Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[EdMerc]

I've had my Ashbory for a couple of weeks now.  I love it, but it is most definitely something else.  Meaning I don't feel it's a replacement to my electric bass, but a different instrument in its own right.

It only took one day for the D string to break.  Good thing that I already had a set of Pahoehoe low strings on order. 

I was able to set up the new strings without any modifications.  I'm not sure why others have said they had to be modified.  I didn't even tie knots in it.  They work great, but the sound is a little different.  Not as "fat" as the silicone strings, but they play a lot better.  Not as mushy.  They are, however, quite sticky.  I'm picking up FingerEase today.  Otherwise, I would not risk playing it in public as it does cause me to fumble some.

Hope this helps someone out there.
Ed

[Gman]

Thanks

[redstriper]

Slyde rite and talc don't work well on pahoehoe strings.
Use silicone spray - only a little sprayed on your fingers will last for hours and makes the strings nice and smooth.
You can get it cheap at most hardware stores.

[ProDigit]

Slyde rite and talc don't work well on pahoehoe strings.
Use silicone spray - only a little sprayed on your fingers will last for hours and makes the strings nice and smooth.
You can get it cheap at most hardware stores.

Like in prev topic, silicon oil can penetrate the skin and is unhealthy.

I wonder the effect on the plastic strings, as the oil has many substances that evaporate, and could damage the strings.

When I play regular bass, a lot of people have these fantasies about spraying things on their strings or eating fried chicken before gigging, but I mainly just rub my fingers through my head.
If you aren't accustomed of  washing your head every day, it should work.

My head is not greasy though, but quite often it gives the micro layer of grease you need for faster playing. I've never done that on a bass with full poly strings, and it doesn't work on silicone strings, I already tried!

but it does work on regular electric or acoustic bass strings (including poly coated)

[redstriper]

I am not aware of the dangers of silicones, which are inert, synthetic compounds with a wide variety of forms and uses. They are commonly used in breast implants, cookware, medical applications, sealants, adhesives, lubricants, and insulation.
Silicone fluids have been incorporated into ointments and barrier creams since their properties became generally known.
Silicone spray is widely available and used in many applications, there is no health warning on the spray can and it says 'Safe For Use In Food Areas'.

I have been using silicone spray on my fingers to lubricate the pahoehoe strings, (as recommended by the string's manufacturer) for a year.
There is no damage to the strings, but now I am concerned for my health - what are the specific health risks ?

[ProDigit]

Silicon breast implants have often been related to the cause of breast cancer.
In many cases it was when the silicon 'bag' leaked, and the gel came in contact with the inner body.

Silicon on itself is not that harmful, but the substances with it to keep it a liquid.

In many silicon gels are substances used similar to ethylene, on itself it may seem harmless, but small portions of ethylene can penetrate the skin layer, and find it's way in the blood stream.
That, and when inhaled, can lead to infertility (for the male); and further down the road to cancers, due to the breakdown of DNA.

A golden rule would be, don't touch, inject, eat, or inhale anything that is not natural.
And though some chemical compounds are harmless and may even benefit a user taking them (like a necessary and prescribed drug), the majority of them only cause harm over the long term.

Like said, just touch your scalp with your fingertips, and you'll have slightly greased or oiled fingers. If not then grab some fried chicken or potatoes. Same thing, but natural.

As far as the silicone strings go, silicone in a hard gel or rubbery state is not dangerous to health when touching.

[redstriper]

Can you provide evidence of any specific health risk related to the use of silicone spray?

I cannot find any after an extensive on line search and there is no evidence of infertility, cancer or the breakdown of DNA - otherwise these sprays would not be openly available and used regularly by millions of people around the world.

My hair is thankfully not greasy enough to lubricate anything and I don't take fried chicken or potatoes on stage.

I believe there is a much greater health risk in eating fried chicken than in the tiny amount of silicone spray required to lubricate these strings and I suggest you obtain a sense of perspective before proclaiming a knowledge of health risks that you have clearly not researched.

[ProDigit]

Can you provide evidence of any specific health risk related to the use of silicone spray?

I cannot find any after an extensive on line search and there is no evidence of infertility, cancer or the breakdown of DNA - otherwise these sprays would not be openly available and used regularly by millions of people around the world.

My hair is thankfully not greasy enough to lubricate anything and I don't take fried chicken or potatoes on stage.

I believe there is a much greater health risk in eating fried chicken than in the tiny amount of silicone spray required to lubricate these strings and I suggest you obtain a sense of perspective before proclaiming a knowledge of health risks that you have clearly not researched.

Sorry to say redstriper, but you come over as a dickhead, by not even reading half of the posts I had written.
If you don't take time to read it all, better for you to just shut up!
It could save your face!

[tauzero]

Silicon breast implants have often been related to the cause of breast cancer.

Not by proper scientists.

http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/2001/silicone-mortality

Not that I use anything on my dainty little hands for playing with.

[ProDigit]

It's a common knowledge in Europe, and other parts in the world; not some sort of fancy legend, and was even on the news a few weeks ago!

You can find as many articles online about it causing as you can find articles of it not causing cancer.

It just is not much debated in USA because it's a multi millionaire industry.
There are even speculations that hormonal food (meats, vegetables) is more cancerous than regular food. Not many studies have been done around that neither, or are inclusive, but there is a trend of countries/regions using hormonal meats having a higher rate of cancers.

Unfortunately men rather believe what they want until there are open talks about these issues, and noone really wants to tell the results, because it would mean a lot more people living, a lot less for 'Me myself and I', and multi million businesses would reap more money on these things.

Same with cigarettes.It took years, even decades before they started addressing the health issues concerned with them.

But like you said, since the  silicone strings are solid, there is a very little to no chance of cancer.

It's upto you to believe what you want though...

[tauzero]

It's a common knowledge in Europe, and other parts in the world; not some sort of fancy legend, and was even on the news a few weeks ago!

You can find as many articles online about it causing as you can find articles of it not causing cancer.

I'm in Europe. I haven't heard it. It's certainly not "common knowledge". As somebody once said, the plural of "anecdote" is not "data".

Here's another study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8041820

We had the MMR scare here - a doctor with a heavy financial interest reported that the MMR vaccine and autism were linked. They're not, and there was plenty of science to say so, but there's no journalistic mileage in saying that.

I could also find as many articles online saying that homeopathy works as that it doesn't.

I recommend reading Ben Goldacre's book "Bad Science".

[Annie]

Silicon breast implants have often been related to the cause of breast cancer.

Can I just point out that silicone is not silicon? Silicone is a soft, sometimes liquid substance used for a number of industrial and consumer products. Silicon (no e) is basically sand.

[dgs]

I am quite happy to use the silicone strings.  Never had a broken string in the 4 years and two months that I've owned my Ashbory.  I use Slide-Rite because I like the ease of the powder pouch.  I have also used baby powder and corn starch very effectively.  I don't think there are any health concerns there.

[ProDigit]

Silicon breast implants have often been related to the cause of breast cancer.

Can I just point out that silicone is not silicon? Silicone is a soft, sometimes liquid substance used for a number of industrial and consumer products. Silicon (no e) is basically sand.

Thank you for your clarification.
Though I guess people understand the topic nevertheless.