Hey, I'm jamming for the Troops here in Iraq, and sweating all over my Strat on every gig. It's actually a point of pride, you know, "battle scars" on my government issued axe. However, are there any long term issues I should be worried about?
You can check out some pics of me playin' with my group here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8584481@N08/sets/72157622035448953/

Thanks,
"rockin ain't no walk in the park..." -Dewey Finn aka Jack Black[/img][/url]

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"Do Werk Son!"
- Big Black of MTV's Rob & Big Show

I sweat on my guitar all the time........I just wipe everything down, when I'm done, and put some guitar polish on it from time to time. So far.....no problems.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne

yeah you should be fine as long as you wipe down the sweat after every gig you play so it does not ruin the finish to much.

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Guitars:
-2008 fender american standard telecaster
-homemade stratocaster (TA guitar)
Amp:
-Fender Deville
effects:
-Boss Md-2
-Vox V847

Yea bro, be sure to wipe the metal parts as well. I had an old guitar player who sweat like no other. To the point to where the bridge was rusting like crazy. You could barely use the fine-tuners on his Floyd anymore. hahaha.

Cool pics man. Looks like you guys are jamming some fierce stuff!

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HaleAmano- House Of Sharks (Now On iTunes)
http://www.reverbnation.com/haleamano
http://www.haleamano.com

you should wipe your guitar after every time you play it. What would worry me more was the dust of that area. It can stick to the sweat, get into the switch and pots. It may be advisable to give them a clean with switch cleaner every now and again. Other than that its just regular maintainance to my mind.

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No no and no

First of all, thank you very much for your service to our country!

Nice strat, too! Is that really governement issue? As a veteran myself who dabbled in supply, I wouldn't be surprised if a Fender Stratocaster had a GSA number.

Sweat makes the rust grow. It really won't hurt a modern finish.

All,
Excellent advice. Yea there are some pretty harsh conditions out here for musical instruments in general. This strat is taking a beating, and yes guitars have GSA numbers, as do all other instruments and accessories, even my Deering plectrum banjo. The switches were not something I was particularly worried about at first, but now that it is mentioned, I am going to need to do some serious cleaning. I have about six months left, and need this axe to last. It is such a versatile axe with the double coil in the tail, (something that I used to not like on my strats). We jam a huge variety show, from Skynard to Sublime, and AWB to Reel Big Fish. I get a lot of leads, which of course I don't mind.
Peace, & Thanks for the props, I don't know what got into my head at 24 years of Army service that said, "hey, go to Iraq, and jam", but it has been hard but rewarding work.
Rob

_________________
"Do Werk Son!"
- Big Black of MTV's Rob & Big Show

You look like your tearing it up. Now thats playing under pressure. We are all proud of you guys.Get home safe and soon.

Tearing it up yes, in more ways than one. The power is so bad over here, we actually blew a Furman Line Conditioner! Anyway, the challenge is getting us and our gear safely around Iraq. We don't have roadies of course, and there are no loading docks, or alley club backstage entrances. The gear almost always is hand loaded/offloaded from an armored truck, (bed at about 5.5' high), then wheeled/carried to wherever we are staged/setting up, which is never very convenient, and the power is always "iffy". Thank God, I have four young horn players in the group, and a young drummer! haha

Great pics.

I've sweated on mine for many years, thousands of hours of gigs, practices and jamming. If it's bad, I wipe it off. But I don't have that acid sweat either.

My buddy on the other hand, can frickin rust out frets and hardware in a few weeks. So it all depends on how your guitar reacts to your particular sweat "profile".

Hi All,

Been there for 21 months and played and Epi Dot that was donated for the chapel services. Yeah, the dust is like baby powder and gets into to everything. Good point about the mechanical switches. As for cleaning guitar finishes, regular lighter fluid (naphta) is usually a safe and effective cleaning fluid that you can get from the exchange there. Of course, try a little in a fairly hidden area first. It's great for cleaning up the back of the neck and getting rid of the sticky.

Sweat has salts and nasties in it. The salts are definately not good for the metal parts and its best to keep it clean. Take care of your GI axe and come back safely!

Tom - Gulf Region Central District USACE, Baghdad, Jan 05 - Nov 06

Tom,
Great tips and tricks for the peculiar situations we find ourselves in. I will definitely recommend the lighter fluid to my other guitarist and bassists.
Everything is cleaning up okay so far, it's just when we go out for five to six days or so at a time, I'm in different conditions and on the move so much it's hard to keep up. I bring a Godin as a back-up, but it is in no way the same versatile axe as my strat. I hope it lasts, so far so good. Thanks for serving over here too, 21 months? Naw, not for me.
God's Best 2U, and glad you made it back safe.
Rob

_________________
"Do Werk Son!"
- Big Black of MTV's Rob & Big Show

On the lighter fluid, apply it to the rag, not the surface of the guitar. a little goes a long way.

I have seen people just do it, and end up with issues.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Thx twelvebar, got it!