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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ String Cleaning

Posted by: skennington Dec 31 2007, 01:23 AM

Wanted to know what you use to clean your strings.

Will using alcohol free baby wipes hurt the strings or fretboard? Mine is all maple. I'll prolly get some EB wonder wipes but if baby wipes won't hurt then hey i'm in. Keep plenty of those around!

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Dec 31 2007, 01:51 AM

I think as long as there aren't any chemicals in those wipes you can use them for strings. Wipe them off when you're done, so they remain dry.

The best solution would be to buy Fastfret

Posted by: Freddie Fourfingers Dec 31 2007, 01:52 AM

Fast Fret is wonderful.

Posted by: SDMF75 Dec 31 2007, 01:55 AM

Fast Fret is a good way to go. Olive Oil may do the trick too.

Posted by: Muris Dec 31 2007, 02:16 AM

Fast Fret or some oils,lemon etc

Posted by: swingline Dec 31 2007, 02:19 AM

I actually came across a cleaner called Dr. Duck Axe Wax and its brilliant, you can use it on the whole guitar although I only use in on the fretboard and strings.

Posted by: Muris Dec 31 2007, 02:21 AM

QUOTE (swingline @ Dec 31 2007, 02:19 AM)

I actually came across a cleaner called Dr. Duck Axe Wax and its brilliant, you can use it on the whole guitar although I only use in on the fretboard and strings.

Ohh,I use Fast Fret for body,neck,headstock etc

Posted by: Freddie Fourfingers Dec 31 2007, 02:29 AM

Axe Wax sounds like something I would mispronounce in the store and get embarassed.

Posted by: skennington Dec 31 2007, 02:32 AM

Thanks guys. I may use them this time but will get a quality cleaner.

QUOTE (Muris @ Dec 30 2007, 08:16 PM)

Fast Fret or some oils,lemon etc

Muris, when you say oils, lemon ect. Do you mean like a furniture polish of some sort?

QUOTE (Freddie Fourfingers @ Dec 30 2007, 08:29 PM)

Axe Wax sounds like something I would mispronounce in the store and get embarassed.

Posted by: Freddie Fourfingers Dec 31 2007, 02:33 AM

Seriously, Fast Fret is simply white mineral oil, and it will clean your strings and make them sound new without damaging anything. It also comes in a no-mess easy to use applicator so you wont spill anything and lasts a long time.

Posted by: swingline Dec 31 2007, 02:40 AM

QUOTE (skennington @ Dec 30 2007, 05:32 PM)

Thanks guys. I may use them this time but will get a quality cleaner.
Muris, when you say oils, lemon ect. Do you mean like a furniture polish of some sort?

On my old guitar I used Murphey's wax soap (or something like that) for using on floors and it worked great. But still fast frets only a few bucks so I would play it safe.

QUOTE (Muris @ Dec 30 2007, 05:21 PM)

Ohh,I use Fast Fret for body,neck,headstock etc

I don't know I never read the can to see if its supposed to do that.

Posted by: skennington Dec 31 2007, 05:35 AM

Thank's everybody. Looks like FF takes the nod!

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Dec 31 2007, 08:06 AM

I use Fast fret but I know there are another products.

Posted by: Bogdan Dec 31 2007, 11:37 AM

Check out your local music store for string cleaning stuff..I strongly recommend you GHS Fast Fret..

Posted by: Tomy Jeon Dec 31 2007, 11:48 AM

Does cleaning your strings help you play? And does it improve tone?

Posted by: Batista Dec 31 2007, 11:58 AM

Yeah, I guess it do. It doesn't necessary make you a better guitarist of course, but it sure makes it easier to play. I'm not sure how it affects the tone and sound, but I'm sure it's good for something there too.

Posted by: DeepRoots Dec 31 2007, 12:03 PM

yeh i use fast fret then to remove the residue without leaving any cotton biuts wrapped around the strings i use http://www.stringclean.com/...
The swipe really is awesome i reccomend it to all, the material also removes small bits of rust (not that you should let it get so dirty!!!),
i cleaned a set of strings on my friends guitar that he hadnt used for 6-7 months, they were all rusty, dirty and toneless..the swipe made them almost good as new (which saved a journey to the store).

Anyone else use the swipe?

@tomy: in short yes, letting strings become to dirty / not cleaning or replacing can make a guitar sometimes unplayable and sounds quite bad.

Posted by: Bogdan Dec 31 2007, 12:09 PM

Clean strings are easier to play and cleaning affects sound very much (when I use fast fret and leave it over night to do its thing on strings not wipe it off immediately a get new strings sound in the morning) ..Also its more satisfying to play a guitar thats sound good!!

Posted by: DeepRoots Dec 31 2007, 12:10 PM

QUOTE (Bogdan @ Dec 31 2007, 11:09 AM)

when I use fast fret and leave it over night to do its thing on strings not wipe it off immediately a get new strings sound in the morning

i shall try it that way!

Posted by: Bogdan Dec 31 2007, 05:16 PM

QUOTE (DeepRoots @ Dec 31 2007, 12:10 PM)

i shall try it that way!

Thats the trick I recently learned and since then I saved a lot of money on buying (not buying) new strings.Please tell me the results..

p.s. I use it on a bass but I'm sure it will work the same on guitar strings..

Posted by: blindwillie Jan 1 2008, 12:34 PM

QUOTE (swingline @ Dec 31 2007, 02:19 AM)

I actually came across a cleaner called Dr. Duck Axe Wax and its brilliant, you can use it on the whole guitar although I only use in on the fretboard and strings.

+1
I've experimented a bit with bought stuff and stuff you might have at home and so far Dr Duck is the best one.
It leaves a "smoother" non-oily feeling than other stuff and the looks/feel lasts longer. Second to that I like paraffin oil, a white mineral oil. I think kerosene is called paraffin oil too, but that's NOT it!