sticky fingers...or strings?

[jpark369]

not talking about a rolling stones song or the rapper from onyx. i also dont know if this is techniqueor strings, so sorry if i posted it n the wrong category.
anyways... i play a show once a week and i have a problem with my fingers getting alot of friction and pulling on my strings. it happens when i start really digging on the strings and jammin hard during the night. i just put new strings on the bass and that didnt work. ive used used baby powder, washed my hands like crazy, lotion, string cleaner, and i'm still feelin the pull. a i just playin to hard, should i turn up my amp and try to mellow it down? advice?

[JimmyM]

Could be both. If you're using stainless steel rounds, that could be the problem. Or you could have very dry hands that catch on them.

[uethanian]

this has definetely been covered before...

i used to have this problem when i was using stainless steel flats. i switched to nickel rounds, and the problem was solved.

[Foxworthy925]

i naturally sweat a good amount when I'm actually playin with a band or at a gig. this works for me. if I'm at practice with my band and my hands are too dry, I'll just lick my fingers and that'll keep things fluid for what I need. seriously. saliva is a very good (and convinient) lubricant.

[JimmyM]

Yuck! That's almost as bad as the people who say they use nose grease. NOSE GREASE!!! YOU PIGS!!!

[Deacon_Blues]

No lubricants for me, please. That would feel very awkward and it's against my princibles to play with as clean hands as possible to avoid killing the strings too early.

On my new fretless I have some difficulties with sliding due to the high string friction of the factory mounted roundwounds. Next set will probably be elixirs or similar coated ones. Or then I try a set of nickel rounds as suggested above. I'm just a bit scared trying that because I have a slight nickel allergy (I can't wear watches containing nickel as it starts itching really badly). I'm not sure the exposure time would be enough to hurt my fingers, though... Is there anyone here with nickel allergy that uses nickel strings?

[mward69]

I had that issue with the back of the neck/thumb sticking {Marcus Sig Jazz bass} I sanded the neck with the finest sandpaper just a little, more like "wiped" the neck, as far as string, I spray fret ease on them, as well as the back of the neck.....I use DR's and they tent to snag my skin. Fret ease works great.....

[Phalex]

I had an issue after doing an outdoor gig. It was really humid out, and there were literally these little boogers that would rub off the strings when I was playing. It was not pleasant!

I had a flash of brilliance and wiped my strings down with Hoppes #9 nitro powder solvent. It worked like a charm!! It cleans, lubricates, and I think it smells great too!