Strings and Fretboard Maintenance

[Damien 6ix]

Ever had a set of strings going dead after a few casual playing or jam?
Do you get rusty strings before you even get them in tune?
Tired of having black fingers when playing your favourite guitar?


This little thread is just to point out how important strings and fretboard maintenance is to ensure tone longitivity from a single set of strings. many already know this and take it for granted but many others just don't take care of it and wonder why their strings get so rusty so fast.

Depending on how often you play and for how long each time. A good thing is to use lemon oil and rub your neck with it. I mean your guitar neck not your actual neck, even thou' it cant hurt...

I believe the best product out there for you fretboard is GHS Gorgomyte.



This thing is the best for fretboard cleaning. If your fretboard if full of sweat and dirt residues, no matter what strings you use, you will never get the best tone out of your guitar. Clean your fretboard going through each fret, especially around frets where "dirt" tends to build up.

Then you can use for exemple the 65 line of guitar maintenance kit by Dunlop


Combined with their Lemon oil...




If you clean your strings with something like "Dunlop Formula 65 String Cleaner" everytime you play, you will increase the life of your strings and also get the best tone out of them everytime.



If you're a teacher and play an average of 3/4 hours a day, you might want to change strings a couple of times a week. It all depends on the abuse while actually playing but also on how much you sweat and on how acidic is your sweat etc... However, taking care of your strings and fretboard will save you money on strings and keep your tone the best your guitar can give you. You should always rub your guitar with some string cleaner EVERY TIME YOU PLAY!!

Another handy inexpensive tool is the GHS Fast Fret, easy to apply and not time consuming, great when you're "on the go-go"...


Hope this will encourage some of you to start a new ritual when changing strings!!!

[Daeborn]

I've tried about everything at one time or another and the only thing I found that works is Finger Ease. I use it after a set or when done playing. I spray some on a cotton cloth and wipe, nothing more. It helps keep the strings clean and prevents corrosion.



BTW I only use it for strings, I don't use it to condition the fretboard of to lube up for playing. I use lemon oil for conditioning the fretboard after every few string change.

[Damien 6ix]

Just a simple clip on the Dunlop 65 Maintenance Kit. Hope it will be usefull for some when looking for simple maintenance products.

Watch here

Watch here

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[AngryHatter]

I just change strings often - they are cheap enough.
I also do not have very sweaty hands so the strings don't corrode quickly.

As far as the fretboard, I want mine to absorb my oils and stuff.
I wipe it down every once in awhile.

[axepilot]

Originally Posted by AngryHatter

I just change strings often - they are cheap enough.
I also do not have very sweaty hands so the strings don't corrode quickly.

As far as the fretboard, I want mine to absorb my oils and stuff.
I wipe it down every once in awhile.

Same here. I use Fast Fret to clean and lube the strings, and it keeps them in fairly good shape for a while. I play with clean hands, so my fretboard doesn't get gunked up. I only oil it about once a year - the oils from my hand are enough to keep the wood hydrated.

You really don't need to clean and oil the fretboard every time you change strings unless the board is filthy or getting dry. Once or twice a year tops with the oil if the guitar is stored in normal conditions and not somewhere extremely dry.