Finger-ease

[nukes_da_bass]

Step 1: apply water to hands
Step 2: lather with soap
Step 3: rinse and repeat as needed

Clean hands work best for playing stringed instruments IMO.

 

[TRyan5289]

It's an excellent string cleaner.

Spray it on a cloth, not the strings, then pinch a string with the damp cloth and run it up and down. Be sure to get underneath the string, which is where most of the dirt and funk accumulates.

It works particularly well on plain (unwound) guitar strings, which tend to corrode and dull quickly.

^+1

Except I use Kyser Dr. Stringfellow string cleaner/lubricant, and roundwounds.

 

[spufman]

Finger Ease is nice but messy if sprayed directly on. I switched to FastFret many years ago and it helps to keep my strings clean and smooth for a very long time. I use the rag under the strings to quickly buff the board and frets as well, then wipe down the back of the neck. Love FF.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

I didn't (and don't) like the idea of spraying stuff all over the fingerboard. And I've found that picking up some plain ol' skin oil from behind my ear or the top of my bald head (see avatar...) works as well. IOW, I lube my fingertips (fretting and plucking) instead of the string. A guitar player I worked with years ago showed me that trick.

I do the same thing if I need a little less grip on the strings, but I touch my nose. Works like a charm!

 

[jim777]

I used it on and off for 30+ years on the guitar, but not on the bass. It is best (in my opinion) on the back of the neck, for those basses with sticky feeling thick poly finishes. If you've ever seen a dream Theater video look at the fretboard on John Petrucci's guitar and you'll see it nearly dripping wet with the stuff

 

[Geroi Asfalta]

I used it on and off for 30+ years on the guitar, but not on the bass. It is best (in my opinion) on the back of the neck, for those basses with sticky feeling thick poly finishes. If you've ever seen a dream Theater video look at the fretboard on John Petrucci's guitar and you'll see it nearly dripping wet with the stuff

I agree on putting it on the back of the neck. I prefer smooth satin necks, but about half my basses have gloss necks, they have a little bit of stick to them. I'll put fingerease on the back of the neck once in a while....sometimes on the strings if I use flats.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I guess I am an old fashioned hardass. In my opinion, if the strings not being slick enough "bothers you" than you need to woodshed more, or quit altogether. In other words man up. Electric bass is easy compared to upright bass or cello!
The only time I have used Fast Fret or similar products is when recording acoustic guitar, mando and dulcimer parts that needed to have zero string noise.
Of course a decent acoustic guitarist wouldn't have a string noise problem, but electric bassists and electric guitarists are not used to having to manage string noise so diligently. So it is often easier to just soak that sucker down with fast fret or whatever.
Once we even coated the neck in straight wesson vegetable oil!
Of course these days you can simply edit out string noise with a conventional or spectral editor. So no, haven't used either since the 90's. The early 90's at that.

 

[mmbongo]

I've used it on and off for about 20 years. Good stuff. Will not damage your finish, make your strings rust, kill your strings, or get you high.

 

[darkstorm]

I used it semi regular in the 1970's. Good product. Esp good for newbies who are still learning to use light fretting technique rather then being overly heavy handed with fretting imo.

 

[TRichardsbass]

I have some satin finishes and I know that over time, sometimes quickly, they get shiny. Just was curious if this sends them to shiny faster.

Thanks. I think I'm gonna put the can down for now, and keep it around for those sticky gigs.