Do you always wipe.......

T

toowrongfoo

New member
After playing?

I don't, and I'm ashamed. It would be better if I did. Being a lazy bum requires work. :(

Questions: Do your instruments get gunky? Do you care? Do you feel more inspired after a string change/clean? And of course, because enquiring minds want to know, how often do you change strings?
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

I almost always give the strings a quick wipe after playing. Even if I only play for a few minutes. My strings can last for a good while.
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

No, instead I usually wash my hands before I play and clean the guitars occasionally.
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

My guitars look awesome from 5 feet. Won't even see the finger gook sweat drops or pick dust
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

If I play for more than 5 minutes yes: both guitar and strings. I usually play fast and standing up so I tend to sweat a bit (not that much but still) and it's worth it to wipe the guitar and the strings.

If I only grab my guitar for less than 5 minutes I don't. I know I should but at this point it's only the strings that get a bit of gunk and I don't mind that much.

I always wash my hands first no matter which of these scenari though.
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

I don't, but I don't have dirty hands. I've had clients with highly acidic hands who absolutely had to wipe down their strings and fretboard just to preserve their guitars.
 
Do you always wipe.......

I always tell myself I should whenever I read threads like this, but the fact is that I don’t. They do get wiped down occasionally along with the rest of the guitar when I start seeing too many fingerprints though.

I rotate through my guitars for gigs, but even without wiping the strings I typically get from 3-6 months out of them before I start noticing intonation issues... and they’re never gunked up.
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

I don't, but I change strings frequently, and do general and deep cleanings fairly often. It is so hot and humid here that strings don't last long and finishes get sticky in no time.
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

I never wipe them down. My sweat isn't corrosive and my strings never seem to rust, just fill up with gunk over time. I've tried cleaning them after use and didn't get any better life out of the strings than I normally do, and string cleaner seemed to actually reduce their lifespan compared to what I get when I do nothing, so now I do nothing and change strings periodically.

The guitar gets a quick cleaning when I change strings, which is usually monthly on a main guitar.
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

Something about this house (maybe from cooking and the fact that the windows are closed 11 months a year) that gets things sticky. I'm too lazy to be bothered. The new guitar gets put back in the case every day. That should help it.

I need to wipe. My instruments deserve it.
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

I never wipe my strings down. If I’m in a band I usually change strings before each gig if we gig a couple of times/month.
When I’m not in a band I change strings as needed but I’ll usually give the guitar a good cleaning also.
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

I use Elixer strings so I don't have any issue at all with crappy strings.

To be fair: when I'm in the process of building a guitar and I need strings to get the action right, test the frets etc, I use Dunlop strings because a: they're cheap and B: they feel and sound as close to Elixer as possible. But once a guitar is 100% done, I give it elixer's. Finishes do get a cleanup every now and then, which includes some buffing on occasion too.
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

When I'm gigging, I come home, and wipe the guitar down with a damp rag, including strings, and buff dry. Then I use the Dunlop 65 String cleaner to coat, clean and preserve the strings.

Strings last me about 12-15 hours of gig time, and about 20 hours of sofa time. I hit hard, so my issue is fret wear on the strings.

Fingerboards are cleaned with each string change and oiled once or twice a year. I polish as needed, and use a carnauba wax on my NCL-finished Gibsons.

Clean hands...of course!

My dad was a precision machinist, worked in a defense plant during WWII, and did a lot of mechanic work. He'd farmed, and loved working in his garden. One of the axioms he passed on to me was keeping his tools maintained: clean, dry and lubricated. It is an ethic that has served me well over the years.

I take meticulous care of my guitars. I have sixty guitars, and that's a substantial amount of money. Why would I NOT take care of my investment?

Bill
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

Yup, make sure my hands are clean prior to playing, and after playing, give the strings, back of the neck, and the body a good wipe with a clean, microfiber cloth....
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

orpheo said:
I use Elixer strings so I don't have any issue at all with crappy strings.
Click to expand...

OK which is it, do you use Elixer's or don't have issues with crappy strings? ;)

I sweat alot and it is quite acidic so I try to wipe down. Problem is changeovers are so fast at gigs I usually don't get a chance to wipe it down till much later (wiping with a sweaty shirt doesnt do much) and most of the damage is done by then
 
Re: Do you always wipe.......

I Always wash my hands before playing. I wipe them down after each use with micro fibre cloth, then once a week they are cleaned and polished. I change my strings every three months, and once a year they are taken to the Luthier for a cleaning and set up.
 
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