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El Barto
New member
I've read about using stuff like Crisco to slick up the strings. I also use this Dunlop string conditioner. Does this damage the neck (fretboard) at all if it gets onto it?
Treeline
New member
AACK!
That stuff will slick them up, alright, but axle grease is cheaper. Doesn't do any damage that I'm aware of, unless you count glopping up the string as "damage."
My friends and I tried all kinds of tricks in the old days before we gave up and changed strings more often. We used to pull the strings and boil them, used string slick stuff (silicone in a can) and finally gave up on the notion that we had to have some magic bullet to make it all work. There's no magic. Just keep the instrument clean, use decent and recently changed strings, and leave the magic bullet for someone else to bite.
If you're using medium strings on an acoustic and your fingers hurt, try three things. 1 - play more often; the fingertips may be soft; 2 - consider changing guage to something lighter, even if only on one or two strings; 3 - you may need to look at your fretting technique.
This is off the track, but it bears repeating - If you're hand is cramping up all the time, fingers getting tingly or numb, or you are getting back problems, STOP NOW and listen to your body!! Something is wrong and will get worse if you don't change it. Nobody wants to see a guitar player wearing a carpal tunnel brace. . . You can keep playing with this stuff going on if you figure out the body mechanics and learn your limits.
That stuff will slick them up, alright, but axle grease is cheaper. Doesn't do any damage that I'm aware of, unless you count glopping up the string as "damage."
My friends and I tried all kinds of tricks in the old days before we gave up and changed strings more often. We used to pull the strings and boil them, used string slick stuff (silicone in a can) and finally gave up on the notion that we had to have some magic bullet to make it all work. There's no magic. Just keep the instrument clean, use decent and recently changed strings, and leave the magic bullet for someone else to bite.
If you're using medium strings on an acoustic and your fingers hurt, try three things. 1 - play more often; the fingertips may be soft; 2 - consider changing guage to something lighter, even if only on one or two strings; 3 - you may need to look at your fretting technique.
This is off the track, but it bears repeating - If you're hand is cramping up all the time, fingers getting tingly or numb, or you are getting back problems, STOP NOW and listen to your body!! Something is wrong and will get worse if you don't change it. Nobody wants to see a guitar player wearing a carpal tunnel brace. . . You can keep playing with this stuff going on if you figure out the body mechanics and learn your limits.
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Steve Tittle
New member
Keep your strings changed and the crud off your fingers. I never, ever used such things and never will. If you want slick strings go for a half round or something similar.
Or maybe lighten up your grip be it guitar or
bass. I find myself grinding strings in the fretboard constantly and make a mental (I'm mental anyway!) effort to lighten up.
Or maybe lighten up your grip be it guitar or
bass. I find myself grinding strings in the fretboard constantly and make a mental (I'm mental anyway!) effort to lighten up.
mastahnke
Linux Man...
Just make sure you wipe off your strings with a cloth before putting the guitar away, it will increase string life by two or three weeks sometimes. It doesn't let all the oils on your hands eat at your strings. When I started doing that, I saved like 20$ a month on strings. 
MIKE
MIKE
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Daddy-O
New member
CRISCO, GREASE, AND ALL THOSE TYPES OF GLOOP & GLOP WILL HARM FRETBOARDS!!!!!!!!!!!
If your guitar has a rosewood or ebony fret board, any type of grease or solvent will cause problems. Solvents will cause the grain of the wood to shrink and make the fretboard lighter or even white in color. Solvents will also make the wood feel "fuzzy" and eventualy the grain will start to peel. Grease and lubes will cause the wood too become darker and cause increased build up of dirt and crud. After a while this stuff won't clean off because it will soak into the grain. You'll be a little safer using crisco,grease and chemicals on maple necks and fretboards that have been finished with urethanes. However, what ever crap you're putting on your guitar will seep under the frets and start to damage the maple underneth the finish. The best thing to do is keep your hands and your strings clean and toughen up those fingers.
If your guitar has a rosewood or ebony fret board, any type of grease or solvent will cause problems. Solvents will cause the grain of the wood to shrink and make the fretboard lighter or even white in color. Solvents will also make the wood feel "fuzzy" and eventualy the grain will start to peel. Grease and lubes will cause the wood too become darker and cause increased build up of dirt and crud. After a while this stuff won't clean off because it will soak into the grain. You'll be a little safer using crisco,grease and chemicals on maple necks and fretboards that have been finished with urethanes. However, what ever crap you're putting on your guitar will seep under the frets and start to damage the maple underneth the finish. The best thing to do is keep your hands and your strings clean and toughen up those fingers.
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El Barto
New member
I'm using Dean Markley lights (9-42) on a Fender Jag-Stang (rosewood fretboard, love this guitar very very much), and I play rock music (classic rock mostly, along with Frank Black and the Pixies and some stuff like that), so some of it's pretty fast, other is slow. I always wash my hands too before playing, and after a while of playing at practice I wash em again. I always wipe the back of the neck down too.
reco
New member
I use a string conditioner in a spray made by dunlop or somebody and it helps in string life span. my strings are cleaner and last longer and feel like new, but there is nothing like a new set of strings to fix a problem.
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ametth
Sir Cool of Coronado
I'm with daddy-o, I would not put ANY kind of grease or slicker on my strings, even if it's "made" for it. What guage strings are you using barto?
Be sure to always play with clean hands too, personally I ALWAYS wash my hands before playing my guitar. and what kind of guitar are yuo playing and what style of music? flat wound strings might help you out.
ametth
Be sure to always play with clean hands too, personally I ALWAYS wash my hands before playing my guitar. and what kind of guitar are yuo playing and what style of music? flat wound strings might help you out.
ametth