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22 Mar 09 - 12:32 PM (#2594580) Subject: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: NormanD Do any steel-string acoustic players use Fast Fret? an example in this advert It may be good, or not - I'd welcome opinions. It says that it contains "mineral oil" and I wondered if it's possible to make your own substitute, maybe for a fraction of the cost. It is, basically, a string cleaner, and possibly preserver. The likelihood of it enabling faster playing is an illusion, of course - no substitute for practice! Thanks Norman |
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22 Mar 09 - 12:42 PM (#2594586) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Mr Happy WD40?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40 |
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22 Mar 09 - 12:44 PM (#2594589) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Bobert Yeah, I've been using it forever... It works great... BTW, I play almost exclusively slide guitar and I hate the sound of new strings, especially on my resonators so I get up to a year on one set of strings and Fast Fret allows them to continue to be very playable... Back when I got my first Fast Fret it came in a metal can like old time 35 mm film but the new Fast Fret comes in a plastic conatiner... Not as cool but still the same good stuff... Buy it... It works... Bobert |
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22 Mar 09 - 01:09 PM (#2594597) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: NormanD The Fast Fret I know comes as a wooden stick with an impregnated pad on the end, not a solution in a plastic container. Are there maybe UK and US versions? I swear by WD40 for most things, especially locks and squeaky hinges. But guitar strings? And on a Martin fretboard? I think I'll need some convincing before the can comes out. Norman PS I have a brain wave for the perfect female perfume, designed to attract the interest of most men...... it has a faint suspicion of WD40. |
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22 Mar 09 - 01:21 PM (#2594600) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Mr Happy I boil mine |
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22 Mar 09 - 01:29 PM (#2594606) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Acorn4 Fast fret does seem to make the strings last longer and thus pays for itself. |
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22 Mar 09 - 01:34 PM (#2594607) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Mr Happy ........& if you rearrange the letters, you get 'Fest Fart !! |
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22 Mar 09 - 01:40 PM (#2594608) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Seamus Kennedy I have been using it for years too. And I don't like the plastic container either. The lid pops off in my guitar case and it dries out more rapidly. Seamus |
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22 Mar 09 - 01:45 PM (#2594609) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Abdul The Bul Bul Yep, it's great but don't overuse it and especialialy not before standing up there in front of folks, it can get TOO slippy. Al |
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22 Mar 09 - 02:21 PM (#2594628) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: NormanD Thanks, folks. Any votes for WD 40? |
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22 Mar 09 - 02:50 PM (#2594648) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Murray MacLeod The plastic container is a real pain, but the product is great. Once your strings can no longer be revived by Fast Fret it is time for a new set. |
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22 Mar 09 - 03:18 PM (#2594661) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: NormanD One pack of Fast Fret works out cheaper than most sets of strings. By the way, this is NOT some creepy viral ad. It's just that my son bought his mum a Fast Fret pack for a Mother's Day present today. Better than flowers (but he also bought chocs as well). |
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22 Mar 09 - 03:41 PM (#2594675) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Eric the Viking The Hamsters' guitarist (Slim) uses WD40 very liberally on his expensive guitars and it never seems to worry him. BTW the Hamsters http://www.thehamsters.co.uk/ are a superb blues band. I have used fast fret (not that I'm any good) it makes the strings easy on the fingers and keeps them clean. I prefer fast fret to "Elixir" strings. |
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22 Mar 09 - 03:48 PM (#2594683) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: DADGBE Fast Fret does a sort of OK job, especially if you otherwise don't clean your strings or fingerboard. For optimal string sound and longevity, you'll need to do what the pros do. Here's how to clean your frets and fingerboard the way a luthier would - First, buy some V M, & P Naphtha, 0000 steel wool, and Tri-Flow Dry bicycle lubricant and have plenty of clean rags or paper towels on hand. When the strings are off, scrub the frets and fingerboard vigorously with steel wool and naphtha. Give extra attention to the area right next to the frets where crud builds up. The naphtha will dry rapidly and leave a sludge of dirt and steel on the neck. (Don't worry about getting solvent on the finish. It'll clean it but won't hurt it.) Remove the sludge with clean rags or paper towels and more naphtha. Keep working with the rags/paper towels and naphtha until no more dirt is coming off. Let it dry a few minutes. Apply a coat of Tri-Flow Dry lubricant to the fingerboard. This leaves a teflon coating and makes the instrument feel like new. Some warnings - use good ventilation, don't smoke while doing this and DON'T USE STEEL WOOL ON AN ELECTRIC GUITAR NECK. You'll never get the debris off the pickups. Pros use a fine grit green scratchy abrasive pad for electric guitars. If you do this when changing strings, Fast Fret will help to keep everything working smoothly between string changes. |
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22 Mar 09 - 04:12 PM (#2594711) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Don Firth Nope. I never use anything like that. I give my guitars a wipe down with a piece of fairly heavy flannel cloth, or a piece of soft chamois. When I opened the case if the first guitar I got from Spain (handmade by Arcangel Fernandez), there was a heavy piece of flannel cloth laying on top of the guitar. The fellow who put me in touch with Fernandez in the first place told me it was a "gamuzu," or a guitar polishing cloth. It keeps the guitar clean and shiny. Don Firth |
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22 Mar 09 - 04:42 PM (#2594738) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: GUEST,Kendall Yes. It removes the salt and grime from the strings that always collect on my fingers. It costs about as much as a set of strings and i believe it extends their life. |
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22 Mar 09 - 05:01 PM (#2594768) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Peace Makes the strings brighter. Waaaay good stuff. |
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22 Mar 09 - 05:18 PM (#2594779) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: The Sandman no,I slacken my strings,and use a cloth and friction to get the shite off,I find it just as effective,and cheaper. |
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22 Mar 09 - 05:19 PM (#2594780) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Zen Used to use it and it works OK. I use DR Extra Stringlife now which I prefer. Zen |
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22 Mar 09 - 07:28 PM (#2594899) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Bobert Yo, Norman... I didn't say it was a liquid that came in a plastic tube... I said that the old Fast Fret came in a metal container like the old 35 mm film cans... Of course it is like a stick/brush... Problem is that the new ones come in a plastic container that falls apart in yer gig bag... B~ |
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23 Mar 09 - 05:10 PM (#2595601) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Stringsinger it might drive some guitar players crazy but what works best for me is a small shot of WD40 on the neck. To me it beats Fast Fret. Don't know the carcinogenic properties over prolong use, though. I'm always suspicious of chemicals. It sure works, though. It hasn't hurt my guitar neck at all. Frank |
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23 Mar 09 - 05:32 PM (#2595621) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Art Thieme If God hadn't wanted guitarists to have speed bumps, he never would've given us frets! (That's all they are actually ;-) ART THIEME |
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23 Mar 09 - 05:47 PM (#2595632) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: bankley Hey Mr. Happy, after you boil your strings do you drink the water ? I've been using "Fast Fret" for around 30 yrs...a can lasts me years.. still have the original metal container and a newer plastic one.. |
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23 Mar 09 - 07:08 PM (#2595700) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Jane of 'ull If it makes the strings easier on the fingers I'll use it |
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23 Mar 09 - 07:25 PM (#2595717) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Jack Campin I know one guy who uses Fast Fret on his accordion buttons. The way he plays, substituting photographic spray rubber cement would be a great improvement. |
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23 Mar 09 - 07:33 PM (#2595728) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Bobert Right on, Art... Perhaps my favorite stringed instrument is my Lowebow... The fret board (haha) is two long 1 1/4 dowel rods and no ***frets" to get in the way... B~ |
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23 Mar 09 - 07:35 PM (#2595729) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: GUEST,Smokey Fast fret pays for itself many times over, it's saved me a fortune over the years. It works on nylon strings too. Best guitar product since the Shubb capo. |
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23 Mar 09 - 11:51 PM (#2595844) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: Art Thieme This is nothing to fret about. Art |
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24 Mar 09 - 10:38 AM (#2596123) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: bubblyrat You can only use it during Lent (or Ramadan)!--- But it does work, and I do . |
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24 Mar 09 - 01:37 PM (#2596268) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: NormanD I have now used some, and wish to say that it instantly healed all the cuts and blisters on my fretting fingers, hardened the calluses into permanent pads, and guided my fingers beyond that barrier of the fifth fret. OK, it did get the crud of the strings, having given a 'before' and 'after' wipe to test its effectiveness, and the strings do, indeed, feel newer. But I still can't play "Anji". I'm not convinced about using WD40 (thank you for the suggestion), though may eventually try some on an older guitar. Any thoughts, anyone, about the use of "mineral oil" - whatever that might be? |
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25 Mar 09 - 11:44 AM (#2597034) Subject: RE: Fast Fret: Anyone use it? From: bubblyrat Mineral Oil,as the name suggests,comes out of the ground,and usually results from one of the refining processes of Crude Oil.The hydraulic systems in the Navy fighter-jets that I worked on used a mineral oil as the hydraulic fluid, namely "OM 15" in British Navy terminology,the "OM" standing for Oil,Mineral, (naturally).It was also VERY good for cleaning aircraft with----strictly forbidden,but we all did it !! Other oils in common use are obtained from vegetable sources,ie Rapeseed,Grapeseed,Walnut,Sesame, et al.In earlier times,of course,the oil from the head of a Sperm Whale was considered to be the finest lubricant available,and was,I believe,used with early sewing-machines. |