Off Topic: New uses for old bass strings?

[OldManMusic]

Do any of you ever do more creative things with your old bass strings than recycling them? I go though a fair pile of them because I like the way a new set of Slinky’s sound on my basses and I tend to hang on to the old strings for some reason. A few years ago I was giving them to a musician friend who traveled to one of the more remote Philippine islands and gave them to his friends who couldn’t afford new bass strings. But that friend doesn’t travel there any more. I had another friend that made a few wrist bracelets out of bass strings. They were pretty cool but finishing them (putting the ends on) was fairly pricey so she stopped making them. I was going to try taking one of Mrs OldManMusic’s vases and wrapping strings around the outside with a bit of solder to see what it looked like.

What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with old strings?

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Are strings recyclable (as in, recycle collection recyclable)?

[OldManMusic]

As far as I know, yes they are recyclable. I was just looking for something more creative before I tossed them in the bin.

[sitonmybass]

What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with old strings?

Played new songs on them.

[rizzo9247]

Miniature suspension bridge

[Bloodfist]

I use them to strangle band members.

[ZiggyDude]

I recycle them also. It seems such a shame for premium quality steel. They get boiled a few times first though.

[iamcatwarrior]

I just throw them in the garbage, especially if they're really dead as far as tone. Some old sets, I will hang onto, particularly if I have a show and didn't manage to get to the store beforehand.

Sometimes, I'll keep a running tally of how many strings I've broken, which is a good indication of hardware quality and/or burrs. Along those same lines, I haven't broken strings since I owned a bass made by you-know-who....

[Holdsg]

You could cut them up in 4" lengths and use them as swizzle sticks in your favorite beverage. Especially the ends that have been twisted around your tuners. Yeah, but you would probably want to boil them first.

[bovinehost]

I use them to strangle band members.

This.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I use them to strangle band members.

No there's an idea!

[Aussie Mark]

They make great kebab skewers on the BBQ. Because they're flexible, you don't need to find a long straight area on the grill, you can snake them around other things that are cooking. When done, grab one end of the string with a pair of multigrips or square nose pliers and put the kebab on a serving platter.

I'm surprised BP doesn't already sell EB strings as accessories for his BP Smokers for this purpose.

Someone is selling something like this, but used strings are cheaper.

[OldManMusic]

Now that's what I'm talking about! Brilliant!!

[bovinehost]

These are from the Ernie Ball Open House party in 2005.

[OldManMusic]

One of the things I miss about the old string packs are the little paper covers (in the second picture) that are now gone with the Element Shield packaging. That is very clever if those are EB strings wound through the flowers.