why do my electric guitar strings feel 'rusty' after few weeks?

Question

i put new strings on and then in 2-3 weeks they dont have that smooth slide feeling. like they have a bit of friction on them, like they were rusty. its usually on the top 3 strings. other guitars at the guitar store i play, feel smooth and when sliding up/down the frets, the strings feel nice.
is it the fretboard that is sort of contaminating the strings with the rust? how do i prevent this the next time i buy a new set of strings?

instead of buying the cleaning product from stores, could i use household chemicals/items.... alcohol?
usually expensive things can be substituted with ordinary things.
any ideas of what the expensive string cleaning product is made of?

Answer 1

That's normal. Oils and dirt / grime from your fingers and hands find their way to the strings. When i gig, my strings can do that after a few nights! 2 products that can help: "Fingerease" and "Fast-Fret" - both are string cleaners / lubricants , one is a spray you put on a clean cloth (i like an old clean t-shirt) and wipe each string down, the other has an applicator which you rub down the strings and wipe with a cloth. I've tried both and they work well , but i prefer Fast-Fret - it's a small can with an applicator and includes a small cloth. It really helps clean the strings good and also makes them smoother / slicker so you can play a bit better. Also a good general idea to wash your hands before picking up the guitar , reduces oils and junk. Cheers.

Answer 2

Wipe down your guitar strings after playing. First use a rag with a little methylated spirits on it. Then a dry rag. Eventually strings do corrode and lose their tone but this adds maybe another week of playing.

Otherwise try a string brand like Elixir... which I use. They have a teflon coating (called polyweb) which means I have brand new string tone for a good two months. They cost a little more per set but you save because you don't have to change as often.

Answer 3

do u clean your guitar frequently? your hands have oils on them and what happens is it gets into the strings and gives it that rusty scratchy feeling. it also dims the sound. u can prevent that from happening by taking string cleaner on a cloth and wiping off the strings every few times after playing. i found that even taking a white napkin works almost as well. it also may be the strings ur using. i reccomend roto pinks. they are a bit more expensive but good and last long.

Answer 4

Wipe your strings down every time you are done playing them. DO NOT USE WD-40!!! That stuff if TOXIC and who knows what it could eventually do to the nerves in your hands, not to mention breathing in the vapors!

Also, if you are leaving electric guitar strings on for a MONTH you are leaving them on WAY too long!!! Electric guitar strings are changed by professionals before every gig, sometimes every single day! This also depends on how much you play, and how acidic are your hands and fingers. Start changing your strings a lot more frequently. You can save money by buying them in bulk - its much cheaper than buying individaul sets.

Answer 5

Oils/Dirt from the fingers and hands can accumulate on both the strings and the fret board. I was advised to whipe both down whenever I was done playing. I had the same problem.

Answer 6

are you wiping down your guitar after you play? If not I'd start by doing that, also keep your guitar away from humidity, that could be another cause...

also it never hurts to change your strings about once a month... I know I do and it keeps my guitars sounding great!

Answer 7

wipe down your strings and try something like a finger ease string cleaning stick. just the sweat and oil from your skin can be quite corrosive

Answer 8

I know a few players who use a quick squirt of WD-40, seems to do the job.