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Location: When?? | This is either a recent breakthrough discovery made my yours truly.. or.. I’m far behind the curve and it’s old history I’ve never heard of. Whatever.. don’t care.. I like it.
Two parts to velcro-- the soft ‘fluffy’ side; and the scratchy ‘bristle’ side. First I slide a protection towel under the strings and lightly moisten them with 70% isopropyl (or whatever wash you typically use). Then wrap a dry length of the ‘bristle’ velcro (1" or so) around the string and toggle-rotate it as you lightly pinch and slide it up and down the string to agitate the crud. Then, do the same thing with a dry piece of the ‘fluffy’ velcro, which tweezes and extracts out the loosened crud. Then again with a moist piece of lint-free towel, and finish up with a dry piece of same. I’m amazed at how much more gunk comes out of aging strings than with other methods I’ve used.
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December 2003
Posts: 846
Location: Canada | I heard a rumour that the Beatles washed their strings each week during their Hamburg days because they could not afford to buy new ones. And I think their gigs lasted for many hours and were quite messy affairs with lots of blood, sweat, and beers spilled ... |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Or... You can pay $5 and get a new set of strings. 
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | In college, I couldn't afford new strings so I'd take them off my guitar, one at a time, and put them in a pot of boiling water. Then, after a few minutes, I'd wipe them down with a rag. All kinds of gunk came off of them. Back on the guitar, they did not sound dull and dead, but rather extremely bright. The downside was that the tone was pretty well gone. Oh well..... |
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December 2001
Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | Not interested |
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February 2016
Posts: 1769
Location: When?? | Actually I wasn't referring to strings that are so old they need to be replaced. I just like to regularly keep all my strings clean from the skin and oil crud that finds its way into the winding grooves. They sound and look better. I thought that most serious players do the same. Maybe not. |
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February 2014
Posts: 699
Location: moline,illinois | Old Man Arthur - 2018-12-18 3:01 PM
Or... You can pay $5 and get a new set of strings.
LOF I spent all my money on guitars this last week should I get some velcro to save the strings on my new guitar,$5 is my ramen noodle allowance for the week 
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May 2011
Posts: 751
Location: Muenster/Germany | I have been using GHS fast fret string cleaner for years, consistently! before and after playing, with best results. And I also clean the fretboard thoroughly everytime with a soft cloth. I hate dirty fretboards and strings like saw-blades.
To "cook" strings makes no sense because old strings will loose correct intonation with the time, better replace when worn out. |
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Posts: 1769
Location: When?? | @Detlef - >>>I hate dirty fretboards and strings like saw-blades. <<<
+1 to that!
@2WD - >>>should I get some velcro to save the strings on my new guitar, $5 is my ramen noodle allowance for the week<<<
Well heck, that's what you get for being so ‘problem’ spendy on your new stuff! And please tell me you are installing better than $5 strings on that pretty white Custom Elite. We’re still anxious to hear report on your purchase #2. In the meantime I have a 150 foot roll of 1" velcro strip in the garage. That's where the string cleaning idea spawned from to begin with.. but I guess can I spare a foot or two if you need to both eat and maintain your gear at the same time. Just remember me in the guitar part of your will (assuming I outlive you.. but if not you can have all my velcro).
Edited by Love O Fair 2018-12-19 4:57 AM
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Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 699
Location: moline,illinois | LOF purchase #2 is an ovation,it says it right here on the fretboard,teaser pic
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December 2003
Posts: 846
Location: Canada | DetlefMichel - 2018-12-19 3:37 AM I have been using GHS fast fret string cleaner for years, consistently! before and after playing, with best results. And I also clean the fretboard thoroughly everytime with a soft cloth. I hate dirty fretboards and strings like saw-blades. To "cook" strings makes no sense because old strings will loose correct intonation with the time, better replace when worn out. I thought that intonation changes can be attributed to the uneven buildup of deposits on wounmd strings and/or oxidaton of plain strings. The addition or removal of even slight amounts of mass on different points of the string will certainly affect the vibrational properties. |
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December 2003
Posts: 846
Location: Canada | 2wheeldrummer - 2018-12-19 7:12 AM LOF purchase #2 is an ovation,it says it right here on the fretboard,teaser pic Wow, I see some pretty interesting detailed features in there. |
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Location: Utah | 2wheeldrummer - 2018-12-19 6:12 AM
LOF purchase #2 is an ovation,it says it right here on the fretboard,teaser pic
Wow! |
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February 2016
Posts: 1769
Location: When?? | @2WD - >>>LOF purchase #2 is an ovation,it says it right here on the fretboard,teaser pic<<<
Zing!.. it went right over my head (nothing new there). I thought you were just showing us some clean strings. Congratulations on owning what looks to be some really special perk. I would expect no less to reside in your wondrous stash. |
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December 2004
Posts: 555
Location: Denmark | alpep - 2018-12-18 2:13 AM
Not interested :-)
Edited by tpa 2018-12-19 2:44 PM
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Just put on a new set |
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February 2014
Posts: 699
Location: moline,illinois | Love O Fair - 2018-12-19 4:44 AM
@2WD - >>>should I get some velcro to save the strings on my new guitar, $5 is my ramen noodle allowance for the week<<<
Well heck, that's what you get for being so ‘problem’ spendy on your new stuff! And please tell me you are installing better than $5 strings on that pretty white Custom Elite. We’re still anxious to hear report on your purchase #2. .
LOF yes I put better than $5 strings on the snow white lady elite,I use Curt Mangan fusion matched phosphor bronze .10-.48 on it my favorite for most my 12 strings.
Pics of the newer lady now available
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Used to be a serious player, back then, wipe the sweat off, buy in bulk, change early, change often, cannot imagine scrubbing the strings down and then restringing. Moody, trying to picture you cleaning the strings - then re-wtringing, I kinda think that is like repacking used shotgun shells. |
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Cleaning Wound Strings...
