Guitar Strings Gone Bad

[Elliottman]

Just a quick question.Certain parts of my guitar srings have turned a dirty black colour. Compared to when they were new and were very shiny and Gold. Now ive heard this can be due to stuff like the sweat off you're hands and stuff. Is this true? And are you supposed to clean you're strings?
Thanks

[dmbguitar718]

Of course, it comes from the sweat, oils, etc on your fingers. Best bet is to wipe your strings after you play. You don't have to, but it might extend the life of your strings.

[Elliottman]

Of course, it comes from the sweat, oils, etc on your fingers. Best bet is to wipe your strings after you play. You don't have to, but it might extend the life of your strings.

So can the sweat, oils etc cause the strings effectively to rot?

[dmbguitar718]

Oh, definitely. Well not really rot, but its just builds up on the strings, making it vibrate less, ultimately making them sound dull.

[Elliottman]

That kind of makes sense now. On some on the strings, especially the A and E after a few weeks/months of changing the strings i get like a horrible twangy weird noise- its hard to decribe. But i think this may be it. So do i just clean with a normal dry cloth?

[dmbguitar718]

Yeah, you can. They might actually make like a spray on string cleaner. Your goal is just to get that gunk out of the grooves.

[Elliottman]

Ok thanks for you're help man. Ill keep my strings spotless from now on!

[Duffman]

when that happens to my strings, i just put new ones on.

[guitardmb]

when that happens to my strings, i just put new ones on.

I change mine at least once a week. I just think they sound like crap after that long.

[Duffman]

when that happens to my strings, i just put new ones on.

I change mine at least once a week. I just think they sound like crap after that long.

whoa, once a week?

[Coldchillin]

when that happens to my strings, i just put new ones on.

I change mine at least once a week. I just think they sound like crap after that long.

whoa, once a week?

I can't afford once a week, lol. I usually do it every 3-4 weeks.

[Teego Time]

when that happens to my strings, i just put new ones on.

I change mine at least once a week. I just think they sound like crap after that long.

whoa, once a week?

I can't afford once a week, lol. I usually do it every 3-4 weeks.

I always play my strings until they are dead as doornails. Then when I get new ones, it's always so refreshing.

Unless I've got to perform for someone, then I usually change them beforehand.

[Davy28]

when that happens to my strings, i just put new ones on.

I change mine at least once a week. I just think they sound like crap after that long.

whoa, once a week?

I can't afford once a week, lol. I usually do it every 3-4 weeks.

I always play my strings until they are dead as doornails. Then when I get new ones, it's always so refreshing.

Unless I've got to perform for someone, then I usually change them beforehand.

Yeah, me too, every four or five months.

[Morphius]

I used to know the average playing time per strings (like 40-50 hours). Of course that depends on the type of strings you use.

One thing to watch out for is changing strings the day of a performance. Sometimes brand new strings can sound un-natural or even break if you accidently let a piece of something get between the string and the bridge. I suggest you put new strings on 2 or 3 days before a show, and play for like 3-5 hours or so so the strings can break in but still sound new.

[topgun17]

also with your old strings incase you break one and you dont want to get a new pack becuz like you break it maybe 2days after you put the new ones on keep the oldies and you can boil them and it will clean them somewhat