the best string cleaner in the world!!!
- Thread starter beandip
- Start date
Illini1330
New member
Re: the best string cleaner in the world!!!
Good idea, I wonder why I haven't ever thought of that before. I think I might just run upstairs and try it out.
Good idea, I wonder why I haven't ever thought of that before. I think I might just run upstairs and try it out.
Norman_T
New member
Re: the best string cleaner in the world!!!
Back in the old days (and some of the older guys will know this) we used to boil our strings in water and dry them out. This used to clean them up and also brought some life back into the strings for a while. You could do this maybe 3 or 4 times before the strings became dull and rusty but it was a cheap and effective way particularly if you were on a budget.
Now days strings are so cheap that you don't have to go through all this. The one problem about using the 0000 steel wool is that you will have flakes of strings over the board and entering any open pups so you may just have to wipe down the board and cover the pups when finished.
Back in the old days (and some of the older guys will know this) we used to boil our strings in water and dry them out. This used to clean them up and also brought some life back into the strings for a while. You could do this maybe 3 or 4 times before the strings became dull and rusty but it was a cheap and effective way particularly if you were on a budget.
Now days strings are so cheap that you don't have to go through all this. The one problem about using the 0000 steel wool is that you will have flakes of strings over the board and entering any open pups so you may just have to wipe down the board and cover the pups when finished.
Number One
New member
Re: the best string cleaner in the world!!!
Ooooohhhh. ima try it.
Ooooohhhh. ima try it.
beandip
Frito's Better Half
Re: the best string cleaner in the world!!!
Norm, I used to boil my strings, and it did work. But IMHO this works 10 times better. I've been doing it for awhile, maybe 6 months or so, when I usually need to change my strings ever week. So far I've made a set of acoustic strings go 7 months, and a set of EB 11's go 4 months. Thats a big difference from a week to 7 months. I havnt had a loss of mass or gauge/diamater (checking w/ my digi caliper). I think its the best idea in the world if I do say so myself
Norm, I used to boil my strings, and it did work. But IMHO this works 10 times better. I've been doing it for awhile, maybe 6 months or so, when I usually need to change my strings ever week. So far I've made a set of acoustic strings go 7 months, and a set of EB 11's go 4 months. Thats a big difference from a week to 7 months. I havnt had a loss of mass or gauge/diamater (checking w/ my digi caliper). I think its the best idea in the world if I do say so myself
Norman_T
New member
Re: the best string cleaner in the world!!!
Yeah it is a good suggestion and now you got me having to go out and buy some steel wool :22: - another essential item on the growing shopping list. I go through 30-40 sets of strings every year - so every little bit helps. One thing do you just give them a wipe over once and loosen the strings when doing this?
Yeah it is a good suggestion and now you got me having to go out and buy some steel wool :22: - another essential item on the growing shopping list. I go through 30-40 sets of strings every year - so every little bit helps. One thing do you just give them a wipe over once and loosen the strings when doing this?
Re: the best string cleaner in the world!!!
Man I love those cloths, I keep a small stash of 'em, you are talking about the psuedo-suede cloths right? I like to use fast fret, It works well for me, lasts forever and doesn't make a mess. It also is super greasy, and does just a bit more than just wiping down with a plain cloth. I swear by fast fret used before and after playing. I like the blitz cloth because it doesn't have any lint, and is really washable ... plus it's the perfect size for the job.I also use the dunlop stuff, but that's because it's in the kit, normally I'll use that after I finish setting up someone else guitar ... you know, to get my grubby finger traces off of it. For day to day, play to play, fast fret ... failing that, like Zerberus stated a plain cloth.Zerberus said:Blitz cloth. Although I personally no longer advocate the use of a string cleaner, wiping them down with a rag after playing works wonders. But a bit of metal Polish in the rag can´t hurt
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Re: the best string cleaner in the world!!!
never tried it.
the best advice i ever got given was wash your hands first, and dont let any other ppl play it!!!
my ernie balls seem to last me a good 2 or 3 months before they start sounding crap (the brightness dies down a bit after time but it still sounds good) but if i let one of my mates play it he'll kill them in a matter of minutes
never tried it.
the best advice i ever got given was wash your hands first, and dont let any other ppl play it!!!
my ernie balls seem to last me a good 2 or 3 months before they start sounding crap (the brightness dies down a bit after time but it still sounds good) but if i let one of my mates play it he'll kill them in a matter of minutes
Pandemonium
New member
Re: the best string cleaner in the world!!!
I always wipe my strings down with a ScotchBrite pad each time I put it back in the case. A little fingernail polish remover on a piece of rag or ScotchBrite works well for removing crud too, just be careful.
I always wipe my strings down with a ScotchBrite pad each time I put it back in the case. A little fingernail polish remover on a piece of rag or ScotchBrite works well for removing crud too, just be careful.
