Somebody please HELP ME WITH MY STRIIIIINGS!!!!

[TheBozz]

I just can't get it! Strings don't seem to last more than a month or two before they get COMPLETELY TARNISHED, PITCH BLACK!!!!

I've done everything... I always wash my hands before playing... I clean the strings before and after playing... No, I don't keep it on its case, 'cause THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP! :yell:

Curiously, after I installed (TODAY) a new set and tuned it I already could distinguish slightly copper-coloured marks where I've placed my fingers! I don't know what to do!

Anybody can give me some tips to keep the strings not pristine-clean, but at least USABLE for some reasonable time?

Don't know if it helps, but I like to use D'Addario nickel-wound and Ernie Ball Slinkys (''010 - think I'll make a definitive switch to EBs, D'ADD just don't seem to please me as much).

 

[some_dude]

Re: Somebody please HELP ME WITH MY STRIIIIINGS!!!!

How long your strings last depends alot on the chemestry of your sweat and body oils.

For instance, I'm lucky enough that my strings stay clean for months, but if I let one of my friends play my guitar it seems they show signs of rust the next day.

Unfortunatly, there's not much you can do except change your strings regularily. Some people use string oil, but it does deaden your tone slightly.

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: Somebody please HELP ME WITH MY STRIIIIINGS!!!!

i dont knwo what to tell you man.

i guess you just might sweat alot on your hands.

i dont got that problem though, i rarely sweat on stage and when i do it's not on my hands,

 

[beandip]

Re: Somebody please HELP ME WITH MY STRIIIIINGS!!!!

0000 steel wool. That and fast fret with finger ease. Clean the strings with steel wool, put some fast fret on, and then some finger ease, your strings'll stay clean forever.

 

[LiquidSky]

Re: Somebody please HELP ME WITH MY STRIIIIINGS!!!!

I used to have the same problem with the Ernie Balls. They would rust quickly and they would break in about a month. I recently started using Dean Markley Blue Steel's and they are wonderful! They really do last longer, at least for me, than my old Ernie Balls did. They have a really good tone too, really nice strings IMO. They're really expensive down here so I just buy 'em offline from Musicians "Fiend" or some place like that. 5 something a pack, I'd really recommend you giving them a try.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Somebody please HELP ME WITH MY STRIIIIINGS!!!!

1-2 months is actually a very long time if you play the guitar regularly. Blue Steel's will last longer, but remember that stainless steel strings will cause your frets to wear faster. It's much cheaper to replace strings than it is to replace a set of frets.

Ryan

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Somebody please HELP ME WITH MY STRIIIIINGS!!!!

I just can't get it! Strings don't seem to last more than a month or two before they get COMPLETELY TARNISHED, PITCH BLACK!!!!

I've done everything... I always wash my hands before playing... I clean the strings before and after playing... No, I don't keep it on its case, 'cause THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP! :yell:

Curiously, after I installed (TODAY) a new set and tuned it I already could distinguish slightly copper-coloured marks where I've placed my fingers! I don't know what to do!

Anybody can give me some tips to keep the strings not pristine-clean, but at least USABLE for some reasonable time?

Don't know if it helps, but I like to use D'Addario nickel-wound and Ernie Ball Slinkys (''010 - think I'll make a definitive switch to EBs, D'ADD just don't seem to please me as much).

One or two MONTHS with no case?

Wow. I change strings on my gigging guitar before every gig if I have been playing a lot. Every other gig if I haven't.

Backup & lessons guitars they'll stay on longer. I'll change the set when I KNOW they have been played a bit and one "might" snap soon (a month or two....or longer).

The trick to keeping them new feeling is to WIPE THEM DOWN WITH A CLOTH AFTER YOU ARE DONE. ALWAYS.

An Ernie Ball polish cloth is perect - actually "grab" the string with the cloth and slide it up and back a few times across the entire length of each string. An then put the guitar in the CASE. And keep it there until you are ready to use it again. Period. I know it doesn't look as cool not being on the guitar stand and all, but you'll be lot happier.

All the acids, sweat, dirt, will eat away at the strings, tarnish them, rust them... if left on there. The humidity, smoke, whatever all have an effect on guitar strings. Keeping your guitar out for ONE humid night without wiping em down can be enough to kill a new set of strings. If you wipe em down and keep your guitar in it's case or gigbag, your strings will stay new feeling until they snap.

I sweat a LOT. I teach guitar all day and I wipe down my strings between lessons EACH TIME........ALWAYS. It's like a nervous habit. :32: Then I put the guitar in my gigbag and I'm off to the next lesson. My students are amazed sometimes when I tell them the strings on my strat are over a month old. They feel like new, and yet, I've been PLAYING it every day.

There is nothing that skeeves me out more than rusty old solidified finger crud on a guitar string. If you wipe em down, they will stay slick for a LOONG time.

I have used different brands of strings over the years and have NEVER had a problem since I started doing that.

Currently I use DR Pure Blues .011's (awesome strings).

Peace :smokin:

 

[TwofacePimp]

Re: Somebody please HELP ME WITH MY STRIIIIINGS!!!!

Uh, like Mac said.

I'm one of those unfortunate people with nasty body chemistry who goes through strings like nothing. Coupled with living in a very humid area, my strings don't last very long at all.

My gigging guitars have new strings on them 90% of the time, I might let it slide for practice. I change the wound strings on my classical once every 1-2 weeks. It's just a reality that I live with, having to change them so often. I use Ernie Ball slinkys, so they aren't that expensive to replace. Besides, changing strings is actually kind of fun and it gets you psyched for playing, kind of like showering before a big date.

As to what you can do to prolong string life, just wiping them is what I would suggest. The only other thing I would say is wash and dry your hands completely before playing, but you probably know that already. I have to disagree with beandip on using fast fret and fingerease, just because I'd rather have clean strings (and fretboard and hands) than greased-up ones. But to each his own