| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
 Posted - 10/26/2009 : 07:46:44
|
When you clean strings, what do you do?
I use lighter fluid (Zippo) on a small soft piece from an old T-shirt, works great.
Wrap around the string and move up and down.
|
|
|
PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 08:53:10
|
Clean strings???
Err... I just replace them if they're grubby. |
 |
|
|
zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 13:58:38
|
quote:
Originally posted by PaulH
Clean strings???
Err... I just replace them if they're grubby.
+1 i buy them in bulk, i usually get a few dozen at a time.So it's cheap to change strings |
|
|
|
silvertone6120
Gold Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 14:19:30
|
True points, but you can still prolong string life a little bit by just keeping 'em clean instead of letting them grunge up prematurely.
Personally I just wipe 'em down after use...no lighter fluid or anything(I use it occasionally). Plus I usually run the cloth on the bottom side of the strings too, between the strings and the fretboard. They will last longer that way.
I know strings are cheap but I'm lazy and don't like to restring that often. So a little wipedown goes a long way. |
|
|
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 14:34:15
|
quote:
Originally posted by silvertone6120
True points, but you can still prolong string life a little bit by just keeping 'em clean instead of letting them grunge up prematurely.
Personally I just wipe 'em down after use...no lighter fluid or anything(I use it occasionally). Plus I usually run the cloth on the bottom side of the strings too, between the strings and the fretboard. They will last longer that way.
I know strings are cheap but I'm lazy and don't like to restring that often. So a little wipedown goes a long way.
Yes, that is a very good point, changing strings is not funny at all�
I have a close friend that hates it so much that he changes strings when one of them breaks, and he has a nice collection of vintage Gibsons and Fenders. As if four year old strings sound more vintage
 |
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 14:35:26
|
quote:
Originally posted by Goran
[As if four year old strings sound more vintage
The strings on my Aerodyne jap-strat are nearly 5 years old. They have a nice dull sound now  |
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 14:38:11
|
Hi Guys
I wipe mine down with a clean lint free cloth.
And ever since my very first guitar.
I keep one or more, large bags of "descant gel" (bean bags), inside all my guitar cases.
Works well.
Regards Dr. Bob 
|
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 14:40:26
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
I keep one or more, large bags of "descant gel" (bean bags), inside all my guitar cases.
Works well.
Regards Dr. Bob
Ha!! The RH here in Calary is rarely above 20%. We need to keep humidifiers in ours. It is very standard to have to file the ends of the frets after a guitar is about 6-12 months old because the wood has shrunk exposing the sharp fret ends.
I'm not sure what the effect will be on my guitars when they come back to Australia and 90% humidity... |
Edited by - Laurie on 10/26/2009 14:40:43 |
|
|
|
zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 15:11:46
|
| I changes strings so often i can do it, really in 5 minutes |
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 15:23:38
|
quote:
Originally posted by zerksies
I changes strings so often i can do it, really in 5 minutes
Hi zerksies
Seriously!
If you are able to do it that quickly, please let the guys here, in on your secret.
Do you have locking tuners?
Or maybe make a short video, & post it on youtube.
I'm not really that concerned about the time it take me to restring.
I usually do it while watching something brain-dead on TV, or with a nice cup of tea.
Still your technique would be great to know-see.
Regards Dr. Bob |
|
|
|
verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 16:16:38
|
Laurie - prepare for puffy instruments!! You might want to slowly acclimatize them before you go..
I too can restring an acoustic or a strat in about 5 minutes.. mind you, I do it all the time @ work.  You gotta have a nice loose hand-winder - I don't like using a drill. It's all about having a system - a mise en scene, like a chef.
Cleaning your strings will definitely prolong their life, but only up to a point.. If you want the MOST from your instrument, they should be changed fairly regularly. That said, I'm terrible at following my own advice, and let my strings go way too long without changing them - always DRs - so they sound good well into their autumn strums.. |
|
|
|
Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 17:19:34
|
Here's my magic trick:
Take an old bowl, fill it with water, put your old strings in 'em, add some soda (you know, the salty stuff, not a drink ) let it boil 15-20 mins. and hey presto, you just blown some new life into a dull set of strings.
Needless to say, this works best with roundwound strings, especially bass guitar strings. |
Edited by - Dirk on 10/26/2009 17:21:56 |
|
|
|
Witloofboer
Gold Member
Belgium
513 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 20:44:44
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dirk
Here's my magic trick:
Take an old bowl, fill it with water, put your old strings in 'em, add some soda (you know, the salty stuff, not a drink ) let it boil 15-20 mins. and hey presto, you just blown some new life into a dull set of strings.
Needless to say, this works best with roundwound strings, especially bass guitar strings.
Bassplayers trick! Doesn't work that well with guitar strings.
I use flatwound strings, they don't catch up as much dirt as normal roundwounds. As Silvertone said: a little wipedown goes a long way! |
Edited by - Witloofboer on 10/26/2009 20:45:48 |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 21:17:16
|
Same as most of you..i just wipe 'em down with a cloth and change them every few gigs..i have schaller locking tuners on my strat so i can change them pretty quick and they also stretch out pretty quickly with the locking tuners....i read somewhere the the old jazzers and big band players used to wipe their strings down with a shammy lightly moistened with baby oil but i've never tried this.... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 10/26/2009 21:17:58 |
|
|
|
RONanFEZ
Bronze Member
USA
85 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 01:44:29
|
| I use only Elixir Strings and spray the neck & strings with easy-fingers, before and after use and wipe with clean cloth. |
|
|
|
messiah666
Copper Member
United Kingdom
18 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2009 : 09:02:21
|
quote:
Originally posted by zerksies
I changes strings so often i can do it, really in 5 minutes
I just use a straight cloth when cleaning as well. I use Floyd Rose equipped guitars and can pretty much change strings under 10 mins. I change two strings at a time so the Floyd doesn't dip too much and roughly tune to the old strings left on the guitar. Then when they are all changed it's just slight tweaking to get to the correct pitch. I also leave the ball ends on and have them up at the machine heads. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Cleaning strings
