Alternative to Fastfret

[Williamalake]

Hi all,

I'm looking for an alternative to fastfret, my guitar strings are cutting up my fingers. I live in Cambodia and can't find it anywhere. I can't find any other products either. I saw another post on here about something similar, but people kept rambling on about KY Jelly and not really providing an answer!!

It's a steel stringed acoustic guitars, it's very humid here and they chop up my fingers when I'm playing. I wonder if there are any household items I could use?

I saw on another forum that somebody suggested vegetable oil, but that sounds a bit messy and oily to me.

[Richie Royale]

Fast Fret is apparently mineral oil, there may be something else added, I don't know. I have seen various recommendations for different kind of oils, almond, olive, lemon but I expect Zenguitar will have a much more informed position than I.

[The Korff]

I'm not sure if Fast Fret is really what you need... If your fingers are getting mashed up, could it be that you're not playing enough? My fingertips sometimes get a little sore if I haven't played for a while, but within a couple of days of regular noodling they toughen up significantly.

I know an old sailor who uses camphor spirit on his hands to harden them if they're suffering - dunno if there's any science behind that, but he swears by the stuff, and handling miles of rope every day is much harder on the hands than playing guitar!

Cheers,

Chris

[TheBev]

Yup - play a lot more / go for a lighter gauge of string till you "toughen up" / cheat by dabbing a bit of superglue on them, the tips of the fingers that is - not the fretboard or strings.

[The Korff]

...and letting it dry before playing!!

[zenguitar]

I'm afraid I don't have any privileged information on the constituents of Fast Fret, but the consensus online is that it is a mineral oil.

I've used Fast Fret in moderation for 20+ years and had no problems, but Max (formerly of this parish) absolutely hated the stuff. He had a lot of experiences where guitarists had used it excessively and it had formed an ugly, sticky, build up around the frets. And that would make perfect sense as the mineral oil that is used is often claimed to be liquid paraffin which could well go waxy.

I wipe the guitar neck and strings with a cloth when I finish playing and then a gentle application of Fast Fret, just wiping the applicator across the strings and not the fretboard. And I would be quite happy to concede that one of the big benefits of Fast Fret is that it makes you wipe your strings clean after playing.

However, I would like to know a little more about Williamalake's problem with his strings cutting up his fingers. Is it because he hasn't built up callouses yet? Or because his strings quickly get tarnished and build up a rough surface?

I've heard of sailors using camphor, but when I started playing I remembered that walkers rubbed surgical spirits on their feet to harden them up and prevent blisters so I used that trick on my fingertips. And have come across many players over the years who were told that trick too.

But if the problem is just the combination of environment and player's finger chemistry making the strings corrode I think there is a FAR better solution. And it will surprise regular readers....

Despite my clearly stated view that coated strings are the spawn of the devil, this is one situation where they are the ideal solution to a genuine problem. Forget Fast Fret and the alternatives... fit a good set of coated strings, keep a cloth with the guitar, and wipe down the strings and neck every time you finish playing.

Andy

[mick.n]

Used Fast fret for many years now, but when i got my new Strat last Xmas the shop had ran out of it. They had something called "Doctor Ducks Axe Wax" which i bought instead. Fast fret i find more convenient to use though, with it being on a wooden stick thing.

Regarding the sore fingers, when i first started regular gigging in 1969 i was told by someone that urine hardens up the finger tips. I peed on my fingers for a month or so, but cannot remember if it did any good or not.

[Williamalake]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess you want to know a bit more!

I started playing guitar when I was about 18 and played it virtually every day for 10 years. Since I emigrated I didn't play anymore. I got a new guitar about 1 month ago and have been playing daily since. Just step by step, slowing building my callouses. Getting a bit bored with strumming out chords, I started to relearn some solos.

So I guess it's a combination of the both. My fingers are not yet developed 100%. But the heat and humidity here (some days nearly 90%) causes the strings to deteriorate very very quickly. The surfaces are very rough and have rusted already. I replaced the strings today, but It'll only take a few weeks before the same happens.

I can't find any out of the ordinary strings here, it's impossible where I'm living.

My friend suggested that I wipe vegetable oil with a cloth on the strings to keep them in good condition for a bit longer.

Thanks for all the advice already guys.

[Bongooo]

I use surgical spirit on my fingers. Just a little in a saucer and then dip my fingertips in for 15/20 minutes. It keeps the nails in good nick too.

Also, become a fanatical obsessed string polisher. Every time i play, or even just handle a guitar, i wipe the strigs down afterwards. Thats a good rub down over the strings and i slip the cloth under and run it up and down (bridge to nut) too.

I've get this bad, so even if i pick up a guitar i handle it with a cloth so as not to touch the strings (i know, obesssive) and my strings last and keep their tone very well.

I have known people who at a push use one of those hotel silicon shoe polishing foam block thingies. I'm not recommending that, i don't use any gunk at all mself, but it does slicken up the strings. I'm not sure what else it does though. Feel free to slap that suggestion down, anyone.

[zenguitar]

Thanks for getting back to us Williamalake. And I hope your fingers toughen up again quickly

Olive Oil is perfectly safe to use on your guitar. However, it is quite a heavy oil and I think that you will be using it quite regularly (and you will also need to wipe the back of the string too, to stop the tarnish building up on the there). You will find that the Olive Oil will start to build up on the surface of the fretboard and around the frets.

If you can find a lighter vegetable oil locally that would be a lot more suitable. The fretboard will naturally absorb whatever it needs and the excess will come off easier when you wipe it, instead of building up. Maybe something like Almond Oil, but ask around locally and see what is available where you are.

In the long term, I do think you would get a lot of benefit from coated strings. They are more expensive, but they will last a lot longer on your guitars. It is certainly worth looking at getting them mail order if possible, and you might talk to the shop where you buy strings and see if they can order some for you. If you are having problems, I am sure other players will be too.

Best of luck.

Andy

[Eddy Currents]

My hands have always been pretty corrosive to strings.
Elixir coated and fast fret with a wipe down after I play and I am amazed how long a set of strings lasts.
Could you not order a batch of both coated strings and fast fret on line and have them shipped to you ?
And store the guitar in a case with dessicant silica bags.

[Digitally Challenged]

I agree that coated strings are the only way for you with that amount of humidity. I love fast fret and use it to help with string life over the lubrication benefits. I think mail order a bucket load of fast fret and coated strings and get playing.

You could buy a nice nylon strung guitar too! They are lovely and soft on the fingers

[dubbmann]

hi,

i'm really anti-googe when it comes to strings. i know YMMV but it seems to me that if you have as great a problem getting new strings as with your callouses, i'd opt to keep my strings as clean as possible and just soldier through the pain until it passes. for me, i hate the sound of new strings and it takes a few days/weeks to get them sounding where i want them. consequently, i try to extend their life as long as possible, which means for me not only not using things like fast fret (or KY jelly!) but even washing my hands before playing. every time.

btw, i know some great players feel otherwise. john renbourn told me he changes his strings before every recording. likewise, if you watch vids of chet atkins, you can see he had this curious gesture: he'd frequently rub his fretting fingers on the side of his nose, to pick up the oil from his skin to lubricate his fingers similar to fast fret. but if you can't easily get new strings i'd avoid googe =:-O

cheers,

d

[Studio Support Gnome]

I use this stuff......

D'andrea String cleaner

if anyone ever takes fast fret near one of my guitars, I'll hack their arms off with a blunt brick.

[4TrackMadman]

One of the alternatives as relayed to me by an older blues musician (after my showing him Fast Fret) is to let your face perspire and then grease your left hand from your brow line. Sounds a bit gross but it does work, plus it is 100% free.

[Studio Support Gnome]

that's a real fast way to corrode the strings, sweat is generally acidic , i know some guys whose sweat can corrode a set of strings in an hour.