Huggy and the Bears Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Well, I have the sweaty-est hands known to man and I go through strings like nobody's business! After a gig, the next day they are corroding and within a week the sound has gone. I've been recently using Elixer (Nano coated doofers) which are supposed to last for ages (£30 a set!) but they are lasting about 3 weeks before they deteriorate. Is this the norm or am I an alien? Any (useful!) suggestions would be great! Also if a string manufacturer would like to experiment on me - bring it on! Si. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peted Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I have very sweaty hands, especially bad during summer gigs and under stage lights. I carry a cloth in my gig bag which I use to rub down my strings after practices and shows. I have found that my strings will last for months if I take the time to give them a quick buffing after play. Well recommended, and much cheaper than constant restringing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huggy and the Bears Posted June 16, 2008 Author Share Posted June 16, 2008 [quote name='peted' post='219911' date='Jun 16 2008, 03:03 PM']I have very sweaty hands, especially bad during summer gigs and under stage lights. I carry a cloth in my gig bag which I use to rub down my strings after practices and shows. I have found that my strings will last for months if I take the time to give them a quick buffing after play. Well recommended, and much cheaper than constant restringing [/quote] I see, I do give them a quick wipe but I guess it's not enough. I'll try a more rigorours cleaning. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOD2 Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 +1 to peted I have a similar problem. A cloth in the guitar case and just before I put my guitar back in the case a quick wipe down the strings (and also under the strings). 10 seconds is all it takes. With non-coated strings (i.e. not Elixirs) I would sparingly used a string cleaner occasionally which also helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeed Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 another sweaty bastard here!.... I wipe down with 'fast fret' after a gig..... I think it helps with the life of 'em but can sometimes leave a 'rubbery' feel to the strings (!?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 (edited) I change my strings every 6 years or so so I assume I don't sweat at all. I guess my mother never told me I was an android. Thinking about it, tho', I guess that, because I play COOOOOOOOL jazz, I wouldn't sweat, would I? That and the root vegetable therapy Edited June 16, 2008 by bilbo230763 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huge Hands Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 [quote name='bilbo230763' post='219929' date='Jun 16 2008, 03:28 PM']I change my strings every 6 years or so[/quote] To quote Jamerson, "The dirt keeps the funk", eh Bilbo? Personally, I'm just a lazy b@st@rd! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 yeah i have the same proplem, real sweaty git here, i use elixrs so thats the bulk of the problem sorted, still need a wipe down though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Fast fret and lots of wiping do it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOD2 Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 [quote name='Adrenochrome' post='219939' date='Jun 16 2008, 03:44 PM']Fast fret and lots of wiping do it for me.[/quote] Ok enough of the bizarre sexual practices ..... what do you do to keep your strings clean ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I just wash my hands and have a low-fat diet. You bunch of sweaties! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 (edited) Dry hands don't filth up the strings so quick , and stop your fingers getting sore. so.. have a towel hanging from your mic stand and use it wear sporty wrist bands wear less clothing when you play to keep your body temp down Bit of prevention for you to go with the cures that others have offered. Edited June 16, 2008 by Dr.Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huggy and the Bears Posted June 16, 2008 Author Share Posted June 16, 2008 [quote name='Dr.Dave' post='219958' date='Jun 16 2008, 03:59 PM']Dry hands don't filth up the strings so quick , and stop your fingers getting sore. so.. have a towel hanging from your mic stand and use it wear sporty wrist bands wear less clothing when you play to keep your body temp down Bit of prevention for you to go with the cures that others have offered.[/quote] Hmmm, getting a few good tips here. I have been using the same beer towel to wipe my strings for a couple of years now so maybe it needs substituting for a clean one from the next gig! Nice to know I'm not the only one with sewaty hands. Just for the record, not that I'm developing a complex, but the rest of me is not sweaty!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huge Hands Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 [quote name='Dr.Dave' post='219958' date='Jun 16 2008, 03:59 PM'] wear sporty wrist bands wear less clothing when you play to keep your body temp down[/quote] Erm, get a dodgy perm, leopard skin lycra pants (some ones with piano keys down the legs for the keyboardist) and you have a soft rock band...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 [quote name='Huggy and the Bears' post='219962' date='Jun 16 2008, 04:02 PM']I have been using the same beer towel to wipe my strings for a couple of years now so maybe it needs substituting for a clean one from the next gig![/quote] I always sneak mine into the magic basket with all the shirts etc. Next time I see it its fresh & clean. I don't think wiping the strings down with a manky towel will actually help if it doesn;t ever get washed. I use a microfibre cloth for the strings and the bar towel for my hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmanady Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I dont know if this is the cause,but a bass player i got chatting to at a gig years ago,we both had Wal's at the time,was telling me how he had to have all his tuners replaced because,as he put it,the acid from his hands had corroded the plating,and this had happened in a very short time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bay Splayer Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 [quote name='Huggy and the Bears' post='219903' date='Jun 16 2008, 02:57 PM']Well, I have the sweaty-est hands known to man and I go through strings like nobody's business! After a gig, the next day they are corroding and within a week the sound has gone. I've been recently using Elixer (Nano coated doofers) which are supposed to last for ages (£30 a set!) but they are lasting about 3 weeks before they deteriorate. Is this the norm or am I an alien? Any (useful!) suggestions would be great! Also if a string manufacturer would like to experiment on me - bring it on! Si.[/quote] buy two sets of strings when the first ones go dead, replace them (obviously ).... then soak the dead ones in methylated spirits for 24 hrs, allow to dry and should sound as good as new, as the meths takes out all the oil that has accumulated in your string from your sweaty hands then repeat process when they go dead....and so on and so on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam88 Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 (edited) i dont get sweaty hands but i sweat like a mother in all other bodily regions when i play, even when its nothing challenging. just a dirty biatch i guess. and the dirt very much keeps the funk! i leave strings as long as possible to get that tone. Edited June 16, 2008 by sam88 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huggy and the Bears Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 [quote name='sam88' post='220302' date='Jun 16 2008, 11:38 PM']i dont get sweaty hands but i sweat like a mother in all other bodily regions when i play, even when its nothing challenging. just a dirty biatch i guess. and the dirt very much keeps the funk! i leave strings as long as possible to get that tone.[/quote] Some old boy told me to boil my strings and re-use them. I tried a modern day version by sticking them in the dishwasher (yep I removed them from my bass first!) but whilst it removed the dirt, it didnt fix the corrosion. The comment (above) about the acid attack of the metal is what my problem is I think because over the yeras even my CD collection has deteriorated through corrosion from where I have handled them on the edges. I guess that string manufacturers don't wan't to find a solution as I must be their best customer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 The hotter, the sweatier, the better for me....I love being in a hot steaming sweaty gig, what I hate is our singer likes to use a fan and if I go anywhere near it it dries my hands out completley which is really annoying. If I had corrosive sweat I'd sweat all over my basses and get 'em all mojo'd in no time....bottle it and sell it as relic sweat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huggy and the Bears Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 [quote name='Jase' post='220615' date='Jun 17 2008, 02:36 PM']The hotter, the sweatier, the better for me....I love being in a hot steaming sweaty gig, what I hate is our singer likes to use a fan and if I go anywhere near it it dries my hands out completley which is really annoying. If I had corrosive sweat I'd sweat all over my basses and get 'em all mojo'd in no time....bottle it and sell it as relic sweat![/quote] Hey i can mojo anything overnight! thats the coolest suggestion I've ever had. Send me your gear guys and I'll have it relicked in no time! I'll throw in a set of string for free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 [quote name='Huggy and the Bears' post='220625' date='Jun 17 2008, 02:43 PM']Hey i can mojo anything overnight! thats the coolest suggestion I've ever had. Send me your gear guys and I'll have it relicked in no time! I'll throw in a set of string for free! [/quote] Are you serious about corrosive sweat????? I'd love my machine heads done and my control plate on my jazz basses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huggy and the Bears Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Jase' post='220627' date='Jun 17 2008, 02:45 PM']Are you serious about corrosive sweat????? I'd love my machine heads done and my control plate on my jazz basses [/quote] Yep, i have to be really carefull about touching metal! I have never put my (talent??) to a positive use but this could be a cool new way of utilising my talent! I might get a couple of components and experiment with them. This could be a new line in organic ageing of guitars. I reckon we could set up a business from it! What d'ya reckon? Edited June 18, 2008 by Huggy and the Bears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huggy and the Bears Posted June 20, 2008 Author Share Posted June 20, 2008 [quote name='Huggy and the Bears' post='220687' date='Jun 17 2008, 03:51 PM']Yep, i have to be really carefull about touching metal! I have never put my (talent??) to a positive use but this could be a cool new way of utilising my talent! I might get a couple of components and experiment with them. This could be a new line in organic ageing of guitars. I reckon we could set up a business from it! What d'ya reckon? [/quote] New Elixers fitted. lets see how long they last, applying all of the techniques I have gleened from the gurus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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