On the subject of bass strings changing...

[Grand Wazoo]

To stretch or not to stretch, this is the question?

Ever since I can remember, whenever I have been fitting fresh strings on a bass, I have always stretched them, tune them to pitch, then stretch again and retune, I do this a few times, then I play it for an hour, tune to pitch again and then leave overnite to settle, then just tune occasionally as and when required.

I must also point out that I don't change one string at a time, but,as bass strings changes are not that frequent, evertime I do it, I remove all the the strings and take the opportunity to give the fretboard a bit of TLC with some Lem Oil and / or EB wonder wipes f/board conditioner.

However recently a very reputable luthier and long time friend of mine, has suggested that tests have proven that there is no longer need to stretch them, au contraire, he reckons that stretching strings actually shortens their life! He said to me, just make sure they are fitted properly around the peg post, and then wind them around the peg from the bottom up, tune them to pitch and keep tuning them everytime they lose pitch and in a couple of hours of playing, the strings should have settled naturally and you don't need to fiddle with them at all, until they go out of tune.

I'd be interested to see what the rest of you guys do when you fit new strings, what method you use, and I am also interested to hear from BP if it is true that new strings don't require stretching.

Cheers

 

[five7]

I have always stretched strings and everyone I know does also. Same as you with a good cleaning thrown in.

 

[MrMusashi]

id put them on and wind them in the other direction than your luthier suggests.. so the string "leaves" the tuner closest possible to the headstock. that way there is more angle over the nut.
its actually hard not to do it that way since the eb tuners are tapered in that direction

as for stretching youll have to decide for yourself. some says stretching shortens the zing life of the string while others (like me) prefer tuning stability. they will settle in when they are ready, question is if you have time to let them do so before your gig starts

MrM

 

[Rick Auricchio]

+1 on the downward winds, for exactly the reason MrM says.

I always stretch while tuning. Even at gigs. I just tune, give a tug toward or away from the knobs, and check the tuning. After a while, less stretch is needed.

 

[AnthonyD]

Reputable luthier claims you should wrap/wind from the bottom up!?


I always wind from the top down for the same reasons noted here - my basses and my skinny-stringed instruments both.

I tug a bit on the strings (especially the six-stringers; bass not so much) not to "stretch" the strings but rather help them settle tight around the post.

 

[leond]

The one time I didn't stretch the strings, it seemed like I was retuning for a few hours till they were stable.

All the other times I did stretch the strings, it was a quick retune after the stretch and I was good to go.

And I start at the top and work down on the tuning posts. Greater angle over the nut equals greater downward pressure which (supposedly) equals better tone.

LeonD

 

[GreyDad]

Likewise, when I re-string the strings are as close to the headstock as possible (never occurred to me there was another way to do it) and as I'm increasing tension I tug them a bit to help them settle in to the nut and saddles - I guess this is effectively stretching them but I didn't know this was recommended from a metallurgical point of view. I expect to have to re-tune a few times once they all on but it has never been for very long.

I have to say I've found the tuning stability of MM basses to be really exceptional, in normal circumstances they hardly drift at all and I can go days and days without them moving - but then maybe I'm not playing hard enough

 

[pbass2go]

I streach the strings when new strings are going on with the string leaving the post at the lowest point.

I dont do much with the fingerboard... would ruin the mojo

 

[Alvabass]

To stretch or not to stretch, this is the question?

This guy will give you the answer.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIHTMFFKB2c&fmt=18"]YouTube - How to Play Bass Guitar: Beginner Lessons : Stretching Bass Strings Before Tuning[/ame]

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Reputable luthier claims you should wrap/wind from the bottom up!?

Come to think of it I have written that wrong, SORRY it's the other way around, he meant wrap the string from top down, that was my literacy mistake.... thanks for pointing it out, I thought there was something strange in my original text.

 

[MingusBASS]

I don't stretch my strings. I put the strings on, tune up to correct pitch and then play my bass for a while. Every few minutes I'll tune it back to pitch. After a few times they're usually pretty stable. Stretching can shorten the string life.

 

[N.F.A.]

I have always stretched strings more from habit as a guitar player than for any rational reason. I am changing strings soon on a couple basses. I will try not stretching them and see how it plays out..

 

[koogie2k]

When I change strings....I change all of them at once. I take them all off, clean the fretboard, put the new ones on. I stretch them, tune, stretch again, tune, let it settle. Then I check the tuning and adjust as necessary. I go through strings quite a bit more than the normal bassist.

I change strings at least once a month. Due to my active gig schedule and the fact that I sweat profusely when on stage and all over my bass and strings. I do clean it up after each show and wipe down the bass....still...strings get changed religiously.

 

[bobalu]

I don't stretch my bass bass strings, but I do for my guitar. The way it was explained to me by my guitar tech was:

-bass strings, being a very thick guage in comparison to guitar, are much more stable when installed new. Combined with modern manufacturing techniques now used (on good quality strings) they just don't need to be stretched. Over stretching them will distort the shape of the string, ruining the uniform wrap tension, and result in intonation problems (it won't intonate properly all over the fretboard).

Guitar strings can benefit from mild stretching because their such a small guage. However, overstretching a guitar string will result in the same damage of distorting the uniform guage, especially on the un-wrapped strings.

Just my tech's advice here, fyi.

 

[Mogee]

So what do they do at the factory? BP?

 

[AnthonyD]

Come to think of it I have written that wrong, SORRY it's the other way around, he meant wrap the string from top down, that was my literacy mistake.... thanks for pointing it out, I thought there was something strange in my original text.

Reputation restored!

 

[Rick Auricchio]

I don't stretch the strings as much as that guy in the video. I'm talking more like a hard pull with fingers, as if you're going to pluck the string, near the pickup.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I do stretch the strings, but not a lot and not for long. Nothing as extreme as the YouTube video posted above. I tune them once or twice and I seem to be okay. Stable and ready.

 

[oli@bass]

I stretch strings. Pulling a bit harder than bending a note half a step. That should definitely not damage a string! But it has a huge impact on tuning stability. Most of the stress is relieved not by actually streching the string but by tightening the winding around the string post.

I wonder how much pull it takes to damage a bass string...

 

[Psychicpet]

wrap and a half around the post

tune to pitch (doing a quick recheck once all strings are at pitch)

pull the string @ the 12th fret just high enough to feel some tension (a bit more than a normal 'slap/pop' pop) then let'er spank the plank

then retune

that usually does it, two tunings and a quick pop @ the 12th and the strings are in for a loooooooooong time.

don't forget to occasionally 'pencil' the nut slots, get a little graphite in there to make sure it's lubed.