How to extend string life ???

[guitarfreak98]

May i know how to extend string life ? whenever i buy quality strings, it rusts just a few days. i hav use a dunlop65 string cleaner but it doesnt seems to work. Is there any secrets to share to extend string life ???? Thanks.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

For me I'm lucky as I have rather dry hands... some people have naturally moist hands and that's why there are a lot of coated strings on the market. But I also keep my guitars in their cases when I'm not playing them for long periods of time, and I also wipe my strings often and especially after playing them. Also, I keep my room's windows closed during and just after rainfall so the humidity in my room doesn't skyrocket too quickly. I can actually feel the humidity change and it will definitely kill your strings real quick. For me I don't use coated strings, just regular Ernie Ball Slinkies and Earthwoods, my strings last pretty long and I do tend to delay changing them as I do like the sound of slightly-dead strings.

 

[guitarfreak98]

1.I heard that air-con can helps to extend string life right ?
2. But i do have sweaty palms
3.Where do u put ur guitar ? I put it on my window there
Thanks .

 

[EugeneSmasher]

I think air-con does help, but I can't have mine on for too long or I'll freeze (and the electrical bills will skyrocket), hence I try to reduce humidity through other means. I keep my guitars away from the windows, but no specific reason for that. Just the layout of my room makes me do that I guess.

As for sweaty palms... that one can't really be helped. Perhaps you might want to consider coated strings? I don't have much experience with them though. They may cost more but if they last many times longer than uncoated strings, then in the long run it's cheaper.

 

[Godspeed64]

I have issues with strings (some people call it acid hands) so strings literally can die (in terms of sound) within a day.

I use Elixir POLYwebs as they last long, and also use GHS Fast Fret A LOT (before and after playing). Elixirs can last 3-6 months whereas stuff like Ernie Ball Titanium lasts a few hours, GHS Coated Boomers 2 weeks, and most others 1 week before the tone and feel die. Sad life and if you think I'm exaggerating, a friend complained to me one night that his guitar that I played for 5 minutes in the afternoon sounds like he restrung it a week ago when he restring it in the morning lol.

 

[subversion]

before you apply any string cleaner, it's prudent to wipe the strings down first. if you believe in coating your strings, DR's extra life could be of assistance:

 

[uzunov_daniel]

Hi All,

From my experience in Singapore, the best way to keep your strings out of the rust is........PLAY,PLAY,PLAY
I haven't play on my lovely LTD M100FM for few months and strings got rusted, I have played a week with 2-3- hours a day everywhere on the fingerboard and the rust started to gone , not 100% but still can play easy riffs
Second, I found if use some string protection like Dunlop, the string get rusted very fast....

Cheers!

 

[suds]

Keep playing and wipe of your sweat and dirt off your strings after your playing thoroughly.

 

[Merry Gentleman]

Guitar string (whole set of 6) is only 5$ per set (Dáddario 85 15) from Swee Lee.

 

[Echoes]

After you wash your hands, remember to wipe them fully dry. (I know obviously but sometimes ppl do forget)

Second, I see some Davis Guitar ppl use a cloth and wipe the strings. I think its to remove dirt and other stuff on the string.

 

[ky1809]

Elixir strings usually do not even lose tone before they break. I personally swear by the Nanowebs, but you can look at the Polywebs if you desire thicker coating.

 

[zoyd_berg]

Always clean your strings after playing without fail. I put some string cleaner liquid on a cloth (or used t-shirt) and wipe clean the strings. Works for me.

 

[seeyoudownthere]

I wash my hands properly before playing in addition to all the above.
Plus control the humidity in my room as much as possible.

 

[Raychan]

yes, clean your strings and guitar after playing.

I have the fast frets string applicator...quite useful but I dont really need them as I play everyday!