evenkeel
August 1st, 2009, 06:52 PM
This subject was discussed recently. I'd never tried this, so when 000 was due for a string change I thought I'd give the boiling thing a try. For the record the guitar is a solid wood, spruce and rosewood, M-30 Morgan Monroe. Strings, D'addario 11's. phosphur/bronze.
I removed the strings, coiled them loosely and dropped them into a pot of boiling water for about 10 minutes. Let them cool and dry, then restrung.
Did they sound like new strings No. Did they sound better, yes. Not as bright and crisp as new strings, but more life than before boiling. So after a fashion I guess I'd say the trick works. But, at least for me, there is a big downside. It's a real nuisance to restring with old strings with bent ends. I managed to stab myself several times trying to manage all the kinks and twisted ends.
Bottom line, strings are pretty cheap, you don't restring all that often and it's WAY easier to do the job with nice, new, long and straight strings.
I removed the strings, coiled them loosely and dropped them into a pot of boiling water for about 10 minutes. Let them cool and dry, then restrung.
Did they sound like new strings No. Did they sound better, yes. Not as bright and crisp as new strings, but more life than before boiling. So after a fashion I guess I'd say the trick works. But, at least for me, there is a big downside. It's a real nuisance to restring with old strings with bent ends. I managed to stab myself several times trying to manage all the kinks and twisted ends.
Bottom line, strings are pretty cheap, you don't restring all that often and it's WAY easier to do the job with nice, new, long and straight strings.