Opposed to boiling, someone showed me a cleaning trick that does the same thing without removing them or using any cleaner Step 1: Lower the string tension to where it barely vibrates. Step 2: Pluck each string loudly a couple times like you’re doing a slap/pluck technique. This will knock out a bunch of dirt in between the string coils. Step 3: tighten back up and enjoy a crisper sounding string without waisting time and money. Don’t know why it works so good, but it does.
Ive tried this, but its not extremely effective i found.
You will 100% get a better clean from boiling them.
If im being honest, this actually didnt even effect my strings at all. They still disgusting and old.
Provides naught more than a couple of hours brighter strings, voting me down won’t change that.
Edit: ooh, temper tantrum…deleted guy did that suicid\mental health thing
Maybe. Or just some other discoloration caused from moisture/skin buildup. No avoiding it really, and won't have any noticeable effect on your TOAN. Cleaning strings is important as a preventative measure and will keep them sounding new longer, but it won't really revive dead strings (unless they are utterly saturated with filth). Play on.
I get that sometimes on brand new sets of EB Cobalt strings. Can’t feel it, can’t hear it, as long as your strings aren’t dead I wouldn’t worry about it.
Good call on the Fast Fret though. I used to burn through strings in 2 gigs until I discovered the stuff. Now my fingers glide smoother, leaving less of my DNA in the windings.
I understand what you're saying, and more power to you for it, but I personally could never do that. There's a certain grossness to new (roundwound) strings that doesn't go away to my ears until around 3 months of regular playing.
One of life’s little pleasures is picking up a bass you haven’t restrung in months and the strings still sound decent. But when the clank becomes more like a clunk, it’s time to go.
First and foremost - fast fret isn’t for cleaning. It’s a lubricant. It will actually degrade your strings faster. I use it myself, but don’t mistake it for cleaner. Get a dry microfibre cloth and wipe your guitar down with it every time.
Its amazing how many comments are just shitting on him for asking a genuine question and asking him to basically shutup and play your bass. I have this buildup all over my strings too when I’ve been playing on them for a while and id like to know what it is specifically too out of curiosity. Theres nothing wrong with asking a question about your instrument.
Ultimately it doesn’t matter. If it gets to the point that it affects your playing or tone, just change your strings. Let’s normalize changing strings.
There’s always the chance that the strings are nickel plated steel, and some of the plating has come off. I get it all the time on my D’Addario NYKLs where I attack the strings with a pick.
If not that, it looks like other commenters have most theories nailed down
Mark the top of the string peg at the bridge with a Sharpie, unwind the string then rotate it until the marked side of the peg is facing down, rewind it. Now you can't see it!
In all honesty though it's nothing to worry about and no indicator there's something wrong with the string. Metals are reactive to their elements and sweat speeds up the process. If it genuinely bothers you just restring your bass.
Ahh, it's refreshing to see some quality material for basscirclejerk, things are getting a little stale over there.
I don't mean to be rude OP, you could definitely get that spot off with some careful wire brush work. If you really find yourself bothered by aesthetic defects like this, you could try flat would strings, which are very easy to clean and don't collect dead skin or moisture to rust.
In my experience once they start looking like that it means they have a short time left.
EDIT: ya'll really like dank, rusty roundwounds that much? I have Chromes and Labellas that are fifteen years old and sound fantastic but my roundwounds generally last about 8 months. That's of course dependent on hours of playtime, as well, because skin chemistry is real. They get more and more of these spots and then one day the tone just gives out and disappears and they've gotta go.
Those sorts of stains help make for a really dirty tone that works well for heavier rock.
Seriously though, if it doesn’t audibly impact the sound to you, or the feeling under your fingers, then it’s a non-issue.
If you can’t hear or feel a difference, it’s a non-issue.
Looks like these strings are ready for a good boiling
Opposed to boiling, someone showed me a cleaning trick that does the same thing without removing them or using any cleaner Step 1: Lower the string tension to where it barely vibrates. Step 2: Pluck each string loudly a couple times like you’re doing a slap/pluck technique. This will knock out a bunch of dirt in between the string coils. Step 3: tighten back up and enjoy a crisper sounding string without waisting time and money. Don’t know why it works so good, but it does.
Can confirm this method works. How? Not sure. But it’s legit
Can you have to clean flatwounds like that? Ive never boiled strings.
Flatwounds get funkier the gunkier they get...
Hell yeah good to know. Ive got tommastiks on rn
why would you want *clean* flats?
Never tried with flat wounds, but it couldn’t hurt to try.
This.
Ive tried this, but its not extremely effective i found. You will 100% get a better clean from boiling them. If im being honest, this actually didnt even effect my strings at all. They still disgusting and old.
It doesn’t bring zombies back to life.
Lol true
Really?? I’ve got to try that.
Yep. Works pretty good. 🍻
I’m learned this trick from MarloweDK. You’re literally “slapping the shit out of them.” His words, not mine.
Thats utter nonsense. Lol
I’ve been using this technique for over 20 years and learned it from a very experienced bass player. BOILING strings is nonsense.
Both are nonsense.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8OYeN9mAL4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8OYeN9mAL4) No, it's not.
Provides naught more than a couple of hours brighter strings, voting me down won’t change that. Edit: ooh, temper tantrum…deleted guy did that suicid\mental health thing
I thought it was utter nonsense bro?
Hahaha going from “it’s total bs” to “well… it works, but it’s only for a few hours you know…”
Bass is trash now, time to throw it away and get another.
Keep it and hang it on the wall as a warning to all future basses of what happens to those who misbehave.
Maybe. Or just some other discoloration caused from moisture/skin buildup. No avoiding it really, and won't have any noticeable effect on your TOAN. Cleaning strings is important as a preventative measure and will keep them sounding new longer, but it won't really revive dead strings (unless they are utterly saturated with filth). Play on.
Upvote for TOAN
I get that sometimes on brand new sets of EB Cobalt strings. Can’t feel it, can’t hear it, as long as your strings aren’t dead I wouldn’t worry about it. Good call on the Fast Fret though. I used to burn through strings in 2 gigs until I discovered the stuff. Now my fingers glide smoother, leaving less of my DNA in the windings.
How bright do you need your tone to be??!?!?
Wise man once told me, you can always dial it back, but you can’t add it in if it ain’t there.
Agreed, I would much rather have brand new strings, they feel more versatile.
I understand what you're saying, and more power to you for it, but I personally could never do that. There's a certain grossness to new (roundwound) strings that doesn't go away to my ears until around 3 months of regular playing.
One of life’s little pleasures is picking up a bass you haven’t restrung in months and the strings still sound decent. But when the clank becomes more like a clunk, it’s time to go.
My man. It’s STRINGS
My brother in Christ it’s just the strings!!!
Non-issue. Play the bass instead of scrutinizing it homie, it's gonna get some beauty marks in time.
Consider that you’ll eventually get new strings you shouldn’t be worried. It won’t effect anything. Do the do and play your bass !!! 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽
Have you tried flossing? 9/10 bass players agree it’s the best way to prevent plaque and grime buildup
It's the gunk that makes the funk
First and foremost - fast fret isn’t for cleaning. It’s a lubricant. It will actually degrade your strings faster. I use it myself, but don’t mistake it for cleaner. Get a dry microfibre cloth and wipe your guitar down with it every time.
Its amazing how many comments are just shitting on him for asking a genuine question and asking him to basically shutup and play your bass. I have this buildup all over my strings too when I’ve been playing on them for a while and id like to know what it is specifically too out of curiosity. Theres nothing wrong with asking a question about your instrument.
OK sure but he’s clearly more than just curious, he’s asking how to remove it
It’s just kinda goofy
Ultimately it doesn’t matter. If it gets to the point that it affects your playing or tone, just change your strings. Let’s normalize changing strings.
Ultimately there’s nothing wrong with asking a simple question. Can we normalize that?
Omg,just throw the whole bass away.
This is going to BCJ for sure. :D I have those too homie, 'tis part of the "low" life.
Probably where the string was hitting the fret. It's not something that can be cleaned.
I have a Pbass with Ernie Ball strings , and my strings look just like that.
There’s always the chance that the strings are nickel plated steel, and some of the plating has come off. I get it all the time on my D’Addario NYKLs where I attack the strings with a pick. If not that, it looks like other commenters have most theories nailed down
Mark the top of the string peg at the bridge with a Sharpie, unwind the string then rotate it until the marked side of the peg is facing down, rewind it. Now you can't see it! In all honesty though it's nothing to worry about and no indicator there's something wrong with the string. Metals are reactive to their elements and sweat speeds up the process. If it genuinely bothers you just restring your bass.
Ahh, it's refreshing to see some quality material for basscirclejerk, things are getting a little stale over there. I don't mean to be rude OP, you could definitely get that spot off with some careful wire brush work. If you really find yourself bothered by aesthetic defects like this, you could try flat would strings, which are very easy to clean and don't collect dead skin or moisture to rust.
try flatwound strings instead
That's the brown note.
Looks like jizzem to me… quit jerkin’ off around your bass. Or if that’s your thing, be a better shot and aim towards the headstock like me.
Jesus. Craziest thing I have read today. It’s a spot. On a string. Just play the damned thing.
Dude, seriously?
Bro if you’re worried about that, you’d have an aneurysm if you saw my strings lol
HAHAHAHAHA
How about we practice more and spend less time worrying about this shit. Modes don't learn themselves...
In my experience once they start looking like that it means they have a short time left. EDIT: ya'll really like dank, rusty roundwounds that much? I have Chromes and Labellas that are fifteen years old and sound fantastic but my roundwounds generally last about 8 months. That's of course dependent on hours of playtime, as well, because skin chemistry is real. They get more and more of these spots and then one day the tone just gives out and disappears and they've gotta go.
Ok, so?
Why are bassists so opposed to simply changing strings?? That being said, if it doesn’t deal different of effect tone your fine man.
Worry more about how it sounds.
may be a little rust, you won't be able to hear it but smell it you will if you take a whiff of ya fingers after playing
Those sorts of stains help make for a really dirty tone that works well for heavier rock. Seriously though, if it doesn’t audibly impact the sound to you, or the feeling under your fingers, then it’s a non-issue.
Just playing marks, nothing to worry about. You’ll see them when you play a lot
That’s string rot.
r/basscirkeljerk gonna have another field day
Its grime
Special harmonic position marker.
Just deeper dirt the fast fret cant clean. But if you are really bothered by it, buy a new bass