Sticky Flats Problem

[lmfreeman9]

I am experiencing stickiness with flat wounds on several basses. It is happening primarily on my L-1000 with Pyramid Golds, but also having a problem on a PV Fury with Labella FLs. I have been playing longer rehearsals and sets this summer and its becoming a big problem.

It seems to start on the forearm contour and no matter how much I wipe the bass, string, use fast fret, Dr. Duck, guitar polish, etc, it won't go away. Eventually it gets to the plucking fingers.

Has anyone had this issue and how did you resolve it? Is there something I can wipe on the strings and bass to clean this off, permanently?

[Rebmo]

Wash your hands thouroughly before you play your bass, every time. Oil from hands, food grease, dirt, etc.. can mess up your strings. Although, Jaco used fried chicken grease on his hands or something like that to break in his strings.

I use 409 on an old T-shirt and then some warm water to rinse any residue, then dry it off and leave it out of the case for a while on used basses I buy to clean them up (maple finished necks only). Once I do this the stickness is gone and washing my hands keeps them clean. I wipe down the neck, strings and finish with a good guitar cloth after playing to also help prevent gunk buildup.

[Billnc]

Yes, I live in the humid south and play too many outdoor gigs, meaning this year in 100 degree heat. I use cornstarch baby powder on my hands, not much but enough to absorb sweat, and fingerease on the strings. Sometimes I have to reapply mid set. Sweat is the issue for me, not dirty hands, I'm usually soaked through with sweat after load in and in 100 degrees it's not gonna stop for 4 hours and the load out. I use TIJF's.

[lowendfriend]

You can go the dry route and keep alcohol wipes in packets handy for a string and finger wipe down or go slippery with Fastfret or the other mineral oil based one.

No easy answers. You know if you didnt mind the mess it would make, scribble on the strings with a wooden pencil for the graphite. If u r into death metal it might even be a plus.

[Tommygunn]

Originally Posted by Rebmo

Wash your hands thouroughly before you play your bass, every time. Oil from hands, food grease, dirt, etc.. can mess up your strings. Although, Jaco used fried chicken grease on his hands or something like that to break in his strings.

I use 409 on an old T-shirt and then some warm water to rinse any residue, then dry it off and leave it out of the case for a while on used basses I buy to clean them up (maple finished necks only). Once I do this the stickness is gone and washing my hands keeps them clean. I wipe down the neck, strings and finish with a good guitar cloth after playing to also help prevent gunk buildup.

Unless you've played the RS66 stainless strings, you'll never see why he did that. Those are way stickier than any flats I've ever played, and even stickier on a fretless.

Quite honestly I don't slide a lot so stickiness doesn't bother me, but on a fretless if does of course. But I use roundwounds on fretless, so I never have a problem.

[FuzzBoxVoodoo]

I havent tried the RS66 Strings before but I allways wash my hands with soap and water before each set and when then start to get sticky I wipe what ever hand is sticking on my forehead or my nose and that works really well for a onstage fix.
I also have gone to a local fabric store and gotten a 2 inch wide silk ribbon and stuck it to the back of my neck with 3m77 adhesive and it works great and will not come off until you pull it off.
I dont sweat much or have the clammy hand issue either.
just my .02

[NorCal Dog]

i also run flats on my L1K, & i use the slightest bit of good ol' vaseline, work a bit onto your fretting hand fingers & the strings & you're good to go. ( URB players have been using vaseline for years on basses costing 10 times as much as my L1K,,, hell just a good set of strings cost more than any SX out there )
just wipe down the strings & fretboard / neck afterwards & you're good