String problem

[ReinierK]

Sorry, it's not really technique related, so move it if you want ;)

Everytime I put on new strings (after I thoroughly clean my fretboard) after about three hours of play, my strings already begin to become 'black' and less fluent...

Is this due to my tranpiration in my hands?

I try to keep them as dry as I can and I frequently clean my strings and hand with cloth...

It's frustrating actually. Any ideas?

[rmuscat]

it is mainly due to hand transpiration.

Cleaning string and dry hands helps but it's very hard to avoid string corrosion. I heard about fret fast that would probably help, and also the string company makes a different. But at the end they will all corrode, they will usually take longer.

I never did any research about which string last longer. I was talking to the guy who sells me strings and he told me some people change strings each week!! (i live in a warm country so transpiration is worse!) I change mine every first week of the month.

afaik i think you have to learn how to live with the problem (until they invent plastic strings) :D

hope that helps ... probably this thread will be close soon lol (gear)

[Caffeinated Cat]

My strings turn black quite quickly. Maybe not within 3 hours, but a day or two. I don't see what difference it makes other than it doesn't look nice. I'm sure there's somebody who's going to say that it produces a tremendous difference in tone - LOL :D - but I don't notice any difference in sound or playability.

Would the strings last longer if you kept them clean and shiny? I don't know since I've never tried that. My strings last a reasonable amount of time.

[Los Boleros]

Ever try cleaning your strings with a rag and some rubbing alcolol? It brings back the brilliant sound. I usually do this before a gig.

[Dimebag]

yeah, i get strings covered in s**t really quickly. It can be a bad thing, as it does stop the guitar sonding so good, but unless your playing in a band in a huge arena or something, it doesnt matter. When they get too dirty, they do snap, so try to keep em clean and dry around the bridge and nut especially. When there is way too much fuzz on them, you can get a small peice of paper, and fold it in half over a string, then run it up and down the strings to get the bulk of the fuzz off, this is what i do.

[furiousnewf]

I like the sound of dirty strings! So does Eddie Van Halen!

[Dimebag]

yeah, i kinda do to. without meaning to, it has become part of my style. i play a lot of bluesy stuff, like SRV style, and the dirty strings are what make it sound raw and bluesey.

[rmuscat]

i also forgot to add that the air humidity etc effect the corrosion of the metal (no music here just pure metal lol)


oh and strange how different people react differently to the sounds. I do hear a difference in sound when i change strings. I don't like the sound just after the new strings are fixed ... i usually start appreciate them after a couple of days of running in, and after a week and a half (or so) they start going back to "dull" :(

[ReinierK]

Thanks,

I do hear difference in sound, brand new strings tend to be a bit over the top for me ;)
It does actually impact playabillity, I can much more easily slide over new strings, since they are so smooth... When they turn dull, the tend to 'stop' my fingers and I have to make much more effort...

[rmuscat]

if you really are picky about it check out fret fast. I heard quite some guys swearing by it. It's a kind of thing you rub on your frets and strigs to reduce friction.

personally i never was interested ... if it was for me i'd tie weights to my hands to make playing harder lol :)

[ReinierK]

I have the product, but too me it seems moisture only helps in corrosion. On the other hand, as long as it doesn't contain H2O it shouldn't be a problem...

Ah well, I'm not a shredder, so I don't really need 'em slippery, but I just like the feel ;)

[MattW]

I use Fast-Fret, I don't think it ever made any difference to the rate of corrosion of my strings, but it does hugely reduce the friction the strings produce on your finger.

[Dimebag]

i prefer them to have some friction with my fingers. When i have brand new strings which glide like silk, it just makes it harder to keep them from slipping out from your finger when you bend em. I dont really slide my fingers up strings a lot, so the extra friction is a plus. I play a lot of kinda bluesey stuff, and find it harder when they are newer and slippery.