Effects of Denatured alcohol

[J-TheDoctor]

I recently read an article about cleaning strings, if it works, it might be the one of the most useful things I've ever read on the internet. I was thinking, in addition to soaking my strings in Methylated spirits, (Denatured alcohol for you yanks) each time i finish playing i could get a rag and give my strings quick a wipe just to get rid of the crap i had built up on them from that session. My question is, would such a small amount of methylated spirits have any benefit, or would i just be better off soaking them whenever they get dull sounding. My other question would be, would the methylated spirits have any negative effect on my fretboard, taking the varnish off it or anything like that? If this process actually works, i suggest everyone has a look at this article, it sounds like a good idea.

[lowendgenerator]

I don't know if it will harm the finish, it is considered a paint thinner. I bathe my strings, but I won't wipe that stuff on my bass. Soaking is probably your best bet. I've actually bathed strings so much that I need to change my alcohol, its dirty lol.

[teej]

It's a good cleaner for the oils and assorted gunk that builds up on the fingerboard and strings, but with repeated use, it can dry out the fingerboard quicker and, depending on the type of finish, it could possibly eat through it. Polyester (a la Fender) finishes are pretty much bullet-proof and won't be a problem, and most lacquers is are solvent-resistant, but be careful with polyurethane. A once-a-month cleaning shouldn't be a problem -- just make sure the rag is damp (not soaked), and don't leave any standing puddles of spirits. If I can make a suggestion, though, try Formby's Build-Up Remover. It does a good job removing, of all things, build-up and has little to no impact on bare wood and finishes.

[James Hart]

I put the stuff on a cotton pad (wife uses them for makeup) and wipe along the length of each string a couple times every couple weeks.

[Parabolic Box]

As long as you don't get any on the bass itself.

Though I wonder about its effectiveness when used to just wipe down strings. After all, alcohol is very volatile so it'll evaporate quickly, and the reason you soak it in the stuff is because once the grease, dirt, etc. dissolves, it has to go somewhere. If you're wiping down your strings, it's still going to be there. Plus, it's in places you can't really reach with a cloth.

[Thangfish]

Alcohol is not considered a paint thinner.
It IS however considered a shellac thinner.
Never heard of a fretboard finished with shellac.

[62bass]

Alcohol will destroy a nitro finish. It won't bother polyurethane. It's used as a shellac thinner.

It'll work to clean your strings. I've used it.

[lowendgenerator]

THATS what it is, a shellac thinner. Thanks for the clarification. I know it's some kind of thinner lol.

[MysticMichael]

Alcohol will help somewhat to keep the strings clean, and anything that accomplishes that will automatically help to prolong the life of the strings. But bear in mind that the accumulation of dirt, grime and oils is not the only thing that causes the aging and deterioration of strings...

Another big part of it is the stretching that occurs to bring the string up to pitch, then play notes on it. Whenever that happens, the outer wrap of the string is naturally loosened up a bit and separated slightly from the core - causing loss of resonance and creating more space for dirt and grime to accumulate. This is particularly the case when the string is continually taken off the instrument, then put back on and tightened back up.

For these reasons, using alcohol to clean your strings - especially if you remove them from the instrument in order to clean them - is of limited usefulness. Good for a quick fix. But never a substitute for a fresh set of brand new strings...

MM