String-killing body chemistry

14 Mar 25 - 11:35 AM (#4219100)
Subject: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

This is what plagues me and always has. I can 'kill' a non-coated set in a week. Coated last a little longer but not as long as three weeks.

Now, any ideas about tackling this? I read a while ago about something you take for this but can't remember what.

Cheers
Fred

---

14 Mar 25 - 11:54 AM (#4219101)
Subject: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

This plagues me and always has.

Do any others have this problem? What do you do about it?

Cheers
Fred

---

14 Mar 25 - 12:17 PM (#4219104)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Robert B. Waltz

I've heard estimates that a tenth of stringed instrument players are "rusters." It's not really rust, of course, but the strings respond to something in the body chemistry. I assume you've tried the obvious (different string chemistries, e.g. phos bronze instead of nickel steel, or vice versa).

I'm not a ruster, so I can't comment from personal experience. I've never heard of something you can eat that helps (which doesn't mean there isn't anything, of course). But you can try dipping your fingers in baking soda before playing, or a very light coating of grease. Or maybe wipe the strings and then wipe again with a baking soda cloth after playing, to neutralize the chemicals.

Also, if you're a fingerpicker, consider Alaska Piks. (Yes, that's how it's spelled.) Unlike regular finger picks, they are designed to fit like ordinary fingernails rather than as anti-fingernails. So you don't contact the strings as much. It isn't much help -- the real problem is your fretting hand, not your picking hand -- but it's something.

I am sure that if you start searching for "rusters," you'll find more ideas.

---

14 Mar 25 - 12:29 PM (#4219105)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

Robert B- a fair few suggestions there buddy.

Many thanks
Fred

---

14 Mar 25 - 01:01 PM (#4219108)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: MaJoC the Filk

Thanks, Robert B: Now I know what sort of fingerpicks to ask for whenever my fingernails fracture.

Let us know the results, please, Fred. I have to put gunk on my skin anyway for eczema, and worry that it would play hob with guitar strings: one of them has a petrolium-based, erm, base. For the record, my current strings are bronze-wound, and seem to not have suffered .... yet.

---

14 Mar 25 - 01:34 PM (#4219113)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Robert B. Waltz

MaJoC the Filk wrote: Now I know what sort of fingerpicks to ask for whenever my fingernails fracture.

Yes. The Alaska Piks literally saved my ability to fingerpick. My fingernails are no longer strong enough to play for a full hour without eroding away. And attempts at a fingernail-friendly diet didn't help. I tried nail-hardening paints; they just chipped off. Artificial nails pulled off. The first fingernail-replacing picks I tried were useless, too. But the Alaska Piks work for me.

The one drawback is that, once you're used to them, it's hard to play without them, because it's almost impossible to make your fingernails be the same shape as the picks!

Regarding petroleum products on the strings: They're very unlikely to damage the strings -- petroleum is not like a salt or an acid, which readily breaks up into ions. It's the ions that damage the strings. That's why it's so hard to get oil off beaches and such -- it doesn't react to the chemicals in the water The problems with it are that it might affect the sound of the string, or soak into the wood -- or just make your hands feel icky. So it's a matter of what you (and your instrument) can tolerate.

---

14 Mar 25 - 02:48 PM (#4219117)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Mark Ross

David Bromberg had string killer hands. They used to say that let him play your new strings for 15 minutes, any longer than that, and you need a new set. I have the same problem. I have discovered that if I put a new set of strings on, tune them to pitch, and let them sit for 24 hours before playing on them they will last 3 to 4 times as long.

---

14 Mar 25 - 03:07 PM (#4219119)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

MCtF- yep, I'll report back. There's something available at chemists to help with acidic sweat. Not sure what it is yet.

Fred

---

14 Mar 25 - 03:46 PM (#4219123)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

Some 'remedies' online:

Ginger
Bananas
Cold milk
Chamomile tea....

I don't know if they help but worth a try.

Fred

---

14 Mar 25 - 05:15 PM (#4219130)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

Baking soda is a good one. Thanks Robert B :)

Fred

---

14 Mar 25 - 05:37 PM (#4219131)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler

Perhaps related.
I had a pair of glasses that the frames were always getting verdegris and found out it was to do with a nickle allergy. I produce a chemical in my skin as a response to nickle and the chemical reacts with the nickle and corodes it.
Robin

---

14 Mar 25 - 05:46 PM (#4219132)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

Bbcw- interesting. Never heard of that before.

Cheers
Fred

---

14 Mar 25 - 07:18 PM (#4219139)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Robert B. Waltz

Black belt caterpillar wrestler wrote: Perhaps related.
I had a pair of glasses that the frames were always getting verdegris and found out it was to do with a nickle allergy. I produce a chemical in my skin as a response to nickle and the chemical reacts with the nickle and corodes it.
Robin

An interesting thought. Nickel allergies to jewelry are pretty well attested; I never thought to connect that to "rusters."

If it's just a nickel allegery, though, then bronze strings ought to be safe, since bronze (either phosphor bronze or bright bronze) is nickel-free. If that is the case, then wound strings should last longer than non-wrapped strings (which will tend to be nickel steel whatever the use strings, I believe). Something to check for those who have the problem.

I wonder if there might be a problem with zinc....

---

15 Mar 25 - 09:12 AM (#4219158)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

Best thing seems to be baking soda, so thanks Robert - I'd never have known. I'll be trying it :)

Fred

---

15 Mar 25 - 11:05 AM (#4219163)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Robert B. Waltz

Fred wrote: Best thing seems to be baking soda, so thanks Robert - I'd never have known. I'll be trying it :)

I hope it works for you! The underlying assumption, though, is that your sweat is acidic, and that's only a guess. There is no data on this that I've ever seen. In any case, good luck.

---

15 Mar 25 - 11:40 AM (#4219164)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

Thanks mate, very kind.

That's ok if it doesn't work. I mean, I've got by until now. But I thought I'd ask because you never know what others may know. That's the beauty of forums like this.

Cheers
Fred

---

19 Mar 25 - 11:52 AM (#4219431)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Mrrzy

Fascinating.

I tarnish silver, and my skin turns green if I wear copper...

---

19 Mar 25 - 01:39 PM (#4219446)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Robert B. Waltz

Mrrzy wrote: I tarnish silver, and my skin turns green if I wear copper...

That generally means that your skin is producing more sulfur than most. (If you eat a lot of onions or other things with certain odorants, most of which are sulfur-based, that might be why. It might not, too. :-)

The usual solution to that is to use titanium-based metals rather than copper or silver (that's the usual metal used in jewelry for this sort of things).

There are titanium guitar strings. I have no idea what they sound like. But it might be worth a try.

---

20 Mar 25 - 08:03 AM (#4219492)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

So, I've tried baking soda that Robert B suggested above and it really works. My hands feel much less oily.

Many thanks mate, much appreciated.

Fred

---

20 Mar 25 - 08:32 AM (#4219494)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Robert B. Waltz

Fred wrote: So, I've tried baking soda that Robert B suggested above and it really works.

To be honest, I'm pleasantly surprised. :-) There's theory, and there's practice (in more ways than one), and I had low confidence in theory. :-)

Good luck with it.

---

20 Mar 25 - 08:18 PM (#4219527)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Jack Campin

Sweating is controlled by the autonomic nervous system and some forms of severe local sweating (particularly armpits) can be treated by cutting through the appropriate nerves. So surgery might fix this.

---

20 Mar 25 - 09:53 PM (#4219531)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Robert B. Waltz

Jack Campin wrote: some forms of severe local sweating (particularly armpits) can be treated by cutting through the appropriate nerves. So surgery might fix this.

Um -- as a picker, you're going to risk cutting nerves in your fingers because you're having trouble with strings?

---

21 Mar 25 - 05:49 AM (#4219540)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Jack Campin

Or maybe you could just play in blue nitrile gloves?

---

21 Mar 25 - 06:25 AM (#4219544)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: gillymor

---

21 Mar 25 - 06:27 AM (#4219545)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: gillymor

Looking at this thread and I must have hit submit by mistake. Carry on.

---

21 Mar 25 - 09:02 AM (#4219552)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: gillymor

I haven't had the problem mentioned in the OP but way back when, I took a classical guitar course and the instructor swore by small a amount of talcum powder worked well into both hands and it definitely made things easier. Not sure if it would help with the problem but it might be worth a try.

---

21 Mar 25 - 10:59 AM (#4219560)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Robert B. Waltz

gillymore wrote: I took a classical guitar course and the instructor swore by small a amount of talcum powder worked well into both hands....

Talc is very good at absorbing moisture. If one's problem is simply sweaty fingers, it should work well. But it does not prevent sweat, it merely soaks up the water. So if one's sweat contains a chemical that damages the strings, it will have only partial effect. Not no effect, because the acidic chemical won't spread as quickly without water. But ideally one wishes to either suppress the string-damaging chemical (which would take a true anti-perspirant) or neutralize the chemical.

---

21 Mar 25 - 05:23 PM (#4219578)
Subject: RE: String-killing body chemistry
From: Fred

Well if you have the problem, you're thankful to all who offer suggestions that may help. Cheers guys.

Gig night so can't hang around.

Later
Fred

---