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Text of current section located at String (music)#Boiling strings (guitar and bass)

Some musicians boil guitar or bass strings to rejuvenate them. The high temperature of the boiling water helps free the strings of oil, salt, and grime from the players hands. When a string is played, very small metal shavings from fret wear may break off and lodge between the windings of the strings. Heating the strings can expand these particles and separate them from the windings. Some players use deionized water to boil strings, believing that mineral deposits in tap water may aid corrosion of the string core. After boiling, strings may have less elasticity and be more brittle, depending on the quality of the alloys involved. Putting the strings through a cycle in the dishwasher has also been known to work.

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String Boiling Section Additions

The effects of boiling will last anywhere from two to five days.

A surplus of water boiling in the pot will have no effect on the strings. It is important that strings are completely dry before re application to the guitar. This technique will have no negative effect on the guitar itself, but the shorter the amount of time the strings are kept of the guitar, the better.

Negative Effects of Boiling

When a guitar string is exposed to temperatures such as this, there will be changes with in the various stress points of the string. This could have an effect on tuning and possibly create “dead spots” in the string that weaken the sound.

A potential issue when boiling is the risk of having left over soap scum in the pot. If a pot with this kind of residue is used those minerals may bond to the string during boiling. A solution to this problem is using a bit of alcohol and a paper towel to ensure the cleanliness of the pan or pot..