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Post subject: Alcohol Products for Cleaning Strings
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 7:57 am
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:44 pm
Posts: 95
Hey guys,

I'm pretty well a guitar nub. I can play pretty well but when it comes to anatomy of the guitar I'm still learning a lot.

Anyways, I'm also in chemistry at university and got the brilliant idea to use isopropyl rubbing alcohol on my strings to clean off my nasty finger oils and dirt which I've left behind.

I did so, contacting ONLY the strings with the alcohol, and the strings shone bright silver, and played beautifully after, as though they were new.

I then read on this forum that Alcohol Products are a no-no for guitars.

Can somebody explain why?
Does it dissolve the laquer on the neck or something?

Thanks a bunch!

Nick


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Post subject: Re: Alcohol Products for Cleaning Strings
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 9:10 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
SteelyRayVaughan wrote:
Hey guys,

I'm pretty well a guitar nub. I can play pretty well but when it comes to anatomy of the guitar I'm still learning a lot.

Anyways, I'm also in chemistry at university and got the brilliant idea to use isopropyl rubbing alcohol on my strings to clean off my nasty finger oils and dirt which I've left behind.

I did so, contacting ONLY the strings with the alcohol, and the strings shone bright silver, and played beautifully after, as though they were new.

I then read on this forum that Alcohol Products are a no-no for guitars.

Can somebody explain why?
Does it dissolve the laquer on the neck or something?

Thanks a bunch!

Nick


Nick,

What you're doing is fine and of no detriment to any guitar.

It's not alcohol of itself. Rather, it's using stuff which has petroleum in it.

_________________
You dig?


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Post subject: Re: Alcohol Products for Cleaning Strings
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 3:51 pm
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:44 pm
Posts: 95
Awesome, thanks man. I was wondering what the damage was, but apparently nothing!

Cheers!


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Post subject: Re: Alcohol Products for Cleaning Strings
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:40 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:04 pm
Posts: 388
Location: Lititz, PA
I clean my strings with alcohol wipes. They work great.

Just remember never to use them right before you want to play. The evaporating alcohol makes the strings very cold and throws them out of tune. Use them when you're done playing or if you have some time before you need to play.


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Post subject: Re: Alcohol Products for Cleaning Strings
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 5:21 am
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:47 am
Posts: 1256
Because alcohol evaporates pretty fast, it's not going to cause any damage to the frets or fretboard, just use small amount of alcohol on a dampened cotton rag, and pinch the string with the rag between your fingers, and you are going to be good to go.


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