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Posted by: kaznie_NL Apr 23 2009, 07:25 PM

Hey GMC,

I think my strings are on my guitar for about... two months? ATM i'm having big difficulties sliding! It just seems to go very heavy. When I pick up the guitar, sometimes it slides fluid, but after some minutes things become harder and harder. I use FastFret, but applying it doesn't help, not applying it doesn't help eiter Could this be due to old strings?

Kaz

Posted by: Matt23 Apr 23 2009, 07:29 PM

Well I kept my factory strings on for almost a year, and I never had any trouble. It doesn't cost much to replace them though so you might as well give it a try.

Posted by: AlexLion Apr 23 2009, 07:35 PM

I use this and also never had any problems I recommend it to everyone! Strings even sounds better with that conditioner. http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=221&pmh=products/herco
Also Kaznie, remember to clean up strings every time you finish to play (if you don`t) with piece of cloth or smth, and you`ll see some dirty lines on cloth

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Apr 23 2009, 08:50 PM

Alex is right on the spot here. Those products, like Fast Fret, on my experience only contributes to generate rust on the strings. So if you do use them I recommend to clean your strings before and after you play the guitar. I do that every time I play and I don't even use those products. The problem is the oils that your hand produces when you play.

I hope this helps

Posted by: Lian Gerbino Apr 23 2009, 09:07 PM

I have the string conditioner from dumlop. it works so good, protecting the string from oxygen and extending its bright. but a luthier friend of mine has told me last Monday that this kind of product are so corrosive for the wood. so, if you use it, you have to clean the wood up.
another option is the common Alcohol, put some on a piece of cloth and travel along the string a few times.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Apr 23 2009, 09:17 PM

Try to swap the string Kaz, if you play a lot, one month strings can detune and degrade.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Apr 23 2009, 09:53 PM

I would change strings as well, no doubt.
2 months can be a lot if you play frequently.

Posted by: DeepRoots Apr 23 2009, 10:00 PM

Change strings for sure- possibly think about changing to Elixir if you don't like having to change often.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Apr 23 2009, 10:03 PM

+1

Posted by: Trond Vold Apr 23 2009, 11:18 PM

It might be dryness in your fingers too.

Posted by: iamblackmo Apr 24 2009, 02:47 AM

Often you can find sets of strings for a special value, normally like 3-5 packs. I recommend you look into this if you play often, as i do. I play for a couple hours a day, sometimes more and after a month or two, I like to change them out so I can bend without worrying about them breaking and I get better tone, slide, and vibrato.

Enjoy.

P.S. Elixer's are nice but are pricey and, in my opinion, you are better off buying a multiple packs at a discount and having them handy.

Posted by: UncleSkillet Apr 24 2009, 03:13 AM

I changed to Elixir strings about 6 weeks ago and I am not going to look back. These are very consistent sounding and stay clean while lasting longer than any other string I have played. They also feel very slick and smooth so you will need to allow some time for the change. Things will feel slick at first and your bends might be a little harder to hold on to but you will get use to it and love it. This is mho!

Posted by: Skalde Apr 24 2009, 11:59 AM

I use my DR strings for about 6 monts now. I plan to change them soon, though I think, I am a pretty lazy string changer.
If you buy DR strings, buy the normal ones, not the Dimbag signature edition, they cost the half and are exactly the same(my experience)

Posted by: Ajmurrell Apr 24 2009, 12:16 PM

+1. It's usually always my fingers that are the problem.

Posted by: kaznie_NL Apr 24 2009, 04:18 PM

I didn't have it before, so I guess it's not my fingers. Although it could be the thicker "shield' on my fingers (how do you English people call it? the layer of dead skin...)

Posted by: AlexLion Apr 24 2009, 04:29 PM

Nah, I have there elephant skin And no problem even with sliding on 0.60 string. Hmm maybe that fast fret is not really good for strings? Especcialy if you didn`t clean up those after\before playing. Wait what strings do you use?

Posted by: Ajmurrell Apr 24 2009, 04:30 PM

They're called callouses

Posted by: kaznie_NL Apr 24 2009, 04:32 PM

D'addario 0.09's

Posted by: DeepRoots Apr 24 2009, 04:42 PM

I found that fast fret was really nice and slippery for the first 5 minutes, then it would make slides and general playing alot harder, same thing happened whenever i'd re-apply so i quickly stopped using it.

Posted by: AlexLion Apr 24 2009, 04:44 PM

Well D`addario are good strings, must be problem with that Fastfret thing then..

Posted by: David Wallimann Apr 24 2009, 05:05 PM

Although Fastfret type products are great for a quick fix in tone and playability, I too recommend that you change your strings! :-)

Posted by: Marc_Maiden Apr 24 2009, 05:24 PM

i suggest taking off the strings, conditioning the fretboard, and adding new strings


that usually makes any guitar play 10000x better

also, if your hands get sweaty, believe it or not, that makes you play slower...


yesterday it was 90 degrees in my room, and i had to wait till it cooled off to record ivans blues contest entry because my fingers were too sweaty

Posted by: AlexLion Apr 24 2009, 05:30 PM

Before conditioning fretboard you need to clean it fully.

Posted by: kaznie_NL Apr 25 2009, 11:26 AM

FastFret conditions the wood as well right? Normally I "condition" my fretboard with some olive oil.

Posted by: kaznie_NL Apr 26 2009, 07:37 PM

is olive oil ok?

Posted by: AlexLion Apr 26 2009, 07:40 PM

Well I can`t surely answer you, i don`t know.. See what others says, but i think it`s could be good for wood


Citrus oil is good

Posted by: kjutte May 3 2009, 10:26 AM

Seriously?
I just go wash my hands, lol.



I bought some conditioner over at my local musicianshop.
They had some citric oils etc for fretboard.

Posted by: AlexLion May 3 2009, 11:00 AM

And they sweaty again after couple of minutes I think it depends on a person, I have sweaty hands for example =| But they didn`t make me slower at all

Posted by: Velvet Roger May 3 2009, 11:25 AM

Yeah, the amount of sweat a person is developing is fully personal, as is the exact constitution of the sweat (in terms of how aggressive it will be on your strings and e.g. your floyd rose )

Posted by: jdriver May 3 2009, 07:14 PM

Actually, olive oil is not a good idea because it goes rancid over time. Light mineral oil or the citrus oils, which are actually mineral oil with citrus added, seems to be best.

But you should also try the coated strings, Elixir or EB coated slinky. They stay fresh a long time.

Posted by: aiki boy May 8 2009, 07:29 PM

I've been using the Old English Lemon Oil on my fret board, string and back of the neck for years and it works great.

Posted by: Alexiaden93 May 12 2009, 10:11 PM

Hey, I also have problem with sliding at times, mostly because my strings get covered in a crust of dead skin and other horrible substances. I believe cleaning the strings as well as warming up properly can prevent this... Anyway, there is other much better advice around