Fast Fret

[LeKnight]

Hi all,
Question regarding Fast Fret. (sorry if its been covered else where) Does Fast Fret (the string lube) reduce the life of your strings? I use it to reduce slide noise and for speed, but it seems after a using it a few times, my strings just sound dull. Is it just me?
Do I need to replace it once Ive gone past the halfway point on the FF stick? (it looks very dirty).
It claims to clean the stings - but....I just dunno about that.

Anyone got any suggestions on other products that work better or cleaner?

Cheers.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Fast Fret

One of the reasons that strings go dead is that they build up crud like dirt, sweat, salts, and dead skin in the crevices between the windings.

I personally don't like the Fast Fret product, as it seemed to leave behind a gummy residue when I tried it years ago. If you are using the Fast Fret to lube your strings, try using a product like the Dunlop 65 String Cleaner or the Luthier's Choice String Cleaner to remove the Fast Fret residue and clean the strings, in between applications of the Fast Fret.

After a gig I come home and that night, before I go to bed, I clean off the sweat and grime off my guitars with a damp rag, and then wipe it dry to protect the finish. I then clean the loosened strings with a second DAMP rag (yep, water...the universal solvent), and wipe them dry. THEN, I apply the Dunlop 65 String Cleaner, which does have petroleum distillates to displace any remaining water and to coat and protect the strings from corrosion, wipe off any excess, and re-tune.

I have done this for many years, with no ill effects to my guitars, and it is the best regimen I have found for maintaining string life. This regimen is even helpful with coated D'Addario EXP Phosphor Bronze strings that I use on my acoustics.

However, no cleaning regimen can reverse the damage to the strings caused by the wear against the frets. When the string is no longer of equal mass and equal diameter throughout the entire length of the string, it will no longer play in tune and must be replaced.

Good luck!

Bill

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Fast Fret

Wow.....I haven't used any of that stuff in probably 25 years. I don't remember it dulling the strings, but then again, I was using it on a bass. Have you tried the Fast Fret spray? Maybe you'll have different results.

 

[TwofacePimp]

Re: Fast Fret

Disclaimer: I might be the wrong person to listen to because I hate this stuff. In my experience, it dries on the strings and fretboard, leaving them both a chalky and unusable mess.

Possible alternatives:
- elixir (or other coated) strings last longer, and the coating does lower string noise
- wipe your strings with a clean, dry cloth after using them. It keeps them cleaner and prolongs their life
- change your strings more often. It's not so bad (or expensive) to get used to having new strings on your guitar and wanting to change them when they get old
- adjust your technique to have less string noise

If you just really like having oil all over your strings, fretboard, and fingers, that's fine, but at that point I'm not sure.

 

[LeKnight]

Re: Fast Fret

Cheers Bill, I know the gummi residue your are talking about and I believe this is whats picking up extra dirt and gunk - making them go dull. I do try to clean em as often I can be arsed, but once it gets too bad I just change em. Ive been looking at the Dunlop string cleaner and does it lube as well?

Jolly - Ive not heard about the Fast Fret spray (well at least over here in New Zealand) Ive come across a product called Finger Ease but Ive not tried it yet. Anyone know of any other products?

Twoface, Ive heard about Elixar strings, I should try some. Yeah I realise changing strings is the best option really.
Cheers

 

[jacksontrader]

Re: Fast Fret

I use finger ease, not a lot though just when my hands get clammy and my skin grabs everything. It makes the neck very slick. As far as string talk goes, I don't really know. I never paid much attention, sorry. It does build up like anything that you would spray onto your strings but I clean my fretboards often.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Fast Fret

Jolly - Ive not heard about the Fast Fret spray (well at least over here in New Zealand) Ive come across a product called Finger Ease but Ive not tried it yet. Anyone know of any other products?

My bad. I was thinking of the Finger Ease.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Fast Fret

I used it a while back (stopped using it maybe 3 years ago). It definitely makes it easier to slide around the fretboard faster. I just stopped buying it because I don't think it was a necessity. I didn't notice any lessened amount of string time. Nice product though for what it was.

 

[hermetico]

Re: Fast Fret

I find that the best way to make your strings to last longer is to clean them INMEDIATELLY AFTER YOUR PLAYING.
Our fingers leave over strings a lot of organic rests (including an acid sweat) that attack metal. Some rests remain inlaid to the strings and corrode the metal in a short time, as caries in teeth.
If you leave strings dirty and clean them before you start playing a later day, you will probably wipe some dirtness and rust but, the shape of your strings is already altered and, as other mate said, once your gauge is unbalanced along the whole string, it barely stays in tune.

I am using Fast Fret for 25 years and, I have no issues but, IMHO, you are not using such a product in the right way.
You seem to use Fast Fret as some kind of lubricant but, Fast Fret is some kind of metal-conditioner that must be removed with a dry cloth just few seconds after it's being applied (to leave dirt or/and rust on the cloth).
If you leave Fast Fret to dry over the string, it surely does the opposite effect, because it attacks the string in some way to remove rust and dirt!. You want this to actuate just during few seconds to attack the superficial layer only.

In my case, I apply Fast Fret ALWAYS AFTER finishing my playing, to remove my organic rests and, I always use a dry cloth one or two seconds after applying it to remove the Fast Fret product and the dirtness that it catches.
I ONLY USE IT BEFORE playing in the case that I leaved a guitar some time without playing it and I notice that the ambient humidity was affecting strings.

If I wanted to lubricate those strings instead, as in your case, I would probably go for a teflon grease, just a drop on your finger and spreading that drop along strings. But, this will force to clean strings after playing anyway (otherwise that grease solidifies and becomes dirt). So the golden rule always apply: clean your strings always inmediatelly after you stop playing!.

Just my 2 cts.