Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 whenever I've been playing my stratacoustic guitar or tanglewood acoustic bass my fingers get an unpleasant metallic smell which I don't get with any other basses/guitars. Is just me or is that normal? Are there any acoustic strings tht don't do that? I'll probably put electric strings on the stratacoustic when I next change them, so that's not a problem. I use Thomastik AB344 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Bass Strings on tanglewood. I use flats on all of my other basses (Thomastics if possible) has anyone used Thomastic jazz flats on an acoustic? Any other recommendations? How about those LaBella black nylon wrapped strings - anyone used those on an acoustic. I'm not too fussed about volume as long as its audible at home playing along to MP3s - for gigs & even quiet acoustic rehearsals it needs to go through an amp already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Try those silk gloves Nigel's gone on about in the past and then you can go all Spinal Tap!! I did put flats (not Thomastic) on an acoustic once - quiet but vey lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterfire666 Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 we used to play a drunken party game called 'smell my finger' Good times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 [quote name='winterfire666' timestamp='1338639137' post='1677482'] ...we used to play a drunken party game called 'smell my finger' Good times! [/quote] We used to play 'soggy biscuit'. Class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 When the strings get old on my Ovation acoustic bass they make my fingers smell like pickled onion Monster Munch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Don't read this - unless it's proven that you don't get any definitive answers: (my guess: copper oxide). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 This has to be the most disturbing thread title I've seen for a long time... Phosphor Bronze strings have always given my fingers a metallic smell, I just ignore it. One thing I'd never recommend though is restringing an acoustic guitar with electric guitar strings - they sound absolutely horrid and rattle more than a nuns knees at an Iron Maiden concert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Thought Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 When I play my acoustic bass with phosphor bronze strings on, I not only get the smell, I get green fingertips as well., Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 [quote name='Deep Thought' timestamp='1338660017' post='1677794'] When I play my acoustic bass with phosphor bronze strings on, I not only get the smell, I get green fingertips as well., [/quote] That's just leprosy. It'll wear off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 [quote name='Deep Thought' timestamp='1338660017' post='1677794'] When I play my acoustic bass with phosphor bronze strings on, I not only get the smell, I get green fingertips as well. [/quote] Bonus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1338660530' post='1677801'] That's just leprosy. It'll wear off... [/quote] [i]Fall/drop[/i] off, surely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1338643763' post='1677551'] When the strings get old on my Ovation acoustic bass they make my fingers smell like pickled onion Monster Munch. [/quote] thats bizarre ... i had a packet of pickled onion monster munch at the back of the cupboard that were waaaay past their sell by date so i opened them up to give them the sniff test and they smelt like a set of old guitar strings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjohn Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Dirty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.I. Joe Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I find the same with dusty old nickel plated strings. I'll be checking the ingredients next time I pick up a bag of Monster Munch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Bad smells? Shouldn't this thread be called [i]pull[/i] my finger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 smelly fingers Ive been playing my acoutic a lot and get black green smelly fingers,thought it was just me,you can see the area on the neck I use nice clean frets up to no 5,then black up the sound hole. best get some new strings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 [quote name='merlin' timestamp='1338714629' post='1678222'] ...black up the sound hole. [/quote] [b][size=5]![/size][/b] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' timestamp='1338638446' post='1677468']...How about those LaBella black nylon wrapped strings - anyone used those on an acoustic... [/quote] Good afternoon, J-L... Not quite, but nearly. I use RotoSound TruBass RS88 black nylon-coated strings on my Höfner Verithin bass. Not quite LaBella, and not quite an acoustic, but close enough to say that, if you're not looking to play slap, they'll do the job just fine, imho. Extra bonus: they are good straight from the box, and stay that way for (literally...) years. Sustained attack from a hard pick will eventually do them some damage; I play finger style, so no problem there for me. Hope this helps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 [quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1338662107' post='1677825'] [i]Fall/drop[/i] off, surely! [/quote] I was trying not to worry him too much... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Try Elixir coated strings for acoustic. There will still be a small amount of odour from the fretwire, but much less significant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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