String boiling

Lordiesel · #1 11-07-2007, 12:22 AM

Hey...I'm about to restring my guitar rg570. Which involves the tedious and frustrating process of stretching the strings. Ive read Van Halen used to boil his strings so that they stretch. Im not about to try it just yet .... or waste a pack %*&$ing it up. Just wanted to know if any1 has tried this. Ill stick to just stretching just wanted to throw it out there n get some feedback from people who have tried it... if any. Cheers

This is from wiki. He stated it in an interview...

String boiling
Van Halen is well known for boiling new string sets before installation. This contributes to both the playability and tone of the strings.

I boil the strings so they stretch, because if you just put them on and clamp it down, the strings stretch out on the guitar. I just take a pack and let it boil for 20 minutes in the hot water. And then I dry them in the sun, because otherwise they rust. But I only use them one night anyway, so who cares if they rust?[20]

RSVampire · #2 11-07-2007, 06:17 AM

I haven't tried it but it probably works. Like Eddie says he only uses his strings once a night anyways so who cares what kind of damage he might be doing to the strings.

I'd say for normal guitarists on normal budgets and string changes, stretching them out by hand is the best way. It's not going to hurt anything and properly stretching them out will make sure that little to no stretching will occur after you have the strings installed.

Davey · #3 11-07-2007, 06:28 AM

A mate of mine used to do this with his bass strings to give them a little extra life. Of course, he'd already had them on and stretched them so I haven't a clue in that regards I'm afraid.

Distantshore · #4 11-07-2007, 07:00 AM

Seems like more work than just stretching em', but thats just my opinion.

kennydoe · #5 11-07-2007, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distantshore

Seems like more work than just stretching em', but thats just my opinion.

ditto - why is the process tedious and frustrating? it takes an hour of playing and stretching...you can even just put them on and leave them alone for a day or two (out of the case)...play a different guitar in the interim.

I don't see the point.

~K

jb4674 · #6 11-07-2007, 09:40 AM

Another irrelevant but interesting point would be that nothing beats the sound of a brand new set of strings on a guitar. There's just something about it that sounds really cool.

Jimmy

Racerx2k · #7 11-07-2007, 02:40 PM

Boiling strings are a bunch of hype. It's like polishing a turd: What do you get? A shiny turd. Just put new ones on. Eddie has claimed lots of things in the past that turned out to be total bull****, why should THIS story be any different?

kennydoe · #8 11-07-2007, 02:42 PM

I've heard of bass players doing this, but sets of bass strings are much more expensive than guitar strings....

andy7jem · #9 11-07-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibanez249

A mate of mine used to do this with his bass strings to give them a little extra life. Of course, he'd already had them on and stretched them so I haven't a clue in that regards I'm afraid.

What!!!

He had the strings on when he boiled them

Thats a damned large saucepan to fit a whole guitar in

Dee · #10 11-07-2007, 03:25 PM

I have boiled strings through lack of money for a new set. It freshens them up but it also weakens them greatly and they break. Not worth it. At all. I'm really surprised by EVH. As it was said above, there is no point. It takes a short amount of time to stretch strings, just yank the f*ck out of them and they'll settle in. I doubt very much that boiling actually stretches them anyway, it just heats them up. No point.

rgr · #11 11-07-2007, 04:38 PM

We used to pull out our harmonica reeds and dip them in vinegar.

Why?

I don't know, it's just what we did.

Dee · #12 11-07-2007, 05:29 PM

Ewww. Stinky mouth organ!

**Ayrton** · #13 11-07-2007, 06:02 PM

I think part of the problem is how I see most guys stretching the strings. I try and stretch the whole string over just pulling the string away from the guitar.

I found a vid showing how I stretch them, and I can set up a floater pretty quick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep6KrUPYq9o

Same idea but slightly different style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUvDdYYs0Zc

rgr · #14 11-07-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Ewww. Stinky mouth organ!

That was a quote from Niget Tugnel, I don't play the harmonica.

TommyGuitar · #15 11-07-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

I doubt very much that boiling actually stretches them anyway, it just heats them up. No point.

Metal expands when it's heated up.

It does stretch the strings, but it's really a pain in the ass. If you're not careful, your strings will rust if you don't dry them off right away!