so much! Yeah maybe myths is a strong word, it's more like "friendly advice". Though, I have to feed the youtube algorithm something :)
Great info! I’d love to see a video on string gauge vs tension vs alternate tunings. For some reason, this baffles me.
Thank you Oliver.
Subbed! I am a new bassist - Tried for years and failed but now I got some courses and I am on for it. x
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it, and welcome to this beautiful world, good luck! 😉
Qualità e contenuti del canale sempre in crescita, bravo Oliver! Hai demistificato decenni di sciocchezze, finalmente!
Ti ringrazio molto! Con ogni video di prova sempre a fare uno step superiore haha
This was enjoyable. Thanks
Thank you for watching! :)
Everyone needs to see this! Also glad you mentioned Facebook group people haha. Great video.
Thank you so much!
Nice collection of Rotosound strings on the shelf! Those are my go to strings. I have experimented with other brands over the years, I love Rotosound the best.
Absolutely, they are also my favorites, and I almost always use them, though I like to vary from time to time
Changing all the string at the same time can do instant damage in certain situations. A once saw a neck turn banana shaped in a few minutes after being restrung for the first time in over 20 years from a set of flats to rounds in different tensions. Another good reason to change strings regularly (regular checkups on setup and intonation also helps a lot) and also to be aware of different tensions in different gauges and windings.
good stuff for a bass player to be reminded of!
so funny how you said "A, B and D strings". it took me a while to identify them in this order :))
Excellent Excellent post!!! Bravo🍻
Thank you very much!
Great video, thanks!
A good way to measure how to cut your strings is '2 posts further'. For example: on a 4L Headstock, pull the E-string to the top of the headstock and cut at the D-string's tuning post. And even that is - for my own personal taste - still to much excess. 1 or 1.5 windings around the post is absolutely sufficient. More windings equal more work and possibly more tuning problems.
Cutting the strings while they have full tension is obviously a bad idea. However, even that massive quick change in tension would not damage the neck unless there was something wrong with it to begin with. It's basically a laminated chunk of wood with a steel rod constuction to counterweight the string pull. It's a lot sturdier than we usually think.
i agree i've used round wound strings on a fretless since the 90s with very little wear and tear to the fretboard, probably helps that its ebony. haven't needed to boil strings since having elixir's but when i use to use ernie ball/d'addario's to save money i would boil them (only effective once) when they got dull. it does bring back the tone and lasts significantly more than a day although i'm not so sure with you 🤣 might be doing some e.honda slaps on there
THNX for the "Jaco" comment, Far More than Almost ANY Other Subject, this "Deification" of Musicians is Natural to a Novice, and as we can See, it Clearly has Impacted the Players.. That being said, to Deify a particular player to the extent that it Freezes one's technique and LIMITS the Individual's Creativity can prove Ultimately Useles when one Attempts to Work, as whomever one may play for, they Usually want SUPPORT, and NOT Another Clone...
One tip. put a thin towel (or a few paper towels) under the strings on top of the fret board to protect the fret board and then use a lint free cloth and some clear isopropyl alcohol that you can find in any pharmacy or retail store, to clean your old strings when they are still on the bass guitar. They will NOT shine up the strings but they will make them sound brighter in tone as it takes all of the grime off of them. This is something that I have done for years and unless you are seeing a lot of wear, then SURE replace them so you have no string breakage during a live show. But if there is no physical wear on the strings, just clean them once in a while this manor. Bass strings are expensive to keep changing all the time and you should not have to if you clean them. My 2 cents.
I like your way of thinking. A point about boiling/wiping strings with alcohol - if you completely loosen an old string, remove it from the winding post and then reinstall it - it will sound new again, without any cleaning/boiling. As you say though - this will be very temporary and it will soon sound dead again.
Yeah I've heard about this one but never tried it myself. Though I'm more concerned about the alcohol ruining some finishes to be honest
the bonus!
Bellissimo video
Ti ringrazio molto!
Re boiling your strings... I did this for years when touring, playing 5-6 nights per week. I found that I could easily get an extra 2 gigs by boiling them (roundwounds) for renewed brightness without a problem. After that I would ditch them. It absolutely works though.
I did it a few times as well, but it's more of a last resort sort of thing. It works in the short term, but in the long term they sound even worse than before
Interesting. I don’t like a lot of brightness and definitely play old flats exclusively. To each their own!
"Jaco only needed two pickups" Hahahahahahaha... Brilliant!
My cat always interrupts my bass practice. Yes, he's a freaking guitar player as well :-)
With all of the Rotosound in the background, I kind of expected a plug for them, hahaa! I have a set of Billy Sheehan endorsed BS66 that I have had on the shelf for two years. Still trying to decide which bass to put them on. Great video, confirming many things that I suspected, but could never prove about strings. I will subscribe to your channel, but I must tell you that here in mid west USA, your British accent is a little hard to follow when you talk fast. That or it could be that I (am) a little hard of hearing. lol! Don't be afraid to talk about why you like the Rotosounds. I have tried several brands, including 66, and I don't endorse any of them as my one and only die hard brand. Usually buy what is on sale unless a need something in particular. Keep up the good work. Cheerieo old chap.
Hahah yeah maybe I should have thought that through. I had DRs and D'Addario's on another shelf, but can't be seen in the video. That was simply my Roto shelf hah! They probably are among my favourites but I really like to try all the different brands!
Yeah, sorry about my weird accent, I say weird because I'm actually bilingual, I also speak Italian, so some sounds get mixed up a bit, but I always add subtitles to the videos so it makes it easier to understand! But I'll probably try speaking more slowly from now on, hah! That's the Italian part coming out, Italians speak really fast compared to other languages!
I've never tried the Billy Sheehan set, but would be curious to string a bass up with them! Thank you so much for your words! It really means a lot! :)
@@OliverTobyn I listened again, and yes, I can detect the Italian now that you mentioned it. I can do a pretty mean Hillbilly when I have to, although I have only visited the south a few times. :-)
I'm just a drummer, but I have decided that I can play bass. Only because I play guitar...
Well, one of my oldest friends occasionally boiled his strings. I was just about to do that to this old bass ('93) until I saw this. Thanks! Now to take out a second mortgage and order me some new strings! How do I determine what gauge strings are on it so I have a reference?
Hi there! I'm glad I was helpful! It's always best to have new and fresh strings in my opinion... I know they can get expensive, but trust me, nothing brings to life an old bass and re-lightens the joy of playing it as a new set of strings does.
Unless you have a caliper it's going to be hard to exactly determine what gauge it is. Most basses probably have 45-105 or 40-100 gauge strings as their standard
There's a story that Jamerson sent a broken string to the manufacturer in the hopes that they could repair it. I'm guilty of changing my strings BEFORE it's needed. Currently down to 6 basses so strings can be expensive. I have shoe boxes full of strings that I kept because they really werent ready to retire. I've never even considered boiling strings. Seems silly. Also,its true that you can remove all the strings without having to adjust the truss rod or any other negative effect that I've ever witnessed. I have a Spector 5 string and as long as I dont change gauges I dont have to worry about intonation problems. The bridge is locked down and I check intonation occasionally and the Spector stays intonated. Also own a Jackson JS3 and that bass has never required even the slightest of adjustments. Funny thing-my "studio" isnt heated like the rest of the house and when it gets cold the basses will go sharp. It makes perfect sense scientifically but until I moved to cooler climate I had no idea how sensitive they coukd be to teperature.
cool little video, I just had to stop cuz your name made me do a triple take, opposite of mine. Tobin Oliver
Haha that's a amazing!
@@OliverTobyn Oliver is actually my middle name, but close enough. It’s funny, I have also known Oliver Wood, which is my middle and last name together. And Tobin (however you choose to spell) and Oliver are not super common, so I don’t run into many with either name,
Hola , yo aflojó las cuerdas después de tocar , a veces pasa varios dias guardado con las cuerdas sin tensión , cuando voy a tocar las vuelvo a afinar , eso puede dañar el instrumento ?
I wouldn't loosen the strings after playing. It is not really necessary and it will only make you need a setup after a while. Vintage instruments have spent decades in tune with no damage, so no worries!
@@OliverTobyn hola, en realidad lo hago porque si lo dejo afinado el diapasón empieza a doblarse , no encontré manera de arreglarlo , es por la manera mal estacionada , pero al hacer esto aguanta un poco más , mi pregunta era por si le estaba haciendo más daño del que ya tiene
@@OliverTobyn muchas gracias por tomarte la molestia de contestarme 😊
@@javierscotto7240 haha no problem, sorry I don't speak spanish, so I'm using google translate.
So if it starts to bend you probably have a truss rod issue. You definitely need to adjust it or take it to a technician and see what he can do about it. It's not normal that it starts to bend if you leave it in tune!
@@OliverTobyn thanks again for answer me , i speak english just a little bit , don't have the technical words to exprés me correctly .
A technician Saw the bass and can't fix It , the wood it's bad un that model , he work with a couple of the same basses and had the same problem
Depends on how often you change your strings a
When someone say's Jaco only needed 4 strings to me I reply so did Jamerson but he chose to use 5 from time to time
What about the myth of leaving your bass out of the case on a stand causes strings to age faster or oxidize?
I should definitely do a part two at some point haha. It's actually the other way round, if you ieave it in a case, especially after playing, they'll wear out faster
Lighter gauge strings
a) keep their brightness longer (Mine are 3 years old and still sound like new)
b) are easier to bend for vibrato
c) can be harder to play with plucking hand because they move more
what brand strings do you use?
@@_Majoras I have no idea; still using strings that came with the bass when I bought it.
Treat everyone the way you would want them to treat you. 👍🏻😁🤓
Oh, and by the way... about that old "Jaco only needed blah blah blah..."
Check THIS out: ua-cam.com/video/tOK8KrWGb8I/v-deo.html
Imagine if everyone played fretless 4 string Jazz basses.
Yeah sure it would be boring but damn it if everyone wouldn't have tone you can't argue with.
If we consider physics a round wound string has less surface in contact with the fretboard than a flat wound. We can assume that it will need the same pressure to press down the string and hence there will beba greater force on the material in the fretboard. If not it would be as easy hammering a nail with the head first as if done the right way. I thought you were trying to ”kill” myths, not make them 😱
IMMERSE THE STRINGS IN PURE CONCENTRATED AMMONIA FOR FLOORS AND THEY WILL BE CLEAN😄😄
'Stop boiling your strings': thats an exaggeration of what is said. What he really says is: do not expect them to be as new. Indeed, I don't. But I boiled my strings and the result is great. May be next year I wil buy some new ones. In the mean time, I have clean and fresher sounding strings.
Myths I want to slap somebody for saying:
1. You don't need more strings; you need more practice.
2. You don't need a 5-string; just tune down.
3. You don't need to tune down; just get a 5 string.
Frankly, if you're playing gospel or progressive metal, you need a 5 string at the very least, unless you're playing a song where you don't need a G, or a song that's optimized for a 4-string (e.g. Prayer Position by Periphery). At the same time, if you've got a song with a pedal point that isn't on an open string (e.g. Electric Sunrise by Plini), you're going to need a drop tuning. Remember everyone, it's a tool, and you need the right tool for the job. A 3/8" socket and an 8mm socket are not interchangeable.
Thank you! I'm actually working on a part two, and these will come in handy!
I agree, sometimes people fail to realise you need the right tool for the job.
I’m going to be honest here. A rarity. I’m a string boiler. There l said it. It works a little. I know other methods but I haven’t heard of anyone using an ultrasonic bath thing as you can get them pretty cheap. I’ll go ahead and report back with the results. Wish me luck.
I have done it in the past as well. Though in my experience it really isn't worth the effort. They sound fine for a day or two, then sound even worse than before, probably because the heat loosens the windings.
I've found that what works quite well is to remove a set of strings, use some alcohol wipes to remove any grime and dirt, and leave them to "rest" for a few days, if not weeks. Of course you'll need to restring your bass with another set in the meanwhile.
When you put back the old set again it actually sounds quite well, I'd say like new for a few days, after that they will gradually return to dull, but you can actually repeat this process a few times before the strings become completely dull and there's no saving them anymore. Try it!
I normally use rotosound stainless round wound and even new, playing a Rickenbacker through an Ampeg, in two days l found a noticeable difference as we played five nights a week for 4 1/2 hours but that’s not happening now so I’m not putting so much mileage. I have a bunch of basses now and that means a bunch more strings to replace.
The ultrasonic tanks work well at lower temperatures. You don’t need to get that hot. Very warm but not enough to make a difference with hard materials and you can use many cleaners to help the process along. The power is in the vibe. I’m looking forward to trying it and if it doesn’t work, then my dentures will have a new lease on life. Thanks for replying. Take care brother
Ehh no I don’t regret boiling my strings they lasted me for over 2 months and yes they were still bright they lasted longer than new strings and was also brighter than new strings like I’m talking way too bright if I’m being honest it was bette to boil bass strings than to get new ones I don’t regret it at all
i came here for myth no. 6.
"Flatwound strings last forever". Well, tell Rotosound SH77
They don't. There's a reason why Steve changes them before every single concert. I would do the same if I could afford it :D. So I keep them for at least half a year on my bass.
@@theclansman6663 I'd do the same but they are too expensive... 50€
Goes better in 0.75x
Hahaha I'll speak more slowly in the next one
Don't get me wrong. Your channel is awesome! Is just a little difficult to a bassist with a low English level follow Word by Word...
@@firebass Understandable, but I also add subtitles for that reason! 😊
I got 4 and 5 string and i play my 5 over the 4 ....
Kitty.
What a clickbait - didn't even talk about myths. Please change title to "10 Myfs about bass strings"
Myth 1 is only true if you want your round wound strings sound like flatwounds with all disadvantages of roundwound xD
If anything, I feel like flats are disadvantaged.
You get 1 subscribe from me not because your content but your last message.....
We should think before commenting someone's creativity because maybe it's about someone's life.....maybe worthless for us but meaningful for her/him.....always think before we critique ...because when we gives someone critique could be constructive or destructive...depends how the way we say the critique itself to someone
and when you realize that.....you will expect adolf hitler keep being artist even after being rejected from art academy....