"Finger Ease" long-term effect on strings?

K2000 · #1 08-11-2008, 01:28 AM

I decided to try out some of this string "lube" a few months ago, and I really like it. I seem to play better when I've used it recently (less friction or finger drag is a good thing IMO).

It doesn't seem to last very long... after a few days, it really wears off for me. It's tempting to use it all the time, but I try to save it for "special occasions".

I'm just wondering if spraying my strings with *products* will affect the sound or even the lifespan of the strings. I wipe the strings after I'm done playing, but I wonder if there is any buildup that would deaden the strings or lessen the sustain (a pet peeve of mine). Any drawbacks to using this stuff?

Nick Kay · #2 08-11-2008, 01:34 AM

You could just switch to flats.

soulgaard1 · #3 08-11-2008, 02:33 AM

Or try Elixir strings.
To me they feel much like strings with "Fast fret" freshly applied.

Fine Cut · #4 08-11-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

You could just switch to flats.

i use finger ease on my flats, as well as the back of the neck...i love that stuff!

MysticMichael · #5 08-11-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2000

I'm just wondering if spraying my strings with *products* will affect the sound or even the lifespan of the strings. I wipe the strings after I'm done playing, but I wonder if there is any buildup that would deaden the strings or lessen the sustain (a pet peeve of mine). Any drawbacks to using this stuff?

I used it occasionally many years ago. These days I occasionally use a bit of Dr. Duck's Ax Wax & String Lube, a similar product that can be applied to the entire instrument (use very sparingly).

My guess would be that unless you play the same set of strings for a very long time (six months +) and you apply the Finger Ease very copiously, the strings would naturally go dead and be ready for a change, long before the Finger Ease could accumulate and cause any build-up problems...

Of course, I like to change strings at least every 8-12 weeks or so. YMMV...

MM

fenderhutz · #6 08-11-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

You could just kill your tone

Fixed it for you.

tbwilson · #7 08-11-2008, 08:05 PM

it kills strings. most people do change them before they go dead but if you dont use that stuff they will last longer.

K2000 · #8 08-12-2008, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

You could just switch to flats.

I already do use flats (i shoulda said that in the first post, sorry)... they're "Chromes". My bass has frets.

Since I started using this stuff, I've been incorporating more slides and slurs into my playing (more often, and landing them more accurately). I do like using it. I always mask off everything but the strings (newspaper works well for this) and that's been the only hassle so far.

Does this stuff build up and deaden the strings? I'm intending to use my strings "forever" more or less. I guess I could boil the strings if it was necessary... is it necessary?

Fine Cut · #9 08-12-2008, 03:07 PM

to me, Flats sound better the "deader" they get. i have noticed however, that if you just spray it "all over" the neck, it'll hasten buildup on the fretboard, such as "staining" from exposure to tobacco smoke. I apply it before every show, usually when i take it out of the case at the venue, and it's like a magnet for cigarette smoke, if the venue is "smokey"...

my flats arent deadening at all, they've been on for about 8 months, and have been sprayed with finger ease usually everytime i play...