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Post subject: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:33 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Advice needed. Every time I play my guitar for 2 to 3 hours at a gig or at band practice the strings are really rusty the next day when I take my guitar out of the case. I can put on brand new strings just before playing and then play for a few hours. Put the guitar in its case and the next day the strings are really rusty. I use D' Addiario strings. I would think they should at least last through 2 jam sessions huh? I don't remember having this issue years ago when I played regularly. Any advice on getting some life out of a set of strings?

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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:08 pm
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Don´t let your guitar stay in the case. I always put them on a stand. If you have to carry your guitar make sure it is dry. Wipe the strings and the guitar and make sure the case is dry.
When you come home let the case alone for an hour to make sure the temperature of the guitar inside is the same as the room. Open the case and put the guitar on a stand.
Let the case dry (open) in the room.

All the best,
Robin

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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:20 pm
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Great, thanks. Yeah I usually put my guitars in thier cases rather quickly after practice and I don't take em out till I get home from work the next evening. Thanks Robin.

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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:52 pm
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Go to Walgreen's, or wherever, and get some mineral oil. Less than two bucks.

Put a little on the corner of a paper towel and use it to clean and coat your strings before you use them. Just slip the corner under each string and slide it up and down the string.

Does a good job of protecting your strings and makes your guitar play nicely. Mineral oil won't hurt your guitar. Just don't get it all over, but it'll wipe right off. NOT to be confused with motor oil, etc..

After a long playing session, re-clean and coat. You should get a LOT more hours out of each set of strings.


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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:55 pm
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If you can get hold of "Steret" brand injection swabs then those are great for cleaning guitar strings. If not, they're just isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) on a lint-free cloth.

And there's probably some "specially formulated" brand name string cleaner that costs twenty times the price and contains exactly the same chemical.

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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:46 pm
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I use alcohol preps swabs from my local drug store (CVS in my case) to wipe down the strings.
You don't want to use alcohol wipes right before you play as the evaporating alcohol makes the strings cold and throws them way out of tune. Use them when you're done playing or anytime in between.

It sounds like your strings are being exposed to too much moisture. Do you play in a humid location? (e.g. basement, garage). You my want to consider some desiccant in your case to absorb this.


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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 6:34 pm
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After vigorous extended play -- such as at a rehearsal, jam, or gig -- I always wipe my strings down with a soft cloth dampened with WD40 (similar in chemical composition to "Finger-eze"). It cleans my strings and keeps them bright and snappy sounding.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:55 pm
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I wonder if coated strings like Exlirs would help?


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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:52 am
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Okies...right off the bat I have to say that I've had the same problem with D'Addiario. Last time I used them was a few years back on an acoustic...did a 2 hour show and yea, they were rusted beyond belief the very next day. Yea, it was rather humid that day and yes, I do tend to sweat like a pig when I'm playing but I've never had this happen with ANY other brand of string...and with as many guitars as I own and as many years as I've been playing, at some point or other I've probably played them all. It could just be something with my body chemistry but yes, any time I've ever used D'Addiario (on either guitars or my basses), they've rusted out in nothing flat.

So with that, my first suggestion would simply be to try another brand of strings. Personally I use GHS Boomers myself with Fender's as my main back up (although I've recently gone to Rotosound's on my basses). I actually prefer the Fender strings just a bit more but the difference is soooo close that for the extra $2 a pack for the Fenders, I usually go with the Boomers...I have somewhere between 20 and 30 guitars so I go thru A LOT of strings and that extra $2 per pack adds up rather quickly. I do like the sound of Ernie Ball Slinkys but I find a similar problem as with the D'Addiario's...they don't rust nearly as fast as the D's but I just do NOT get the life out of them that I do with Boomers. For myself at least, I find that the Boomers and Fender strings seem to have the best balance of tone and longevity, without paying an arm and a leg (and left kidney) as you do with Elixer's. Also I tend to -hate- the tone of Elixers...whatever they coat those things with, they just don't sound right to my ears....they just sound dead right out of the box. Who cares how long they last if they just sound like crap? Had a similar problem with SIT's when those first came out.

Now next to that, as others have suggested it's always a good idea to wipe the guitar down when you're finished playing. That said, yea...I'm lazy too and don't always remember to do it. I'm pretty good about it after a gig as the guitar is going back in the case, but at home, most of my guitars are usually on a stand down in the studio...I never really keep them in the case here at home. When I'm done practicing, I usually just plunk the guitar back on to a stand (or leave it on the studio couch or something)...unless I have a rag sitting right there, I don't usually remember to wipe the guitar down.

With that, I would also add that there are several products on the market now that do seem to help with this problem. Lately I've been using Dunlap 65 String Cleaner and Conditioner and yes, it does seem to make a BIG difference. Normally I don't like to waste my money on "gimmicks" but I have to say this stuff works. My front guy has also been using Fast Fret on his Takamine acoustic and has said the same thing...he's getting A LOT more life out of his strings since he started using it. As siamese said there, you could also use mineral oil (I've used this on a few fretboards over the years) or I suspect some linseed oil would work well too. The only problem there is that, from my experience at least, they don't really do that good a job of cleaning the $@!& off the strings. It keeps them from rusting but it's not really a cleaner per say...the chemical products out there seem to do a good job of both cleaning -and- preserving the strings.

My last suggestion here...and I'll be the first to admit that I'm lazy about this too...is wash your hands before playing! Some of us have different body chemistry's to begin with and some of us (like myself) simply aren't that terribly fastidious. For example, if I were to go down to the studio after typing this and play a bit (which I may do), not only have I been sitting here with my fingers on the computer keyboard (with my finger tips picking up whatever $@!& is there), I've also been sitting here smoking cigs the whole time (the not so proverbial "nicotine stains on my fingers") and sucking down coffee all morning. Also being an animal lover, yea...I've also been petting my dogs and cats this morning, so I got that on my fingers too (and I seriously doubt cat saliva is good for guitar strings! LOL!). If you're like me, just washing your hands PROPERLY could make all the difference in the world!

Seriously...the first thing I would do is try another brand of strings...don't even waste your money on the Elixers until you've tried something other than the D' Addiarios first. While you're getting those strings, also pickup a bottle of Dunlop 65 (or similar product) and hit the strings with it as soon as you put them on (then re-apply once a week). Wash your hands and wipe the strings down after you're done playing. You should find this makes all the difference in the world!

Peace,
Jim


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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 2:59 am
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BrittB wrote:
I wonder if coated strings like Exlirs would help?


CERTAINLY!
They're fantastic! (unless it's poly web, they sound less brilliant)

bshane84 wrote:
Advice needed. Every time I play my guitar for 2 to 3 hours at a gig or at band practice the strings are really rusty the next day when I take my guitar out of the case.


I have the same problem!!
Very aggressive hand sweat!

I use Elixir Nano Web 009s now and they last me for weeks (depending on how much I play).

They don't sound dull, as many players say.
These players maybe know the early and older ones (poly web), which really sounded much less brilliant.

Stay away from poly web, get yourself nano web by Elixir and you'll have solved your problem!

EDIT: no difference in putting your guitar on a stand or in a case, the amount of oxygen is the same, the result is almost the same.
Wiping off your strings with a cloth after playing reduces corrosion! Do that additionally to using Elixir!

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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:14 am
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Use some GHS fast fret and clean your strings after you play. The sweat and oil for your hands is killing your strings.... $6 investment goes a long way.

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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:31 am
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Aspiring Musician
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lomitus wrote:
Lately I've been using Dunlap 65 String Cleaner and Conditioner and yes, it does seem to make a BIG difference. Normally I don't like to waste my money on "gimmicks" but I have to say this stuff works.


+1 I have used Dunlap 65 for some time too. It's relatively inexpensive, comes in a small and ready to apply 2 oz applicator bottle. All you need in addition is a clean rag to wipe the neck after application. Other products may work as well, but I can't imagine they are any simpler or effective.


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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:51 pm
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Lenny1716 wrote:
lomitus wrote:
Lately I've been using Dunlap 65 String Cleaner and Conditioner and yes, it does seem to make a BIG difference. Normally I don't like to waste my money on "gimmicks" but I have to say this stuff works.


+1 I have used Dunlap 65 for some time too. It's relatively inexpensive, comes in a small and ready to apply 2 oz applicator bottle. All you need in addition is a clean rag to wipe the neck after application. Other products may work as well, but I can't imagine they are any simpler or effective.



I would also add to my earlier comment that one bottle seems to last a LONG time too! I got this bottle a good two months ago, have used the stuff on at least 2 guitars after every show (2 or 3 shows a month) and several times down in the studio and the bottle still feels pretty much full. As I stated originally, I don't normally go in for gimmicks, but for the $6 and change I payed, this stuff was a good investment.

That said, while I know he has me on ignore, as usual, I have to disagree with Fret's comments up there about the Elixer strings...as with most things guitar related, it's a matter of opinion. I've played several guitars in recent years with those strings and they really sound awful to me. Even if the sound/tone wasn't an issue, they're also ungodly expensive. While I would again suggest trying a different brand other than D' Addiario, I just can't recommend Elixer's at all...as I said, I just don't go in for gimmicks. I would suggest trying some of the other advice that's been listed here first before you throw your money away.

Just an extra $.02 worth,
Jim


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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 11:04 pm
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If it were me... I'd examine my diet...

just sayin'

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Strings deteriorate very fast.
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 2:51 am
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Go with the Elixir Polywebs. The Nanowebs are nasty and fray easily. The great theing about the Polywebs is that you don't have to wipe them down. Actually, just DO NOT EVER WIPE THEM DOWN. That is what takes the coating off. Just play them for a good year or 5 and enjoy never having dead strings again.


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