Why NOT to polish bass strings.......

[Randy Chastain]

Gordon & Stephane,
I haven't tried hitting the bass string with a hammer. I do loosen the
objectionable string more than a little, raise the damper out of the way and
give it a few good plucks. I've had success with this and no broken strings.

Randy Chastain
Golden Gate Chapter


On 6/28/07 5:06 AM, "Stéphane Collin" <collin.s at skynet.be> wrote:

> Hi Gordon.
> 
> Indeed, any liquid/chemical mean to polish the bass string will unfavourably
> alter the tone of the bass strings.  I don't understand why this is.  My
> guess : it is the minute shocks between the brass windings that make the
> high partials of the tone.  Anything in between the windings (dirt, paste,
> and all) will damp the minute shocks, thus the high tones.
> While we are there, may I just mention again what did work for me and what
> didn't, in order to bring back some brightness in the tone ?
> Mechanical rubbing of the brass (scotch brite, steel wool) does improve the
> look, but not the sound.
> Removing the string from the hitch pin, making a large loop in it and
> running the loop back and forth along the string has mixed results :
> sometimes some brightness comes back, sometimes not at all.
> Removing the string from the hitch pin and twisting it in the direction of
> the winding before putting it back on the hitch can bring some of the
> brightness back, certainly with many turns, but it also affects the
> inharmonicity of the string, and after three or four twists, the sound of
> the string becomes objectionnable.
> Removing just the tension of the string, leaving it in place, and banging it
> hard with heavy hammer strokes works great, nice results, but one every 4
> strings so treated breaks when pulled back to tension.
> Replacing the strings with new ones works like wonder, assumed that you wait
> until the strings have settled.
> 
> I heard that guitarists who can't afford buying a new set of strings (the
> majority of those) have good results boiling the strings in boiling water.
> I never tried this with a piano string, but am wanting to hear comments from
> those who did.
> 
> Hoping to raise some more comments.
> 
> Best regards.
> 
> Stéphane Collin.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "gordon stelter" <lclgcnp at yahoo.com>
>>     Was it what I used, or will ANY polishing of bass
>> strings harm the tone ??? I won't do any more, until
>> certain.