How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
- Thread starter Noisembryo
- Start date
Mr. B
New member
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
I had a student who would rust a new set of strings in one practice. Don't know what the boy had coming out of his pores, but I had to ask him to stop using the guitar club loaner guitars during practice since it cost me a set of strings every time he played one. He played the coated elixir whatevers on his personal guitar.
I had a student who would rust a new set of strings in one practice. Don't know what the boy had coming out of his pores, but I had to ask him to stop using the guitar club loaner guitars during practice since it cost me a set of strings every time he played one. He played the coated elixir whatevers on his personal guitar.
Noisembryo
New member
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
There aren't any corroded parts except on non-wound strings. I might try stainless steel but won't they add extra tension to bending?
Has anyone tried GHS Fast Fret, apparently this should also prolong string life?
There aren't any corroded parts except on non-wound strings. I might try stainless steel but won't they add extra tension to bending?
Has anyone tried GHS Fast Fret, apparently this should also prolong string life?
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
I use Fast Fret now and then, but given how long my strings last, I can't say how much that contributes to their longevity. It does a good enough job of keeping things clearance and the fingerboard in good condition though.
I use Fast Fret now and then, but given how long my strings last, I can't say how much that contributes to their longevity. It does a good enough job of keeping things clearance and the fingerboard in good condition though.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
Mine last forever (well.. 2-3 months usually..then they get changed) ..I always wipe them down after playing though..
Mine last forever (well.. 2-3 months usually..then they get changed) ..I always wipe them down after playing though..
Bludave
New member
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
Clean the strings after each use. Keep a rag handy and whenever you take a break in between songs wipe the strings down. Some people sweat profusely and others hardly at all. I don't think I have ever had strings rust on me. Even sitting in the case!! So it has to be something in your body Chemistry causing the significant amount of corrosion. What I would do is use a fingerboard cleaner or "Fast Fret" which is a spray you can spray on the neck & fingerboard. After you are done playing wipe them down with fast fret or go buy the Panet Waves string cleaner.
Try this. It should help & there are some similar products at the bottom of the page as well.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...e=&network=g&gclid=CNThsZLT98ACFVQV7AodoHoACg
I have a few of these cans in my gig bag. Mainly when you are playing outside in the summer. The humidity can make the back of the neck sticky so I spray both the strings and the back of the neck with this.
http://www.gearnuts.com/store/detail/FingerEase
Clean the strings after each use. Keep a rag handy and whenever you take a break in between songs wipe the strings down. Some people sweat profusely and others hardly at all. I don't think I have ever had strings rust on me. Even sitting in the case!! So it has to be something in your body Chemistry causing the significant amount of corrosion. What I would do is use a fingerboard cleaner or "Fast Fret" which is a spray you can spray on the neck & fingerboard. After you are done playing wipe them down with fast fret or go buy the Panet Waves string cleaner.
Try this. It should help & there are some similar products at the bottom of the page as well.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...e=&network=g&gclid=CNThsZLT98ACFVQV7AodoHoACg
I have a few of these cans in my gig bag. Mainly when you are playing outside in the summer. The humidity can make the back of the neck sticky so I spray both the strings and the back of the neck with this.
http://www.gearnuts.com/store/detail/FingerEase
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mamm
New member
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
After every playing, I wipe the neck/strings/fretboard/bridge with an old cotton t-shirt and apply FF liberally (yes, I even carry the t-shirt to gigs! It has been the butt of many jokes inside the band over the years... lol). When I come back to the same guitar (it can be more than a month later, since I rotate between many), the strings are still fresh and shiny. Just for peace of mind, I change strings once a year on each instrument (they never corrode). My guitars live on wall stands behind a glass door. D'addario nickel plated 11 on the A/E, 10 on the strats and the Les Paul, and 09 on the RG.
I'm a long time Fast Fret user (years and years). I don't know about its string life-prolonging properties (I never corroded strings that fast to begin with), I just like the lubed feeling they give to the strings and fretboard.
After every playing, I wipe the neck/strings/fretboard/bridge with an old cotton t-shirt and apply FF liberally (yes, I even carry the t-shirt to gigs! It has been the butt of many jokes inside the band over the years... lol). When I come back to the same guitar (it can be more than a month later, since I rotate between many), the strings are still fresh and shiny. Just for peace of mind, I change strings once a year on each instrument (they never corrode). My guitars live on wall stands behind a glass door. D'addario nickel plated 11 on the A/E, 10 on the strats and the Les Paul, and 09 on the RG.
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TimmyPage
New member
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
When I used to play on flatwound strings I'd change them every couple of months, if not more. These days I'll change them, depending on how heavy my gigging schedule is, once or twice a month. Keep in mind, from years of Jazz playing I have a bit of an aversion to treble sounds, so broken in/dull sounding strings work better to my ears.
When I used to play on flatwound strings I'd change them every couple of months, if not more. These days I'll change them, depending on how heavy my gigging schedule is, once or twice a month. Keep in mind, from years of Jazz playing I have a bit of an aversion to treble sounds, so broken in/dull sounding strings work better to my ears.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
I don't have a problem with string corrosion, but a former friend of mine who worked as an auto mechanic could kill a set of strings in less than 15 minutes. They would just go dead, and no amount of cleaning would restore them. I finally had to forbid him from playing my guitars. I don't know whether it was just his chemistry, the solvents he worked with, or the drugs he was doing. (Hence the "former friend".)
I use the Dunlop 65 String Cleaner after every gig, or session. It cleans and protects. I don't use the coated strings, since I wear out strings against the frets, and a coating won't prevent that. Stainless strings might help a lot, but you will still need to clean them.
I am also beta-testing a free sample of a string cleaner that I got from a vendor at the Seattle Guitar Show a couple of weeks ago. It is called StringTone. Uses the Dyna Glide technology used in a popular gun lube product. Check out their products at soundsynergies.net. I have not used it enough to comment. It does have some toxic chemicals in it, which I am concerned about.
There is a new product out that I have seen advertised as a hand cleaner/conditioner that is supposed to help with this problem. Check out some of the guitar mags--I saw the ads a few months ago.
Washing your hands before each session is a must. I would try using something like the Neutrogena Bar Soap; you can find it in the cosmetics aisle at a store like Walgreens. I've used this for years because of some dryness issues I've had in the past--it is very mild. (And it is great to shave with too!)
That's all I can think of.
Good luck.
Bill
I don't have a problem with string corrosion, but a former friend of mine who worked as an auto mechanic could kill a set of strings in less than 15 minutes. They would just go dead, and no amount of cleaning would restore them. I finally had to forbid him from playing my guitars. I don't know whether it was just his chemistry, the solvents he worked with, or the drugs he was doing. (Hence the "former friend".)
I use the Dunlop 65 String Cleaner after every gig, or session. It cleans and protects. I don't use the coated strings, since I wear out strings against the frets, and a coating won't prevent that. Stainless strings might help a lot, but you will still need to clean them.
I am also beta-testing a free sample of a string cleaner that I got from a vendor at the Seattle Guitar Show a couple of weeks ago. It is called StringTone. Uses the Dyna Glide technology used in a popular gun lube product. Check out their products at soundsynergies.net. I have not used it enough to comment. It does have some toxic chemicals in it, which I am concerned about.
There is a new product out that I have seen advertised as a hand cleaner/conditioner that is supposed to help with this problem. Check out some of the guitar mags--I saw the ads a few months ago.
Washing your hands before each session is a must. I would try using something like the Neutrogena Bar Soap; you can find it in the cosmetics aisle at a store like Walgreens. I've used this for years because of some dryness issues I've had in the past--it is very mild. (And it is great to shave with too!)
That's all I can think of.
Good luck.
Bill
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
I've been on the same pack of Ernie Ball .008-.038 for a bit over 2 months now with heavy daily use. I'm thinking of changing them soon.
I've been on the same pack of Ernie Ball .008-.038 for a bit over 2 months now with heavy daily use. I'm thinking of changing them soon.
Tony
New member
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
Just take a lot of Bran on all your meals to absorb the acid. You will be happy. :headbang:
Seriously, I have one year and a half with a set of rotosound rotos and they started to show signs of wearing since a couple of weeks. The other guitar have a set of pure nickels from rotosound too, this set started to wear earlier. The only thing i do is wipe the strings with dunlop string cleaner before, in the middle and after playing.
The coated strings could be your solution. I have used elixirs and ernie ball titanium coated. The elixirs sounded a bit warmer -the coated string sound, you know- than traditional or uncoated strings. The ernie balls coated sounded very bright and chimey for a coated string, these strings sounded brighter, with a more percussive attack -even the wound strings- than the new set of rotos. This kind of strings lives a lot of time.
Just take a lot of Bran on all your meals to absorb the acid. You will be happy. :headbang:
Seriously, I have one year and a half with a set of rotosound rotos and they started to show signs of wearing since a couple of weeks. The other guitar have a set of pure nickels from rotosound too, this set started to wear earlier. The only thing i do is wipe the strings with dunlop string cleaner before, in the middle and after playing.
The coated strings could be your solution. I have used elixirs and ernie ball titanium coated. The elixirs sounded a bit warmer -the coated string sound, you know- than traditional or uncoated strings. The ernie balls coated sounded very bright and chimey for a coated string, these strings sounded brighter, with a more percussive attack -even the wound strings- than the new set of rotos. This kind of strings lives a lot of time.
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Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
Hi,
I do this to my sitar also. It works always, is cheap, makes ANY old string new again.
I use green ScotchBrite dish scubber. One or two swipes up and down the plain strings keeps them looking and feeling brand new forever. I also almost never break strings. Once in the last year. Truthfully. It does not seem to alter the sound or strength/thickness.
When I was learning sitar, the phosphor bronze would be brown and green at the end of an hour. They are expensive and hard to get. I mentioned this to a sitar master in L.A. and he said he used to work on Ravi Shankars' sitar and would use ScotchBrite on his bronze and his .012 plain steel main playing string.
This tech was also a guitar lifer and said he used it on all his guitars and was surprised I did not know this. He called my sitar teacher some unfriendly names, as did most people who knew him.
Try it. Green ScotchBrite or store brand equivalent. No water. Can be used over and over till it is crusty. Is this old news to you folks?
I hope not. It really works, especially on the string where it hits the nut-lots o' grime there.
SJB..........sometimes loose grime after ScotchBrite gets left loose on the string, so I give each a quick wipe under and over w/a tissue or paper towel. btw-not intended for wound strings. but I guess you knew that. My low phosphor bronze string still looks new and sounds new after 20 years! And sitar strings are a b*tch!
Hi,
I do this to my sitar also. It works always, is cheap, makes ANY old string new again.
I use green ScotchBrite dish scubber. One or two swipes up and down the plain strings keeps them looking and feeling brand new forever. I also almost never break strings. Once in the last year. Truthfully. It does not seem to alter the sound or strength/thickness.
When I was learning sitar, the phosphor bronze would be brown and green at the end of an hour. They are expensive and hard to get. I mentioned this to a sitar master in L.A. and he said he used to work on Ravi Shankars' sitar and would use ScotchBrite on his bronze and his .012 plain steel main playing string.
This tech was also a guitar lifer and said he used it on all his guitars and was surprised I did not know this. He called my sitar teacher some unfriendly names, as did most people who knew him.
Try it. Green ScotchBrite or store brand equivalent. No water. Can be used over and over till it is crusty. Is this old news to you folks?
I hope not. It really works, especially on the string where it hits the nut-lots o' grime there.
SJB..........sometimes loose grime after ScotchBrite gets left loose on the string, so I give each a quick wipe under and over w/a tissue or paper towel. btw-not intended for wound strings. but I guess you knew that. My low phosphor bronze string still looks new and sounds new after 20 years! And sitar strings are a b*tch!
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JeffB
Let it B
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
Depends on the brand. Ernie Balls rust up in a couple hours.
Been using DAddario xl for the past couple of months cos I am tired of effing around with other brands that die/rust quckly or are inconsistent with intonation. With dunlop cleaner wipedowns, I have not had much issue. Had one set on my Les Paul now for 5 weeks+.
Depends on the brand. Ernie Balls rust up in a couple hours.
Been using DAddario xl for the past couple of months cos I am tired of effing around with other brands that die/rust quckly or are inconsistent with intonation. With dunlop cleaner wipedowns, I have not had much issue. Had one set on my Les Paul now for 5 weeks+.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
The hand conditioner I was talking about is called Pre-Play and it is available from Graph-Tech. They have a blurb in the back of the November issue of Guitar Player Magazine in the Product Spotlight.
www.graphtech.com
Good luck.
Bill
The hand conditioner I was talking about is called Pre-Play and it is available from Graph-Tech. They have a blurb in the back of the November issue of Guitar Player Magazine in the Product Spotlight.
www.graphtech.com
Good luck.
Bill
Re: How long does it take for you to rust your strings?
+^ on Jocelyn,
Been using only them for 16-17 years. Plus, for those that find 9's too thin and 10's too thick they make a set like this: 9.5, 11.5, 16, 24, 34, 44. I use these for a Gibson scale, and 9, 11,etc. For Strat scale. On both I substitute 36, 46, and adjust the the pickup height or poles accordingly for balance
You can buy these gauges separately (like 9.5's) 10 or 20 a pack and they are now shipped hermetically sealed and coated for long shelf life and wear and tear. They are the best. IMHO,
SJB
+^ on Jocelyn,
Been using only them for 16-17 years. Plus, for those that find 9's too thin and 10's too thick they make a set like this: 9.5, 11.5, 16, 24, 34, 44. I use these for a Gibson scale, and 9, 11,etc. For Strat scale. On both I substitute 36, 46, and adjust the the pickup height or poles accordingly for balance
You can buy these gauges separately (like 9.5's) 10 or 20 a pack and they are now shipped hermetically sealed and coated for long shelf life and wear and tear. They are the best. IMHO,
SJB
