string change/cleaning routine

[zzrider]

I am not looking for advice, but am curious about others' string changing and cleaning habits - I am assuming most here are too set in their ways to take up any new habits, I have been doing things this way for thirty years, so am not about to change!

I did the fourth string change and first good cleaning of my year and a half old DV6. I am one of those folks that really do not like the sound of brand new strings - these had been on for almost 6 mos and the times I pick up the guitar and say "wow, this sounds fabulous" were getting few and far between. I wipe the strings off after every session, but i also have big, sweaty paws and make quite a mess of things - especially in the warmer weather.

After gradually taking tension off each string - alternating between high and low, working from the outside in - finally all are off and every year or so, the fingerboard gets scrubbed with a damp warm towel and a smidgen of dish soap. this is followed by a "rinse" with another dampened towel, then a dry one.
After about 10-15 minutes - a SMALL dab of lemon oil is rubbed into the fretboard with a soft cloth, followed by a buff with the dry side. also do this with the bridge.

The body and neck get a wipedown with whatever guitar cleaner I happen to have - right now it's the Fender polish that came with it. I use a small amount, just a couple squirts.


New set of D'adderio bronze mediums on and wrapped using the method on taylor site, which I learned long ago. Today I sat for a couple hours and got 'em good and sweaty and started filling up those crisp metallic gaps in the windings with skin and gunk. A few more hours and they will bed in nicely and I'm good for another 4 or 5 months!


Wondering which of you are new string fanatics and who the the "change 'em when they break" folks are - IMO it's all a matter of personal taste/style - there's no right or wrong!

 

[dapmdave]

zz,

First off, I don't much like the sound of brand new strings, either. They just sound kind of funny until they've been played for half an hour, or so.

I can tell by the feel and the sound of strings when they need to be changed. I don't play nearly as much as I used to, so 6 months is probably about right. I suppose it's a matter of how much finger-cheese and gunk has accumulated. I like the unwound strings to be reasonably slick and shiny - and I use Fast Fret with a wipe down after any significant amount of playing. I cannot stand to play a guitar with really old and oxidized strings.

Just in case you're wondering - I use D'addario custom lights (EJ26) on the acoustics.

I am not as meticulous as you are. (would be better if I were) I just loosen 'em up and change 'em. I wipe the gunk off of the fingerboard when it occurs to me that I should, and I only rarely apply anything besides a damp cloth to the fingerboard. I will sometimes do a complete cleaning, but not with every change of strings.

I play a guitar pretty carefully. I've been playing about 40 years or so and I can't remember ever breaking a string.

Dave

 

[Scratch]

I try to change strings every four months or so, and agree with both of you about the new string thing. I think they're best afer a couple of weeks or so.

I clean, polish and wax the guitar with each string change (OK, I'm anal) and also clean & dress the fretboard & bridge while I'm at it.

 

[killdeer43]

Every 3 to 4 months usually works for me, and I give my guitars a total cleaning/polishing every time I change strings. As far as the 'new string' sound goes, I'll put the recently restrung guitar aside for a while and play one of the other eight that hang around the house (I never restring them all at once). I do like the fresh/bright sound of new strings so I keep going back and tuning the new strings just to hear how good they sound. In a couple of days or so, it's all good to go.
Of course, when a string dies before its time, there goes the routine.
I've had the good fortune of breaking only 1 string in 40 years....almost had a heart attack when I did. Quite the surprising sound, to say the least. :!:

Stringing along,
Joe

 

[GardMan]

I change strings 2-3 times a year... with a little cleaning and polishing each time (incl a little lemon oil on the fretboards and bridges). It can be a major endeavor, because more often that not I change strings on all six guitars... otherwise I can't remember which has new strings and which is in need of a change (and I am not organized enough to write these things down).

I never used to like the sound of new strings... when I played D'addario and Martin strings. I don't find the John Pearse strings I play now as harsh and jangly when new... particularly the PB and silks I play on my D-35... so I change a bit more often these days.

 

[chazmo]

I try to change strings every four months or so, and agree with both of you about the new string thing. I think they're best afer a couple of weeks or so.

I clean, polish and wax the guitar with each string change (OK, I'm anal) and also clean & dress the fretboard & bridge while I'm at it.

I'm pretty much the same way, although I just use a damp cloth for any trouble areas and just go straight to my trusty, 25-year-old, guitar polish for the whole guitar, sometimes a couple of coats. Yesterday, I used the Planet Waves products I got from Strings and Beyond which was a cleaner and a separate liquid Carnauba wax on one of my Ibbys that's gone over a year without any love. That was pretty good. I might get some of those if I ever use up my polish (let's see, I've used half a bottle in 25 years... maybe not).

I seem to be using the 0000 wool and bore oil on the fretboard / frets every time I do work even though it's probably a bit overkill. A nice, clean fretboard does make me feel good.

 

[Scratch]

I have difficulty remembering string change dates too. I now write the change date on the empty string package and put it in the case 'glove box'. Also helps me remember what kind of strings I put on! :?

 

[JerryR]

You mean you're supposed to change the strings :shock: But then that will spoil the tuning done by the shop where you bought the guitar :shock:

 

[krysh]

You mean you're supposed to change the strings :shock: But then that will spoil the tuning done by the shop where you bought the guitar :shock:

guess you have to buy another guild then..... :mrgreen:

I change strings depending on how often I use my guitars/basses:
sometimes after a month, sometimes after 6 months and if I try new strings sometimes after a few days. :lol:
and a complete cleanup/setup at least each 2nd change.

 

[dogberry]

I have difficulty remembering string change dates too. I now write the change date on the empty string package and put it in the case 'glove box'. Also helps me remember what kind of strings I put on! :?

I started this too. Helps me remember how long the strings have been on, and what I have or haven't tried yet.

 

[12 string]

I have difficulty remembering string change dates too. I now write the change date on the empty string package and put it in the case 'glove box'. Also helps me remember what kind of strings I put on! :?

Yeah, I have to do that too. Actually, I keep a small notepad in each case and include date, guages and intended tunings (Did I guage this set for standard tuning or did I beef up the bass intending to remain in dropped D? Is this set supposed to be 3 frets low or 4?, etc.).

I use the 0000 steel wool on the fingerboard, but only when I see some accumulation building up, and follow up with a tiny amount of oil and lots of elbow grease. I really don't think I would put detergent on the fingerboard but maybe it's okay with the follow-up treatment.

It's been years since I applied polish to a guitar but I do rub them down with the softest cotton cloth I can find, slightly damp.

' Strang

 

[crank]

My Guild acoustic gets strings changed about ever 4 months. I use D'addario mediums. I don't think they are the best sounding new strings, but they hold a good sound for a longer time than others I have tried. I too take the tension off alternating low and high, then will clean the fretboard with either a damp cloth or some Murphy's Oil Soap if it seems too gunked up. I will sometimes polish the body with Pledge.

My 2 electric guitars get changed about every 2 - 3 months. I use D'addario EXL 10's. I loosen the strings and then cut them so I don't have to pull the curled up end through the slots. I have been gigging about 2 - 6 times a month with them only occasionally bringing my Guild for a few songs.


My beach/camping acoustic gets a string change every year. I usually do it while sitting around the campsite drinking beer.

 

[zzrider]

Amazing to me that there's not too much difference, bet that wouldn't be the case on AGF :lol:

 

[West R Lee]

I just wait until they need them, sometimes once every couple of months, sometimes I'll leave them a year or so. It depends on how much play they get, whether or not they've been kept cased (in which case I don't think it's needed nearly as often), or if I'm going to play one out somewhere. Strings seem to oxidize much more quickly if kept out of the case. I'm sure if I played a bunch of get togethers, I'd change more often. And when I do change them, the neck and bridge get lemon oil.

West

 

[Dr. Spivey]

Amazing to me that there's not too much difference, bet that wouldn't be the case on AGF :lol:

It's lightened up over there the last couple months, but I hear ya. :lol:

I change my strings whenever they start to sound dead, which seems to be about 2-3 months. Give the whole guitar a detail job twice a year. A friend of mine gave me these towels, like terrycloth, but made of micro fiber. They work really good for wiping strings after you play.

 

[Jeff]

I use a toothbrush to clean my fretboards. Most of the nasty sticky seems to accumulate along the edge of the frets, a tooth brush cleans it out with little effort.