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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Whenever I put new strings on I'm a good boy for a few days and wipe 'em down after playing. I very soon get too lazy and just hang the git back up afterwards. Which of you geeks wipe 'em down each time? (probably the same people who floss their teeth twice a day, as opposed to me who flosses the morning of my dental appointment). Do the strings truly sound better for a longer time if you wipe? |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I've had a bottle of string cleaner for years and it's still almost full. I probably don't play enough or sweat enough to make a difference. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I have very acidic skin oils. If I don't wipe them after playing, the strings will rust in short order.. a matter of days.
If I'm gigging (which I haven't done in awhile) they get a new set of strings before each gig so it doesn't matter. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | When I used to be REALLY strapped for cash, I would wipe a light coat of metal polish on my strings regularly, and I personally believe they played well for a much longer time. Another thing I do is use some of that Silicone Glove lotion on my hands before I go to play.(after washing them of course) It seems to keep the acid and other stuff from making it to the strings. Whether it really makes any difference or not... who knows? I like to think it does. |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | I wash my hands before playing, but I don't wipe down the strings after, making me change the strings after 3 or 4 gigs max. I'm sure they would last me a lot longer if I just wiped them down! |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | When I think about it...
I think that I wipe them all down before I put them in the case.
But while they are in the stand for a day or five I don't usually wipe them after each use.
Maybe now that you made me think about it I might be more diligent. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Less than an hour and six replies, and this thread heads for the toilet....
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | "Too Much Time On My Hands" - Styx |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | At first glance, when I looked at the bears in the woods, it looked like the two in the back, well..... |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I hate it when the kids watch....
Used to wipe after every gig/session, like Miles my excretions would eat through cable. Now that I'm a calmer person (!?!?!?!) and cut a few things out of my diet that's not an issue. I leave 'em as is 'till there's a paying gig.
Maybe 2011 |
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Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 747
| I used to kill a set of medium strings in less than 4 hours of non stop playing - the low E would just be a dull thud so I've always cleaned the strings when I'm done. Since I started using Martin lights on the 1621 it's been nowhere near as bad - maybe I'm not as caustic as I used to be. |
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Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 747
| Originally posted by Joe Rotax:
[qb] screwed up the edit |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Rarely. My strings never rust. I started tracking my string changes about two years ago, but its hard to tell how many hours I put on them before changing since I track when I change the strings, not when I play the guitars. My educated guess is more than 20 hours and less than 40, or as soon as either the E or A string lose their bell tone. If I changed strings after every gig, they'd have to increase my gig pay, which typically means something rather than nuthin'. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | DB, good job on the title.
I don't wipe the strings but I know I should.
I can say that guitar playing, Cheeto eating and Kentucky Fried Chicken do not occur in the same place and time. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I have the opposite problem from Miles. Hands are always dry.
And I learned to never let anyone borrow my baseball glove... ever! |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Slipkid:
And I learned to never let anyone borrow my baseball glove... ever! Oh my...! Someone that finally understands... 
I've had players ask if they could rent (seriously!) my gloves (MacGregor G2C and 'original' Wilson A2000).
Sorry to get OT, but, day-um Brad... ya hit my 'home'! |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | If I play it, I wipe it down afterward. Its that simple.
My cousin never did. I played his Martin (Clapton Model) one night... Ewwww! He hadn't changed his strings or wiped down in months. I handed my Ovation, had him play it, then had him play his Martin. He noticed the difference immediately. I told him to look at his frets, they were all gunked up. Now he wipes down after after every session, and it sounds so much better. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Anyone know who sells those forearm sweatbands? |
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June 2008
Posts: 74
Location: Agawam MA | I wipe the strings and the guitar after every session. I am convinced that it prolongs the string life and keeps any sweat or oils off the guitar finish. |
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April 2009
Posts: 130
Location: London, UK | I keep a duster in the 'cutaway' gap in the guitar case and wipe the sweat off the strings, neck and top after each use. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I was actually wondering because I did an open mike last week with 3 month old strings that I never wiped down, and everyone said it sounded great. Now I just changed the strings so I should sound MUCH better, right? We'll see, but if so I don't want to be putting new strings on all the time. And I know me, I'm not much of a wiper (just like Sheryl Crow). I'm figuring a cursory wipe here and there and I should get a month out of them anyway. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by Slipkid:
Hands are always dry. Mine, too. Living in a dry climate and being obsessive about clean hands probably helps. |
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Who wipes everyday?
