Try wiping down the strings with a piece of cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol (or denatured alcohol if you have some) to remove some of the residue from the manufacturing process.
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Flatwound lubricant???...
- Thread starter Claymore
- Start date
I was going to say this...I have a set of Chromes that were really grabby. Thought..."bah. Itll be no problem..." until a few days later when I played an outdoor gig where it was super humid and hot. I had a hell of a time with the stickiness. So, from then on I wipe them down with rubbing or denatured alcohol and it has helped. My guitarist uses fast fret so that too. Or, better yet...chicken grease!
Fast Fret + Flatwounds
My method. You dont need to slowly wear off the manufacturing gunk by playing the strings. Attack it right away and get rid of that cr*p. I couldnt stand to play sticky strings for even one set. This method works perfectly for me.
My method. You dont need to slowly wear off the manufacturing gunk by playing the strings. Attack it right away and get rid of that cr*p. I couldnt stand to play sticky strings for even one set. This method works perfectly for me.
Haha I feel like I've seen some people on this forum suggest eating a bag of Lays before you play. Greasy strings aren't for me, but then again neither are flatwounds. If it's your thing though, you do you.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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Another vote for fast fret. Just rub it on the strings with the applicator and then wipe down the strings with a T shirt. I used to live in Hawaii where the humidity was extreme so my thumb would stick on the back of the neck too. I put fast fret on the back of the neck and then polished it up with a t shirt That works great too.
My theory is that the metal tape on flatwound strings has a slightly rough edge, far too small to see, and that's what catches our skin when the strings are new. Would also explain why it's more noticeable with some brands than others.
The cure is play time on the strings. You play them, the rough edges wear down. No longer grabby.
The cure is play time on the strings. You play them, the rough edges wear down. No longer grabby.
drumvsbass
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Go for a jog whilst eating fried chicken, work up a good sweat, do not clean greasy hands, wipe forehead, wipe strings from bridge towards the nut. make sure to get a good amount on there. repeat until desired results occur.
@JimmyM don't you use some hand cream or something to treat your strings...
@JimmyM don't you use some hand cream or something to treat your strings...
Eat before every rehearsal or show, and remember - don't wash your hands until after you've played.
This is a solution I used (lemon oil works too) since decades ago, when my Upright Bass teatcher showed me this trick on the Upright. Works wonderfully.
Not if you wipe the strings and fretboard with a cotton cloth after you've applied the stuff. Works better than Vaseline or chicken grease anyway. And is not smelly.
Been using the Nomad stuff..... but I don't play flats... works on my rounds though.
Music Nomad MN109 String Fuel Cleaner and Lubricant
Music Nomad MN109 String Fuel Cleaner and Lubricant
i second ... Nomad String Fuel
also recently got some .. DR StringLife
both used on all types of strings ...
also recently got some .. DR StringLife
both used on all types of strings ...
