Couple guitar questions.

  • Thread starter Thread starter jeff0633
  • Start date Start date
J

jeff0633

Member
First, is there a spray or certain type of rag that I can wipe my guitar strings down with before, during, and after playing in order to make my strings last longer? They get so damn dirty because my finger sweat (and it's going to be full summer soon). My strings get so dirty and grimy, even after playing a simple three hour show with brand new strings. I'm hoping there is some kind of spray or something that will keep them clean and make them last longer.

2nd, I am having trouble with my strat breaking the 4th string very often. The saddle doesn't seem to be let far our, so the string doesn't seem to bend too sharply coming through the bridge. It is a little farther than the other strings, but is there a way to maybe file that ledge inside the bridge where the string bends over and comes out on the saddle? My strings would last a lot longer if not for this annoying fourth string problem.

Thanks for any help.

Jeff
 
Hey, Jeff.

Have you tried Elixir strings? They are coated with something like teflon and they last forever (well, relatively speaking, like your girl's permanent ain't permanent either). The coating keeps the sweat nasties from corroding the strings.

Breaking the 4th? You mean G? Do a lot of bends? Or are you hitting it too hard?

I had a Fender Mustang back in the day. I loved to put a heavy set of Markleys that had a wound G. The chords were so rich, but that tiny core couldn't take the bends.
 
Hi. No, the fourth I have always considered the D string. I just can't understand why that thing is breaking like that. I believe it to be that edge down under the saddle where the string comes through the bridge. I think it is cutting the widing on my string. My only hope is to move the saddle back and try to straighten out the string a little so that there is not such a crease under there.



apl said:
Hey, Jeff.

Have you tried Elixir strings? They are coated with something like teflon and they last forever (well, relatively speaking, like your girl's permanent ain't permanent either). The coating keeps the sweat nasties from corroding the strings.

Breaking the 4th? You mean G? Do a lot of bends? Or are you hitting it too hard?

I had a Fender Mustang back in the day. I loved to put a heavy set of Markleys that had a wound G. The chords were so rich, but that tiny core couldn't take the bends.
Click to expand...
 
Hmmm...

You can't move the saddle without messing the intonation. If it's a Fender style bridge, it wouldn't be too big a deal to swap that saddle with another one to see if the problem moves. Or if you put it under the low E maybe it wouldn't be so fragile.

Just an idea.
 
I had this problem a long time ago--one specific string would always break fairly shortly after I would replace it. I took it to the shop, and basically here's what was going down: Over time the string wore a small groove into the bridge and that little groove gave just a sharp enough point to cause considerable (and fast) wear on the string. They filed it down and the problem went away.
 
It sounds like you might have a burr in the fourth string saddle. If that is the case, then it needs to be smoothed out.

However, the D string is the string on electrics which breaks most often, as the core of the string is smaller than any other string.

As for the sweat thing, I am afraid you just have very corrosive sweat. It is just an issue of body chemistry, and there is nothing which can be done about it. I have a friend like that, and even when he tried Elixirs, they didn't help (plus he hated the sound). You are just cursed with having to change your strings more often. Sorry.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Hey, Jeff.

You might want to try some different brands of strings. I never could play Fender Bullets because they would corrode almost instantly with my sweat. Other brands didn't act the same.
 
I notice no one mentioned Finger Ease spray. Is this just phoney stuff, or can it make the strings last longer.

Also, I remember years ago playing with a bass player, and he had some kind of lubricated rag that he wiped his strings with, and it made them slippery as hell. It was a yellow cloth, I recall.
 
Just wipe your strings down with a rag. No spray needed.
 
jeff0633 said:
I notice no one mentioned Finger Ease spray. Is this just phoney stuff, or can it make the strings last longer.
Click to expand...

I have used this for some time, but more for making a neck slicker than anything to do with string life.

Ed
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top