Anyone else sweat acid bullets?

Lublin · #1 10-31-2010, 08:06 PM

Put a fresh set of medium EB Slinky's on before a show, played hard, rocked out, and the next day they're totally dead. So dead they sound like flats.

Craziness!

Skitch it! · #2 10-31-2010, 08:18 PM

Are you washing your hands after that burger?

You could use the old Steve Harris Talc trick, the same as rock climbing, you dip your fingers in chalk to dry them out a bit and take some of the oil out of your tips. Or maybe just a bad set.

My sweat is pretty stingy but it's never killed strings that fast?

Marco A. Mayer · #3 10-31-2010, 08:20 PM

Man, that sucks. Try putting some talcum powder on your hands before gigging and wipe the strings after.

Bass-Adrenaline · #4 10-31-2010, 08:25 PM

Youre surprised thats happening with EB strings?.......lol

Lublin · #5 10-31-2010, 08:54 PM

Great tips.

A friend of mine suggested Cleartone strings. He's had a set on his bass for about a year and they still have a good amount of zing in them. They'll be here soon.

mrkreuzschlitz · #6 10-31-2010, 08:57 PM

I put a set of regular slinkies on my bass at the beginning of practice, and at the end, completely dead.

mrkreuzschlitz · #7 10-31-2010, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lublin

Great tips.

A friend of mine suggested Cleartone strings. He's had a set on his bass for about a year and they still have a good amount of zing in them. They'll be here soon.

I used Elixir for a while, they're really good as well, a little brighter than the cleartones.

Dr. Love · #8 10-31-2010, 09:24 PM

Yup, I had that same problem with several brands but Slinkys were worst for me. Under my hands they wouldn't last through the second set. I finally found that DRs work best for me.

markanini · #9 11-01-2010, 05:39 AM

I've had pretty good longevity with DRs on my guitars for an uncoated string, havent tried a set on bass tho.
Cant stand any polymer coated string myself, but they do work as advertised.
I have a set of chrome plated Optima (of gold fame)strings coming in, the only one of it's kind and quite expensive even here in europe. I've heard some rave reviews about how they keep their tone even after worn in and even sound bad before being worn in.

MonsterBass101 · #10 11-01-2010, 10:03 AM

Same here, but for me it works! I can get a set of Flats worn in in about 3 days, with all the sweat.

Lublin · #11 11-02-2010, 11:53 AM

If you ain't sweatin', you ain't rockin'!

Art Araya · #12 11-02-2010, 11:58 AM

had this identical problem for years - spent a fortune on new strings since i love the zing of new strings. needed a new set every week or two. I actually needed a new set after one gig but put it off as long as I could to save money.

learned about denatured alcohol several years ago and now go thru maybe 6-8 sets a year. Life is much better now - though I'd love to find a set that was impervious to my sweat.

Has someone with this extreme case of string-killing sweat tried Elixirs? Haven't gone there yet but I'm thinking about it.

LaklandBass · #13 11-02-2010, 12:01 PM

I have the same issue. I had an Ibanez soundgear with elixirs..... for 3 years.. no joke. Still sounded 80% new. If you can get used to elixirs they really did work for me.

If you play acoustic guitar at all you must check out D'addario EXP strings. From what I heard the difference is that D'addario coats the bare wire and then winds the string which allows it to sound more like a normal string..... Elixir makes a string then coats the whole thing which most think takes away from the tone.

FunkMetalBass · #14 11-02-2010, 12:39 PM

The biggest issue at-hand (no pun intended) is why you're not a millionaire rockstar with enough techies to replace your strings after every song.

Aaron_D · #15 11-02-2010, 12:46 PM

I had this problem for years. Im now spending a tenth of what I was on strings due to Elixirs. Theyre expensive for one set compared to others, but you dont really EVER have to change them. (pick players beware the coating can come off a little in shavings around where you contact the string, but they still sound great!)

Im pretty much sold on Elixirs for all roundwound duties.

rmkesler · #16 11-02-2010, 12:51 PM

This guy?

Art Araya · #17 11-02-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lublin

Great tips.

A friend of mine suggested Cleartone strings. He's had a set on his bass for about a year and they still have a good amount of zing in them. They'll be here soon.

I for one am waiting for an update from you on this. I've got the order page bookmarked for these strings - just waiting for someone like me to confirm that they sound good and last long!

Lublin · #18 11-02-2010, 01:01 PM

So far they definitely sound good. I've noticed a little less zing than a regular roundwound, probably due to the the coating.

An update will come on Nov. 13th, the day after my next gig.

2-Sticks · #19 11-02-2010, 01:19 PM

I am a perpetual sweater when I play and I am very acidic, so much so that I can kill a pair of Nickel Rounds in just a couple of hours.....No Joke! I used to change strings every week or I was guaranteed to break a string on week 2, even if I wiped down my strings after I played.

About 8 years ago I switched over to Stainless Rounds.....I easily have tripled the lifespan of a set of strings under my fingers by doing so.

I tried the Elixers and I personally don't like the feeling of coated strings, just my prefference.

+1 on the denatured alcohol, this trick can breed new life into a set strings.

Lublin · #20 11-14-2010, 07:52 PM

Update: Played a show on Friday and Saturday the Cleartone strings were completely dead. Unbelievable! I'm getting really bummed because a new set of strings for every show is going to cost a small fortune!

Which stainless strings should I give a try?