String Rusting Mystery! Please Help!!!

[Shredaholic]

Alright guys. I've finally had enough of my string rusting problem. Its so dam irritating that my strings rust so often even though i oil them before AND after i play them. I just restrung my jackson with Daddario gauge .9 two days ago. After playing it, i wiped the strings with oil and tissue paper (like i always do) and hung it back on the wall. The following day, when i cleaned the strings before playing, it had hints of rust colour on the tissue paper after i wiped it. AARGH!!. Can anyone help? My guitars are hang on the wall, its away from any direct sunlight. and the window in my room is closed most of the time when i m in school or away. only open it at night. I've been wondering for quite long what's the cause of my strings rustings but haven been able to figure out what's the cause as i do almost all the proper and neccessary care. Could it be because of my sweating palms and fingers when i play? Even if its the case, it wouldn't cos much of a problem considering i clean my strings before and after playing. I usually use Ernie Ball super slinkies and for some reason they start rusting after about a week plus. Just to let you know too, i wipe my strings thoroughly before and after playing it with oil (i use the Dunlop 65 and singler oil but most of the time, i use singler cos its cheaper. =) lol). Can any guitar tech or expert enlighted me about this rusting mystery?! Any help like other brands of strings or methods to prevent rusting would be greatly appreciated! Thx guys! =)

 

[HarrisonYeo]

i keep it back in the case after use , after 4 days not even one speck of rust ,

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

"hung it on the wall"

Well, that caught my attention. I'm one who would advice others to always place the guitar in a bag after practise. Throw some silica or moisture absorbing stuff into the bag with the sting cleaning wiping routine, things should go well.

 

[edder]

look for this guy called brandon on soft and buy some elixir strings from him.

 

[8fingermadness]

look for this guy called brandon on soft and buy some elixir strings from him.

He's brendon and you can check out his site http://www.atfreeforum.com/bluegrass/index.php?sid=4f54e08c144db527337002a1941e58e0&mforum=bluegrass, and ya, elixirs do last much longer than the rest! Just asking, do you sleep in an air-conditioned room? Cos if you do, everytime you switch on/off the aircon, condensation forms and your strings are gone case in a few days...thats what happened to mine, even elixirs... best is to keep it in your case, don't even need silica gel or oil, just wipedown and keep in a case and it can last much longer.

 

[gargamelesp]

one more vote for the elixirs! string rusting issues used to plague me until i discovered them!

 

[shinobi]

is the breakage always at the bridge? the strings may have eaten into the bridge saddles, making them sharp (i cant remember the technical explanation ) may i suggest graph tech's string savers and tremnut. because rusting alone doesnt cause the string to break. there has to be a stimulus. worn out bridge saddles could be the problem

 

[shredrat]

haha...mine rust like hell also. Different case for my friends though,they can go on and play for few weeks or even months and the strings wont even rust

 

[Hideto]

hmmz.. my strings wont rust for months... at most it turn slighly black... maybe u always mop your floor?? :X...

 

[stranger12]

Hmmm

My strings rust really fast as well.. it used to bother me a hell lot lah.. but now I'm pretty used to it.. Like you, I wipe down my guitar daily with GHS fast fret and make sure that I get rid of all the dirt and the rust if possible.. but the next day there'll still be rust. Sure putting the gutiar in the case may solve the rusting problem but it's just so nice to walk into your room and see all the guitars hanging there.. or standing there in my case.. heh heh.. My strings normally sound a little deadish after 2 weeks but then I will still use them until I've got a gig or need to record some stuff.. Way too ex to change all the strings weekly.. So I guess you can just learn to live with it.. it should in no way make you play slower or inhibit your progress..

 

[kahuna]

how bout everly B-52s they last pretty long,i play my guitar regularly and wipe the strings down like after 2-3 days its still ok only abit of rust.i guess the string rusting problem is dependin on where u live

 

[uglyfunk]

change brand

my strings used to rust pretty badly too, and they'd break really easily cos im quite a hard player. i tried singer oil, ghs fast fret, dr stringfellows etc. you name it, i tried it out of desperation...nothing really worked.

then i switched from daddario's to curt mangan cos uncle dennis at g77 was really pushing them so i thot i'd give it a try... now the rust is still there but GREATLY reduced. My strings wont rust(as long as you keep up your wiping/cleaning regimen) until maybe a week. and thats with daily playing (oh and no air-con is also VERY important in keeping your strings rust free), i also dont keep my guitars in their cases most of them are on the stand for easy access...

i think daddario's are good and cheap strings but perhaps (purely specualtion with zero technical knowledge) the materials they use are of a lower quality? try mangans cos they are only a bit more expensive than daddarios and they really last longer and still sound damn good without the irritating brightness of other strings like say ernie balls, and they cost way less than elixirs (they really last and sound god but when you have a few guitars then using elixirs exclusively becomes ridiculously expensive)

hope this was helpful.

 

[im-jk]

i put thirsty hippo in the room where my guitar is. still rusts.
thats it im getting a gigbag or something.

 

[loldude333]

Might i suggest DR Tite-Fits. My guitar is kept under the same conditions as yours, hell i even do the same thing u do after playing, wiping and all. But my strings can last for around 2 mths. I dunno, maybe it's bcos my palms ain't sweaty or i dun play enough but the DRs work for me. U might wanna revisit them. Only $7+ a pack.

 

[edder]

my strings used to rust pretty badly too, and they'd break really easily cos im quite a hard player. i tried singer oil, ghs fast fret, dr stringfellows etc. you name it, i tried it out of desperation...nothing really worked.

then i switched from daddario's to curt mangan cos uncle dennis at g77 was really pushing them so i thot i'd give it a try... now the rust is still there but GREATLY reduced. My strings wont rust(as long as you keep up your wiping/cleaning regimen) until maybe a week. and thats with daily playing (oh and no air-con is also VERY important in keeping your strings rust free), i also dont keep my guitars in their cases most of them are on the stand for easy access...

i think daddario's are good and cheap strings but perhaps (purely specualtion with zero technical knowledge) the materials they use are of a lower quality? try mangans cos they are only a bit more expensive than daddarios and they really last longer and still sound damn good without the irritating brightness of other strings like say ernie balls, and they cost way less than elixirs (they really last and sound god but when you have a few guitars then using elixirs exclusively becomes ridiculously expensive)

hope this was helpful.

listen to uglyfunk... his sweat is made of acid! :mrgreen:

 

[Midnight]

awww i anit got no paypal, does that mean no experimentation of elixirs for me?

 

[edder]

awww i anit got no paypal, does that mean no experimentation of elixirs for me?

just pm brendon. he's local why paypal?

 

[optisailor2002]

i put thirsty hippo in the room where my guitar is. still rusts.
thats it im getting a gigbag or something.

put like erm 10 thirsty hippos? stacking effect lol.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

If you don't take care of your strings properly, even Elixirs won't help. Seriously. (I'm not an Elixir fan but I'm not being biased here)

$25 per pack... *Ouch*

Buy cheaper but good strings. Experimentation with different brands works, I like DRs and Ernie Balls but thats my preference. Try different brands, but take good care of your strings like wiping your strings with a dry cloth regularly...

 

[Shredaholic]

wow. thx for all the kind response guys! hmm. yeah man i tried thirsty hippo once and it didnt really work too. lol. OH yeah.. why isnt anyone reccommending a de-humidifier unit to be installed in my room? cos if like i have 2 -3 guitars and its on the wall and on the stand then mayb its a good investment right? Considering i dun have to change all the strings like weekly. lol. Hmm.. may i'll try putting it back in my gig bag. Hardcase or softcase doesnt matter right? as long as its sealed from the air? haha. Oh and for the strings, I've yet to try elixir as i m desperately desperately. Yup i contacted brendon last wk but he didnt have any gaug 9s for elixir. So i guess i have to wait man. Anyone treid BLUE STEEL? i was using them quite frequently before man but its kinda costly.. 8 bucks. So yeah i usualy go for Ernies nowadays. Lol good to know i m not the only one having the irritaing problem! And yes man it does and slows down ur progress. With rusty strings u cant slide as easly even though their oiled man. yeah. And i really DO take care of my strings regularly. Wiping them before AND after playing. and sometimes when i m not playing i'll still wipe them if i think rust's building up. LOL!!