String Lube: Good Idea, or Bad Idea?

I don’t get it. But some people like Fast Fret and that’s cool. It’s just a preference. I keep my strings clean and when they aren’t how I prefer, off they go.

 

I love Fingerease and have used it for decades. My hands don't sweat so occasionally I need it to reduce friction
or to get a better feel if my hands are too dry. One can lasts me years. I always have in my gig bag. If you Don't Get It, then you don't need it! I've used Fastfret before, but Fingerease is what I prefer!! BTW, it has never affected string life or had any negative effects in my case!

 

i've used fingerease outside in some of the summer swelts, and it definitely lubes the playing --- makes it easier. i don't know if the spray-on fingerease is a different formulation than fast fret, but i've never been aware of dirt/grime buildup from using it.

 

Depending on your EQ preferences, finger noise on strings, and strings that 'grip' your fingers can be tamed with Fastfret.

 

Its really great stuff!! I've used since the 60s.....yep I'm old HaHa!!
A little goes a long way!! Oh...I've heard some people use WD40. Fingerease is formulated for Guitars so I stick with it.

 

I actually haven't used it for a while -- my bass playing is mostly confined to home studio recording nowadays -- but when I played live more, I found that GHS Fast Fret kept older strings sounding better longer, and also made sliding with my fretting hand more comfortable.

I agree that it seems a bit nonsensical to put something "on" your string, but I honestly didn't think much about it, and it just worked for me.

 

Same here. When I use Fast Fret, I rub the things with the FF stick, then play and rub them down again after playing, this time I wipe the strings with the cloth.
If anything, this takes off grime and dirt. Other than that, I don't usually play in environments where lots of grime are hitting my bass. And I wash my hands before I play when they are dirty from hauling gear.

In my personal experience the pros are:
-strings get slippy and easier to play
-strings life expectancy is prolonged a bit

cons:
-none so far.

 

I would assume it's a good way to get a coated-string feel without having to buy coated strings, or being able to use strings whose sound you like feel coated? And i think the stuff getting into the spaces on roundwounds, in theory, is supposed to prevent actual crud and sweat and corrosive stuff into the strings and around the core. I have zero evidence to back that up. Just a thought.

I ran into an issue with my tapewounds where i was getting a really slight stick-slip at the nut when i would tune. It was nothing major. Just a few cents of pitch. I would be doing some really fine-grain tuning, slowly turning the peg. The string wouldn't change pitch because it was sticking at the nut, then ping when it released itself, and the pitch would jump slightly. I'm talking microscopic jumps in pitch. But enough to drive me crazy. A little bit of lube on the nut and now it tunes oh-so-smoothly.

But i didn't use a string lube. I got a pack of graphite art pencils, took the softest pencil (10B), and just rubbed the graphite tip on the nut slots. Graphite is a great lubricant, and no liquids, no silicones, no chemicals etc. But i don't know what graphite would do if rubbed along an entire roundwound.

 

i don't think those formulations "fill in the grooves" so much as they 'coat' the strings. again, i've never noticed any 'buildup'...of anything.

you might want to try it just to see for yourself.

 

You are missing the point that there is a lot of marketing BS.

 

In the summer, I can't survive without fastfret. I guess my hands just sweat a lot. I suddenly feel like I can't play. Winter and lower humidity isn't so bad. The other thing I use is baby powder to dry my hands. Like I said, I guess I just have sweaty palms.

Neither product appears to have any deleterious effect on the strings or tone.

 

The only time I thought it might be useful was watching a video of Dream Theater recording. Someone was spraying John Petrucci's fretboard while he was doing this long slide thing. Maybe useful in the studio, can't see myself needing it.

 

I find it useful on basses with rounds where the strings are still in good shape but the bass has been sitting unused in the case for months or years.

 

When will a string maker/brand start marketing seasonal strings, like performance, all-season and snow tires?

 

I use Pam. No-stick and my omelets come out nice & fluffy looking. OTOH, I can not stomach watching players lick their fingers between riffs, runs, or passages. Maybe they should use the butter-flavor?

Riis