dirt on strings

Jonathan · 06-30-2009, 04:30 AM

I put ernie balls regular slinky on my guitar yesterday. Sounds great and feels great but after 1 day the h,b,high-e strings have gone black and sticky. I've played with them for 2 hours?
I tried to clean them but the "black dirt" simply wont go away?

lazz · 06-30-2009, 04:32 AM

try fast fret

jodymauk · 06-30-2009, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazz

try fast fret

NO NO NO

You may as well put chicken greese on them...........

I use/and have used RUBBING ALCOHOL after every time you play..
I have used this for 27 years on rosewood,and maple necks....
But every other string change I condition the fretboard with some LEM OIL...

lazz · 06-30-2009, 04:44 AM

wash your hands before you play?

jodymauk · 06-30-2009, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazz

wash your hands before you play?

Yes ,,,,,,BUT
Your hands still put out oils and acids as you play.....
Cheapest,most effective.......RUBBING ALCOHOL,APPLIED WITH A CLEAN SOCK, OR COTTEN CLOTH after every time you play......

Jonathan · 06-30-2009, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazz

wash your hands before you play?

My hands can't possibly be that dirty ?....

Jonathan · 06-30-2009, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodymauk

Yes ,,,,,,BUT
Your hands still put out oils and acids as you play.....
Cheapest,most effective.......RUBBING ALCOHOL,APPLIED WITH A CLEAN SOCK, OR COTTEN CLOTH after every time you play......

By alchohol do you mean normal "CLEANING ALCOHOL" . 70% or something like that?

jodymauk · 06-30-2009, 04:51 AM

.....NOT........

Jonathan · 06-30-2009, 04:54 AM

VictorLazarus · 06-30-2009, 06:38 AM

I have to be honest but imo my strings sound better when old cos it kind of mellows out the tone. (Not too old mind so the intonation goes lol)

MVL.

Paragon · 06-30-2009, 01:21 PM

No idea what you got into to get the stings black and sticky

.. but I think it just means you havn't played on it long enough.

My stings stay perfectly fine.. not cleaning or anything. I just play... or at least try to.

barrydjuptight · 06-30-2009, 08:09 PM

It just happens.. everybody sweats or deposits body oils on the strings when they play, and as everybody is different, it has a different effect on the strings.
Some will notice no corrosion, some it will be...meh...some it will be extreme, like yours.
Different "string cleaners" or alcohol etc may help YMMV.

Best advice I can give is to wipe down your strings after each playing session with a dry cloth, over the top and underneath. That will make an absolute, noticable, difference - then experiment with the good string cleaner advice posted by the others above.

hillbilly · 06-30-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodymauk

.....RUBBING ALCOHOL,APPLIED WITH A CLEAN SOCK after every time you play......

I can't reach my foot up that high...

jomo · 06-30-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazz

wash your hands before you play?

I knew someone would beat me to that.

mizer357 · 06-30-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrydjuptight

best advice i can give is to wipe down your strings after each playing session with a dry cloth, over the top and underneath. That will make an absolute, noticable, difference - then experiment with the good string cleaner advice posted by the others above.

+1

dennistruckdriver · 06-30-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hillbilly

I can't reach my foot up that high...

%100 truck driver approved post!

Emiel · 07-01-2009, 04:52 AM

There's nothing wrong with Fastfret. You can use that $5,- thingy for years (expensive huh?) and it works great. Just before and after gigs I put some on the strings and wrap it out with a clean cloth. Makes my guitars play very smoothly without getting sticky. After the gig, get that clean cloth, remove all the sweat/dirt and do the same trick again. Strings last like three times longer this way and don't start to sound dull in a week or two. It really helps...

jodymauk · 07-01-2009, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hillbilly

I can't reach my foot up that high...

Like with everything else, You need to practice...................

Torren61 · 07-05-2009, 12:48 AM

Rubbing alcohol. The lower the water content the better. I currently have 91% but I've found 94% before. Just like he said. Rubbing alcohol and an old sock. just get the sock damp...not soaking and dripping. Wipe the strings but try not to get any on the fretboard. If you do, it won't kill your axe but the fingerboard will need to be oiled if you get too much alcohol on it over time. It's cheap and effective. I'll be glad to stick some fancy name sticker on it....uh, Doctor Bill's Root Oil And String Cleaner....and charge you $5 a bottle plus shipping but you can get it yourself cheaper and faster.

06-30-2009, 04:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jonathan Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 149 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	dirt on strings I put ernie balls regular slinky on my guitar yesterday. Sounds great and feels great but after 1 day the h,b,high-e strings have gone black and sticky. I've played with them for 2 hours? I tried to clean them but the "black dirt" simply wont go away? __________________ - Gibson Std Faded '08 Honeyburst. - Vox Tonelab LE.

06-30-2009, 04:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
lazz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: glasgow scotland Posts: 2,464 Thanks: 27 Thanked 28 Times in 19 Posts	Re: dirt on strings try fast fret __________________ Put whisk down, Grobbelaar comes in peace www.myspace.com/garymillerandthebluescollective

06-30-2009, 04:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
lazz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: glasgow scotland Posts: 2,464 Thanks: 27 Thanked 28 Times in 19 Posts	Re: dirt on strings wash your hands before you play? __________________ Put whisk down, Grobbelaar comes in peace www.myspace.com/garymillerandthebluescollective

06-30-2009, 04:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
jodymauk Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: land of ahhs Posts: 4,361 Thanks: 87 Thanked 48 Times in 8 Posts	Re: dirt on strings .....NOT........ __________________

06-30-2009, 04:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jonathan Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 149 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: dirt on strings __________________ - Gibson Std Faded '08 Honeyburst. - Vox Tonelab LE.

Today
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06-30-2009, 06:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
VictorLazarus Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cornwall, England Posts: 1,214 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: dirt on strings I have to be honest but imo my strings sound better when old cos it kind of mellows out the tone. (Not too old mind so the intonation goes lol) MVL. __________________ www.weepingstrings.co.uk My music: www.myspace.com/weepingstrings My vids: www.youtube.com/victorlazarus Thank you.

06-30-2009, 01:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
Paragon Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 797 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: dirt on strings No idea what you got into to get the stings black and sticky .. but I think it just means you havn't played on it long enough. My stings stay perfectly fine.. not cleaning or anything. I just play... or at least try to.

06-30-2009, 08:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
barrydjuptight Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 189 Thanks: 13 Thanked 10 Times in 2 Posts	Re: dirt on strings It just happens.. everybody sweats or deposits body oils on the strings when they play, and as everybody is different, it has a different effect on the strings. Some will notice no corrosion, some it will be...meh...some it will be extreme, like yours. Different "string cleaners" or alcohol etc may help YMMV. Best advice I can give is to wipe down your strings after each playing session with a dry cloth, over the top and underneath. That will make an absolute, noticable, difference - then experiment with the good string cleaner advice posted by the others above.

07-01-2009, 04:52 AM	#17 (permalink)
Emiel Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 123 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: dirt on strings There's nothing wrong with Fastfret. You can use that $5,- thingy for years (expensive huh?) and it works great. Just before and after gigs I put some on the strings and wrap it out with a clean cloth. Makes my guitars play very smoothly without getting sticky. After the gig, get that clean cloth, remove all the sweat/dirt and do the same trick again. Strings last like three times longer this way and don't start to sound dull in a week or two. It really helps...

07-05-2009, 12:48 AM	#19 (permalink)
Torren61 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Moberly, MO Posts: 1,976 Thanks: 29 Thanked 99 Times in 23 Posts	Re: dirt on strings Rubbing alcohol. The lower the water content the better. I currently have 91% but I've found 94% before. Just like he said. Rubbing alcohol and an old sock. just get the sock damp...not soaking and dripping. Wipe the strings but try not to get any on the fretboard. If you do, it won't kill your axe but the fingerboard will need to be oiled if you get too much alcohol on it over time. It's cheap and effective. I'll be glad to stick some fancy name sticker on it....uh, Doctor Bill's Root Oil And String Cleaner....and charge you $5 a bottle plus shipping but you can get it yourself cheaper and faster. __________________ http://politicsofguitars.blogspot.com/ http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=964885

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