black residue on fingers???

[fuzzythecat]

I'm sure this has been answered before, but does anybody else get black residue on their fingers while playing??

 

[NinjaPred]

Don't know if this helps but, my friend plays an acoustic six string that has an ebony fretboard. Every time he plays it his finger tips get black stuff on them.

I've never experienced that before on my bass, but it has a rosewood fretboard.

 

[gard0300]

Sometimes the fretboard just needs cleaned. I washed off all kinds of black stains from both of my rosewood fretboards, when they were new.

 

[Turock]

Don't know if this helps but, my friend plays an acoustic six string that has an ebony fretboard. Every time he plays it his finger tips get black stuff on them.

I've never experienced that before on my bass, but it has a rosewood fretboard.

Your friend's fretboard is probably dyed to look like ebony. Ebony doesn't come off on one's fingers.

 

[StoBro]

I get black residue on my fingers, and it has nothing to do with the fretboard. I get it on both hands, anywhere that my hands touch the strings. It happens with basses and guitars, often but not all of the time. I'd like to know what causes it and what can be done to prevent it.

 

[eee]

I think it's just string gunk. I get it too, but only from older strings, or the strings on basses I play all the time. Bonus: it smells bad too!

Jamerson said the dirt keeps the funk. Don't worry about it.

 

[Turock]

Stop buying cheap strings.

 

[Turock]

I got it recently from a new bass with the factory strings. After I played it a few days it stopped happening. In fact, factory strings on a new bass is the only time it has happened to me.

 

[StoBro]

I usually use D'addario strings and I wonder if the sealed plastic pouches that the strings are packed in seals in oils from the manufacturing process? The staining on my hands seems to happen more with new or new-ish strings.

 

[Turock]

I usually use D'addario strings and I wonder if the sealed plastic pouches that the strings are packed in seals in oils from the manufacturing process? The staining on my hands seems to happen more with new or new-ish strings.

That sounds like a good theory.

 

[Billnc]

I usually use D'addario strings and I wonder if the sealed plastic pouches that the strings are packed in seals in oils from the manufacturing process? The staining on my hands seems to happen more with new or new-ish strings.

Happened every time I bought D'Addario strings.

 

[pnut166]

Certain strings may have alloys in them that react with your sweat / pH.

 

[NinjaPred]

Your friend's fretboard is probably dyed to look like ebony. Ebony doesn't come off on one's fingers.

Ooooh, hah! Learn something new every day.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Are you talking about with an acoustic electric bass? If so, most of them come with bronze strings that turn your fingers black. Put on regular steel strings and it won't happen any more.

 

[hapibeli]

The D'addario strings that came with my acoustic/electric in May 2010 have always given me black residue and it just gets worse. I've got Thomastic Infeld AB344's coming. That $80 expenditure should correct the problem as well as add some sweet tone.

 

[hapibeli]

Well, I hope the "hand made" AB344's with their phosphor wound exteriors don't do that!

 

[Joe Louvar]

It has happen to me with bronze phosphor acoustic guitar strings - I think they were Guild strings, and sweat and dirt doesn’t help either.

But on my basses it’s never happen with steel or nickel strings.

FWIW: I’ve tried a lot of bass strings over the years, but kept going back to D’Addario bass strings. I’ve been using D'Addario EXL170s bass strings for years now and love them.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

Nickle is a good chemical reaction for staining skin black, as is stainless steel as it has a small "sealed" nickel content in it.
Its not an alergic reaction or the skin would be tender and reddish, it is a straight chemical reaction with the skin.

Our body secretes oils, sebum is common on the fingers. It does not come from the fingers, it comes from where we touch....our hair is a good source, as is our face.

So as the finger presses the string the oils tarnish in the reaction to blacken or darking the skin. Other things such as sweat and dirt can be included in the mix.
As has been said, keep the strings clean, keep the hand clean and see if that helps. If you run a white cloth under the strings you will see how clean your strings really are.

Gin is a great string cleaner, it is a clean spirit, it will leave you strings literally 'squeeky' clean......most bars sell gin so it is easy to get a hold of a drop, plus you can drink what you do not use.....so one for the bass and one for you.

 

[Ric5]

I'm sure this has been answered before, but does anybody else get black residue on their fingers while playing??

If your strings are nickel coated then the nickel can end up on your fingers as you touch the strings.

 

[Bill Fatty]

I just put on a new set. I had the same strings on my upright for about 30 years, never got black fingers. Well I figured it was time and slapped on the new strings and Bingo! Black fingers! It's a bit oily, not much, more like graphite powder.
Is it possible that some new strings have a light graphite coating, maybe to protect them?
This is the first day with these strings and I got major black fingers... I guess it'll get less as time goes on .
I'll check this post after a few days and give an update.