Rusty Strings

[louisteo]

Hey fellows...

What's the problem with rusty strings?
Is it bad for the guitar?
Or does it cause tetanus after getting cut by string?

I've read the forum about this guy asking what to do with rusty strings...

I've been playing with rusty strings for months... I wipe off my sweat after playing... Put on the stand, exposed to all the air in my room... Air-conditioned in night, room temperature in day...

Curious curious me...

 

[Nicholasim]

hahha , you dont feel the difference when u play with rusty strings and new strings? be it sound or feel?

 

[louisteo]

sorry... i'm abit tone-deaf 1... i only remember that when i break its virgin that time, its smooth smooth 1... then now few months old liao, get abit rough rough... like abit more grip...

what's the diff huh?

 

[Nicholasim]

to me:
1. u cut yourself with ur strings accidentally , die.

2. very rough , very uncomfortable haha.

3. Loses its Tone.

4. I dont know if rust spreads but my friend told me that it will , so pickups will get rusty etc.

5. I dont like brown strings

 

[faberglass]

TS sorri for hijacking , my guitar also have rusty strings and i wanna chng the strings and i havent tried doing it before and i seen some vids but they chng it using the back of the guitars holes to go thru but my is at the front a thing below the bridge dunno whats thats like a piece of metal bar which holds the string anybody can tell me wad to do about it thnx.

 

[zax]

hmm go to a shop , say davis , get the strings changed for 15 bucks , pay attention . then try it yourself the next time . i change strings like every 3 weeks for my gibson and every month for my fenders

 

[HarrisonYeo]

lol 15 bucks for string? i buy D'Addario's for like 6bucks only and they last long !

 

[Nicholasim]

zax meant 15 bucks for buying and restringing

 

[louisteo]

hmm go to a shop , say davis , get the strings changed for 15 bucks , pay attention . then try it yourself the next time . i change strings like every 3 weeks for my gibson and every month for my fenders

Wah... You gigging every night is it? Every 3 - 4 weeks you change the strings...

 

[EugeneSmasher]

D'addarios are the best-sounding strings out there in my opinion, but they rust really fast.

For long life and great tone, I'd recommend Ernie Ball slinkies (cheaper than D'addarios some more) or Everly B-52 rockers if you're feeling a bit rich.

Some tips to delay rusting:
1. When air-con is on, keep guitar in its gig bag, best if kept in gig bag in closet like I do.
2. After a session, use a dry cloth and give the strings a nice wipe down.
3. Change your strings when they rust too much, because rusty strings actually harm guitars.

I don't recommend:
1. Stringlife products like DR stringlife, because they tend to compromise on tone.
2. Rough hankerchiefs (soft cloth is best)

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Wah... You gigging every night is it? Every 3 - 4 weeks you change the strings...

Depends!

My GHS acoustics, I had to re-string weekly because they died so fast!

 

[louisteo]

last week, my strings are brown, rust of course...

this week, the strings are black and smoother slightly,
after 4 continuous days of intense yanking...

Did I rubbed off the rusts? I admit that my fingers are rather rough.

 

[zax]

no i dont gig everyday , haha but i play them . oh and yes the Everyly B-52's those feel so good and sound soo good . haha i buy them in bulk so they're cheaper , much cheaper

 

[FREEKILL9566]

Get Elixir strings! Usually I play guitar one day got signs of abit black black (don't ask me why, I don't know either) But when I use elixir strings, 1 week still feels new, SHIOK ARH! I say it's worth the money as it seems to last twice as much as my other strings. Anyways, on the topic, dude rust will harm you if it gets in your body, heard there is a deadly disease if rust gets in your body, correct me if I'm wrong. So change strings regularly, well when they start rusting.

Cheers,
WWH

 

[louisteo]

Elixir Strings?
http://www.elixirstrings.com/products/product_electric.html

Where to find in Singapore?
AMK, Bedok, City Music, Davis, Ebenex...
Swee Lee, Tampines, Yamaha?

Price "agarly" how much?

 

[EugeneSmasher]

$25 per pack, usually.

I'd recommend you PM Brendon and order a pack of Everly B-52 rockers at $11.50. Kick-*** strings!

But please, no matter what, re-string your guitar immediately.

 

[louisteo]

Yeah... you are right... I'll get a hard case too, then cut a hole... put an electric dehumidifier... On in 24/7...

After reading stuffs about rust... It is dishonouring Ibanez Guitars sia...

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Dishonouring Ibanez guitars?

All metal parts on all guitars rust, be it companies with strict quality control like Ibanez, Fender, PRS, or inconsistent quality companies like Gibson, or flat-out poor quality like today's Squiers and TGMs of the past, metal parts will rust. Similarly, rusted strings would harm any guitar.

Don't worry, if the exterior metal parts like the pups rust, its ok, won't affect the sound too much. But if your bridge rusts... Good luck to you. You're gonna have to replace it. Not sure about double-lockers, but synchronized trems are actually quite affordable, especially Wilkinsons.

So yeah, make sure you take care of your guitar well. Always give the strings (or the whole guitar if you want) a wipe once in a while, and keep it in the gig bag or hardcase when not in use.

Ironically my Ibanez is kept on its stand all day long, sometimes with air-con, but not a single bit of rust anywhere.

 

[matt-muser]

rusty strings cause my fingers to bleed.
i cannot slide smoothly.

 

[zax]

Dishonouring Ibanez guitars?

All metal parts on all guitars rust, be it companies with strict quality control like Ibanez, Fender, PRS, or inconsistent quality companies like Gibson, or flat-out poor quality like today's Squiers and TGMs of the past, metal parts will rust. Similarly, rusted strings would harm any guitar.

Don't worry, if the exterior metal parts like the pups rust, its ok, won't affect the sound too much. But if your bridge rusts... Good luck to you. You're gonna have to replace it. Not sure about double-lockers, but synchronized trems are actually quite affordable, especially Wilkinsons.

So yeah, make sure you take care of your guitar well. Always give the strings (or the whole guitar if you want) a wipe once in a while, and keep it in the gig bag or hardcase when not in use.

Ironically my Ibanez is kept on its stand all day long, sometimes with air-con, but not a single bit of rust anywhere.

on the part where you say gibson has inconsistant quality controls , i have to disagree . your only welcomed to say that if you've owned more than one gibson . i have and that is not the case . they feel good even with rusty strings , sustain well . produce the best sound for me . and i can bash it everyday throwing it in and out of a case , leave it in the open , exposed to humidity , sometimes rain and all and it still sounds perfect . its used and abused but its one hell of a guitar .