Greasing LaBella flats-anyone with experience?

pibroch · #1 02-05-2008, 04:24 PM

I want to get deadness into my Deep Talkin' flats (on a Reggie Hamilton Standard Fender) as soon as possible. I read that one big name player greases his with anything from ham fat to whatever. Can anyone give an opinion as to the advisability of this? I'm guessing it can't hurt to try.

Phalex · #2 02-06-2008, 06:35 AM

Do not under any circumstance use animal fat. It gets rotten and sticky do not do that!

A lot of people use WD-40 for this purpose. It's silicone free, and that's important. If you get silicone into your fret board refinishing the fret board will be impossible.

Out of necessity I have used (and like) Hoppes #9 nitro powder solvent. It works well, and it smells great too.

I always put a kitchen garbage bag between the strings and the neck and then wipe it on with a cleaning patch. (Wipe off the excess when you're done.)

JKT · #3 02-06-2008, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

Do not under any circumstance use animal fat. It gets rotten and sticky do not do that!

A lot of people use WD-40 for this purpose. It's silicone free, and that's important. If you get silicone into your fret board refinishing the fret board will be impossible.

Out of necessity I have used (and like) Hoppes #9 nitro powder solvent. It works well, and it smells great too.

I always put a kitchen garbage bag between the strings and the neck and then wipe it on with a cleaning patch. (Wipe off the excess when you're done.)

Not sure how a solvent like Hoppes acts like a "grease" that the OP was looking for. Maybe I'm not getting something. The grease is supposed to deaden the sound right? Wouldn't a solvent clean the strings and make them sound brighter?

JKT

Phalex · #4 02-06-2008, 07:01 AM

Hoppes leaves a light barrier of oil behind. It cleans and it lubricates. It gets into the windings and kind of deadens some of the high end harmonics or something. It also makes the strings nice and smooth. I first used it because of it's solvent properties. We played an outdoor gig in the summer and my strings grew this nasty ass film on them. I used the hoppes and I liked it a lot.