Cpt. Corrosion

Steff-Zero

Hey guys.
I wonder if anyone can recommend the best brand of strings regarding durability and anti-corrosive properties.
I tend to play hard and I snap a string every 2nd jam. Usually the D, A or E string. I use string cleaner after each jam and I've tried different makes and all guages, but alas, they all snap.
This is a real pain in the ass when it happens during gigs.
I also have to replace my saddles anually as they just rust away.

Any pearls of wisdom would be appreciated.

Riaan

I recently got a set of Elixer Nanowebs and so far it's the longest lasting strings I've tried. Still has that nice fresh sound after several weeks.

Bob-Dubery

Steff Zero wrote Hey guys.
I wonder if anyone can recommend the best brand of strings regarding durability and anti-corrosive properties.
I tend to play hard and I snap a string every 2nd jam. Usually the D, A or E string. I use string cleaner after each jam and I've tried different makes and all guages, but alas, they all snap.
This is a real pain in the ass when it happens during gigs.
I also have to replace my saddles anually as they just rust away.

Any pearls of wisdom would be appreciated.

Elixirs last a long time. The strings are coated with a thin layer of gortex, this stops corrosion and stops grime accumulating in the string windings.

There are other coated strings available. What I am led to believe is that Elixir are different from the rest in that their strings are coated AFTER manufacture whilst the other brands are wound from coated strands. The theory goes that this makes Elixirs more resistant to grime building up between windings.

That all said, coated strings can still snap. Are you sure the problem is actually the strings and not something else? No brand of string, no matter how good, is going to protect your saddles.

Bob-Dubery

X-rated Bob wrote Elixirs last a long time. The strings are coated with a thin layer of gortex, this stops corrosion and stops grime accumulating in the string windings.

I meant to add that they come in TWO types of coating. Polyweb and Nanoweb. The Nanoweb is a thinner coating. To my ears there is less trade off in tone with nanowebs.

Keira-WitherKay

hello......... also check the that the rust on the bridge does not happen cos you have a more 'acidic" sweat . yeah i know wierd but almost 20 yrs ago i worked in one of my 1st pro bands with a guitarist who's guitars would literally rust up in months ...... and he was told he had something in his sweat that caused this......... so maybe wash your hands before playing and wipe even the bridge after playing........

not saying this is your prob.. but just based on a previous guitarist i knew..... something to look into ......anyway good way to check this is if the other guitarists in cape town have rusted bridges in such short a time.......ok the surfers who jam on the beach are excluded from this test hehheheheh ................ . if not and their bridges don't rust it must be some other factor ,,, like body sweat ....

as for breaking string heheheh use a thicker gauge........ i know it'll take some adapting but i'd rather play on heavier strings than break strings all the time... not cool when you performing .....also check your bridge and nut and even you frets for sharp edges........... they can be quite invisible to sight but feel over the area the strings move and maybe they getting undue damage from the actual guitar.... i recently had to get a fret on my nylon sorted for exactly that ,,,,,,,,,

so some idea's since you shouldn't be breaking so many strings and truly i doubt that bridges should rust so quickly

good luck in sorting it out

peace and light
keira

Sidecar

For the string snapping, you can try the teflon coated saddles? I put those on an old washburn I had and it helped a lot.

nick

Keira WitherKay wrote hello......... also check the that the rust on the bridge does not happen cos you have a more 'acidic" sweat . yeah i know wierd but almost 20 yrs ago i worked in one of my 1st pro bands with a guitarist who's guitars would literally rust up in months ...... and he was told he had something in his sweat that caused this......... so maybe wash your hands before playing and wipe even the bridge after playing........

a friend has this problem, a good wipe down after playing slows it down a little.

AlanRatcliffe

LOL! I clicked on this thinking "Who the hell is Captain Corrosion?". It's you, the chemical composition of your sweat and how you play.

Sidecar wrote For the string snapping, you can try the teflon coated saddles? I put those on an old washburn I had and it helped a lot.

+1. Graph Tech String Saver saddles. There's a hint in the name somewhere. ? While they aren't a panacea for everything that can make a string snap, they make a huge difference at the primary trouble spot. Speak to Gareth at Marshall Cape - he's another one who used to break strings every show.

I've known guys who could rust the polepieces out of a set of pickups in a year - John Mair of Sweatband (There's a hint in the name there somewhere ?) used to go through all his metal hardware, pickups and wiring about once a year. Stick to chrome plated stuff, clean it down after performance. Use stainless steel strings and wipe them down too.

Of course, if you're a hard player, your strings will take abuse, no matter what they are made of.

Steff-Zero

Thanks for the advice everybody.
Yeah Alan, I sweat acid like a friggin alien bleeds it. LOL!