Just re-strung the Bongo...

[Bloodfist]

I use rounds. The band I'm in plays hard rock, and flats don't sound to good with our music.

 

[oli@bass]

Does anyone ever just clean your strings? I used pads dipped in rubbing alcohol (don't get any on the fretboard) and boy, the strings came alive again.

Yep. Put the used set in a jar filled with alcohol (Whiskey in the Jar ), and leave it in there for a day. A lot of life comes back. The point is that they get very clean that way, so there's nothing dampening the string anymore. However, they'll never go back to full New Set Brightness. And after a couple of months of playing, the strings will start to show wear at the frets and eventually lose proper intonation.

Putting a new set on is better, but I'll never again do that before a gig: The new strings are slightly rougher and totally kill my fingers. I'll rather put them on one or two rehearsals before a gig.

 

[Basspro]

If we are playing shows every week, my gigging bass gets a string change every month.
The basses at home about every 3 months or when i think the've lost their zing.
I use to boil my strings and keep them as spares they come in handy, but nothin
like a new pair of strings,oh yeah.
If you keep em wiped off after playing they last alot longer,your mileage may vary.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Flats. Why change them.

 

[Powman]

flats. Why change them.

+1

 

[Powman]

I use rounds. The band I'm in plays hard rock, and flats don't sound to good with our music.

Thought so. I think rounds need to be chaged more often than flats. Makes sense. Dead skin, sweat, cheeseburger grease, can get caught in those grooves.