Strings Sound? |
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Feb 15 2013, 01:13 PM
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I personally love the brand new strings sound on my basses. Its interesting as many bassists I know hate that sound and can't wait for their strings to "die". I love that bright, metallic shiny kind of sound when I put on a new set. I always find myself searching for that sound over time and I remember how disappointed I would be in approximately few weeks or 1 month when strings would die. At one point when gigging heavily I was restringing my basses every month or two in order to keep that sound. What I have noticed is that new strings tend to make cheap basses sound much much better.
The little trick I found for keeping that bright/new strings sound is to use GHS Fast Fret on my strings daily in this way : apply it to the strings and DO NOT wipe it off - rather just leave it overnight to do its magic. It really works. I think strings can influence quite a bit the overall sound of the instrument and its important to experiment in finding the perfect set/brand for you. ____________________ What kind of sound do you prefer? Brand new, slightly warn in or dead? How important strings are in overall sound of the guitar? How often do you change them? -------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net
Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now! |
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Feb 15 2013, 07:18 PM
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DeGroot, I agree completely.
I will "tough it out" in between gigs, but I have to re-string day before the gig in most cases, unless they are in the same week. To help "tough it out", I actually spray some windex on a rag/cloth and wipe the grime off of the lower 3 unwound strings (I play 10-46 DR) so they aren't all gross and rusty. But, I can feel the grooves in the strings from the hardened steel frets on my parker, even after a day of playing. QUOTE (DeGroot @ Feb 15 2013, 09:38 AM)  I would say I get about 2 weeks out of strings with a moderate amount of playing. I don't always change them after 2 weeks (too expensive) but thats about the time when I feel I should.  I prefer the brighter sound with newer strings. I just don't like the dull sound of worn strings, especially with cleaner/lightly-distorted playing. This probably doesn't bother most people, but I also don't like the look when the metal plating wears and it has that corroded grimey look. --------------------   Check out my awesome Nintendo Cover-band, EMULATOR!! http://www.reverbnation.com/emulator Now.....go practice!! |
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Feb 16 2013, 01:42 AM
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This very topic generated a pretty serious amount of Pro/Con when it came up quite a while back. Some folks seemed to think using anything on the strings is "cheating" (as if playing is a final exam of sorts
 ) But yeah, I used to use Fast Fret and Finger Ease all the time, especially for live shows when sweat/funk tended to build up on strings pretty quick. It keeps the strings sounding better longer and reduces the funk buildup It's come up several times now that I look through the forums, here is the thread I was talking about. Some folks were worried they'd get "addicted" to using it? Or that it was some sort of crutch, that may make them dependent on it to play fast. I must say I found that all a bit wonky While it's not going to help anyone play better than they are actually able to play, it does keep strings newer sounding longer https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=44648 Todd QUOTE (Bogdan Radovic @ Feb 15 2013, 07:13 AM) I personally love the brand new strings sound on my basses. Its interesting as many bassists I know hate that sound and can't wait for their strings to "die". I love that bright, metallic shiny kind of sound when I put on a new set. I always find myself searching for that sound over time and I remember how disappointed I would be in approximately few weeks or 1 month when strings would die. At one point when gigging heavily I was restringing my basses every month or two in order to keep that sound. What I have noticed is that new strings tend to make cheap basses sound much much better. The little trick I found for keeping that bright/new strings sound is to use GHS Fast Fret on my strings daily in this way : apply it to the strings and DO NOT wipe it off - rather just leave it overnight to do its magic. It really works. I think strings can influence quite a bit the overall sound of the instrument and its important to experiment in finding the perfect set/brand for you. ____________________ What kind of sound do you prefer? Brand new, slightly warn in or dead? How important strings are in overall sound of the guitar? How often do you change them? |
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Feb 16 2013, 11:21 AM
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QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Feb 16 2013, 01:42 AM) This very topic generated a pretty serious amount of Pro/Con when it came up quite a while back. Some folks seemed to think using anything on the strings is "cheating" (as if playing is a final exam of sorts ) But yeah, I used to use Fast Fret and Finger Ease all the time, especially for live shows when sweat/funk tended to build up on strings pretty quick. It keeps the strings sounding better longer and reduces the funk buildup It's come up several times now that I look through the forums, here is the thread I was talking about. Some folks were worried they'd get "addicted" to using it? Or that it was some sort of crutch, that may make them dependent on it to play fast. I must say I found that all a bit wonky While it's not going to help anyone play better than they are actually able to play, it does keep strings newer sounding longer https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=44648 Todd It definitely gets some getting used to. I remember the first time I applied Fast Fret - I hated the greasy feeling of it on the strings. It somehow wears of over the night though Its interesting that on the instructions on how to us it step 2 says : Wipe excess away with enclosed cloth. ...when I was doing it - I was getting no or very little results. Then I just ignored it and viola - new strings sound -------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net
Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now! |
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Feb 16 2013, 10:46 PM
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I used the GHS Fastfret for 5-6 years until I switched to Elixir strings and I didn't feel the need to use it any longer, but while I had it, it sure did its job!
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Feb 17 2013, 02:57 AM
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I actually like old and semi dead strings - hell, I use flatwounds sometimes. I also despise changing strings so they stay on until there's a tuning issue. Def not advice, just my thing.
-------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Feb 23 2013, 07:52 AM
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True, bass strings are expensive indeed, but in the case I described, guitar strings weren't
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Feb 23 2013, 10:17 PM
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QUOTE (AK Rich @ Feb 22 2013, 07:26 AM) Like most here it seems, I too like the brightness and clarity of a fresh set of strings but I probably only change them once a month , However when I change strings I also apply some Guitar Honey to my rosewood fretboard after a good cleaning and wipedown , on my unfinished maple neck I use Murphys wood soap to keep it slick, bright, and clean looking. Hey Bogdan, I have heard that some Bass players like to boil their string to make them last longer and get that new string sound back, have you ever tried this? Yeah I heard of this before as well! A lot of people must be doing it or its some kind of myth. I have never done it myself though - it just doesn't sound right. Taking off and then putting back old strings doesn't seem fun. Bass strings are expensive, but then again they last a long time. Sometimes its easy to do 6 months or even a year of constant playing. String cleaners do help get back that new strings sound. But I always had a question - is there some recipe for cooking strings? Do you leave them to be "a la dente" or....?
-------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net
Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now! |
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Feb 28 2013, 06:47 AM
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QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Feb 24 2013, 03:17 AM) That would still involve buying strings   Not at full price, and in some circumstances you can get them free. http://www.tunecore.com/index/promotion/107 |
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Mar 1 2013, 12:38 AM
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QUOTE (AK Rich @ Feb 28 2013, 06:47 AM) Not at full price, and in some circumstances you can get them free. http://www.tunecore.com/index/promotion/107 WOW - I just need to sell 100,000 copies of the songs from 1 album now
-------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net
Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now! |
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Mar 1 2013, 09:24 AM
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I probably had the same look on my face that you had when you read that Bogdan
Well, let's start selling then, my friend!
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