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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/25/2007 6:32 PM
Posts: 2, Visits: 4 |
| Hi.
I hope somebody here can help me as I haven't been able to find a solid answer anywhere on the web or on this forum.
I have heard that cleaning guitar strings with isopropyl alcohol is safe and effective. One source recommends using the small "prep pads" or alcohol wipes that you can get from a pharmacist after every use followed by dry wiping with a cloth. However, I'm a little hesitant and skeptical because I can't figure out whether it is for electric strings (nickel/steel) only, which seems to be the context of most of the recommendations I've seen.
Has anyone tried this - specifically with acoustic guitar strings (bronze/brass/coated)? I'm specifically interested in phosphor bronze and EXP coated phosphor bronze.
Also, does anyone know whether a specific type or concentration of isopropyl alcohol is required (e.g. denatured, pure, 70%, 91%, ...)?
Any and all experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/25/2008 2:48 AM
Posts: 701, Visits: 1,266 |
| | Welcome to the forums! Isopropyl alcohol does react with aluminum. I don't think that aluminum is even used in string alloys. Rubbing alcohol and those medical prep pads are 70%, and should work fine. However, for the same price as a box of those prep pads, you can get a thing of Fast Fret string cleaner. One of those can last you far longer than a a couple boxes of those prep pads, too! The prep pads actually have much more alcohol on them than you'd really need. They'd be a waste. I think that isopropyl alcohol might be the active ingredient in that GHS Fast Fret. Whatever is in it, the stuff works super well on any type of string. I've used it on steel, nickel, brass, and phosphor bronze strings; and it keeps them looking and sounding new for a long time! The Fast Fret would likely be your best choice.
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McSpadden M-12W, SH-12CRs, SH-12KKc
Custom LR Baggs Piezo Bridge Pickup on SH-12KKc
LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI Preamp
DigiTech & Boss Effects, Planet Waves Cables and Picks, D'Addario Strings
SWR Super Redhead 450w Combo Amp with SWR Goliath Jr. III Extension Cab
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/25/2007 6:32 PM
Posts: 2, Visits: 4 |
| Thanks for the reply Dulcimerist - that's good info.
I've heard about various string cleaners and conditioners but never bothered to try them because I have been a little skeptical of anything that claims to not affect the sound but also claims to somehow protect and/or lubricate the strings (it must therefore leave something behind on the strings). Thus my interest in finding something that cleans only without leaving anything behind (no conditioner or lube or what-have-you), especially considering that I'm now using EXPs which are already coated (and expensive). Can anyone comment on whether or not FastFret or similar products affect sound? I suppose one of these days I'll just have to try it for myself.
I contacted D'Addario support and here's what they said (about isopropyl alcohol and prep pads):
You will be able to clean your phosphor bronze strings with the products you have mentioned. However, I would not recommend you use those products on the EXP strings. It may strip the coating off of the string. Wiping those strings off with a micro-fiber cloth should be sufficient in prolonging life.
Remember also, never use a pad that has any type of rough surface to it or it can damage the coating and may dampen your sound.
Of course, I went ahead and tried it on a set of not so old EXPs already before I got the reply yesterday. I've always been a little too curious for my own good. To my horror the wound stings went dead. They were still elastic and had sustain, just no top end - really really dull. Big time bummer! So the e-mail from support seemed to shed light on my experience.
However, never one to give up, I figured that maybe I just did a lousy job (it being my first try) or maybe there was some residue on the drying cloth I used (which had just been washed but maybe not well enough or not thoroughly rinsed.) Or quite possibly it was partial degradation of the EXP coating. So today I tried it again and dried with paper towel. Low and behold they seem to be back to normal. Whether or not the EXP coating is intact only time will tell I suppose.
But I agree with you about the pads being a waste. They are definitely too wet and plus I don't like adding to the landfill a packet and wipe every time I play. They are very convenient and chea, but I can get a large bottle of 99% pure isopropyl alcohol for roughly the same cost as 100 wipes, and I could easily use it on one end of my wiping cloth.
I would still like to hear from anyone else about their experiences with various string cleaning products.
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/25/2008 2:48 AM
Posts: 701, Visits: 1,266 |
| | I would be hesitant to use any chemical on the EXP coated strings, hearing what D'Addario mentioned. There are a few chemicals which react adversely with alcohol, and the EXP coating might contain one of those. The chemical reaction would create new and weird compounds that could very well mess up the tone and life of the coated strings. Since the EXP strings are coated to prolong their life, then I doubt you'll need anything on them. The dry microfiber cloth sounds like your best bet with those. The strings I've always used with GHS Fast Fret have been the plain steels, the nickel wound steels, and the phosphor bronze flat wounds. None of these were the expensive coated kind. With these "regular" strings, the life of the strings were definitely prolonged by Fast Fret. Tone was unaffected, and the strings held their natural tone much longer.
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McSpadden M-12W, SH-12CRs, SH-12KKc
Custom LR Baggs Piezo Bridge Pickup on SH-12KKc
LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI Preamp
DigiTech & Boss Effects, Planet Waves Cables and Picks, D'Addario Strings
SWR Super Redhead 450w Combo Amp with SWR Goliath Jr. III Extension Cab
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