How can i make my electric guitar strings last longer?

Question

I live in Lima Peru and the humidity here is very high, my strings get very rusty quickly, and you know that good quality strings are expensive. I hope the solution doesn't affect the clarity of the sound that my string will make.

i have a family member who kept his acoustic guitar in a case and when he opened the case his guitar was covered with fungus.

Answer 1

First of all, I understand your delima with humidity. I'm from South Louisiana, and I understand that the normal procedures don't help.

First of all let me restate those normal procedures, just in case, since you'll need to do those any way.

1. Everytime before you play, wash your hands.
2. Everytime when you're finished playing, wipe your strings down with a cotton cloth.
3. There is a spray available at most guitar stores called Formula No. 89 or something like that. It's got different formulas for strings, guitar body, etc....

Now, here are some things you can do because of the excessive humidity. Guitar cases are actually a cause for MORE problems. Once you close that case, you trap all that heat and humidity in there. But without that case, you can't prevent the problem, either. Every time you buy shoes, they always come with little packets of silica grains that are super-absorbant of water. Throw as many of those as you can into your guitar case and you will be golden.

The main problem is not really just the humidity, but the small levels of salt also in the air where you are. The best way to prevent that salt from destroying your strings is to coat them with the protectant formula. Between the humidity, the salt, and the electricity flowing through your strings(assuming you have an electric), your guitar is so vulnerable, it's not even funny. Good luck and I hope something works.

Answer 2

Keep it in a GOOD case when not in use. A paper case is will not keep out the humidity. You need a road case. Wipe the strings down with a clean cloth after use.

Answer 3

wash your hands before everytime you play, cut down on soda and greasy foods (it causes your sweat to become more acidic), wipe your strings down with a proper lint free cloth, use a string lube (fast fret, fingerease) and keep it in a case (any case is better than no case)