Rubbing alcohol, as from a drugstore, has water mixed in it. As a result, many people use rubbing alcohol on a daily. I am 63, and when i was in my teens, guitar strings were as or more expensive then they are today. Without removing the strings from your bass and without any kind of cleaning products do try this at home. It clips over the strips to clean the strings from both sides, and uses microfiber pads to remove and hold debris without having to use any cleaning solution. Id only use isopropyl alcohol for cleaning the electrical contacts of a dirty jack or pot, and then only lightly applied to a qtip. There can be a lot of grunge on the body and fingerboard. There are two reasons why rubbing alcohol may cause stains. Im not sure i would soak ti flats due to the silk wrap under the flat ribbon and im not sure soaking coated strings would do anything good to them. Rubbing alcohol is a very useful product for cleaning. If deeper cleaning of the strings is needed, apply rubbing alcohol to the cloth and wipe with that. You can use cotton swabs and clean the strings, and wood polish to clean the fretboard. Since alcohol damages the violins varnish, however, it is very important to use a bare minimum so that nothing drips onto the instrument. Then put a moist section of the cloth between your index finger and thumb and pinch one string at a time, rubbing the cloth up and down along.
Can i use rubbing alcohol to clean rosin off of violin. I have heard that people use rubbing alcohol to do it and that it is more effective. Can i use rubbing alcohol to clean rosin off of violin strings. Cleaning your bass guitar electronics are the electronics on your bass crackling.
In most situations, using rubbing alcohol to clean your guitar strings isnt. First, one should never use a commercial furniture spray polish or wax on a. In some parts of the world denatured alcohol is called methylated spirits caution. The rosin on the strings is even more of a problem for violas and cellos. Hi, i have been cleaning my violin strings with rubbing alcohol and i was wondering if it will shorten the life of my strings. I have been cleaning my strings by just running a cloth up and down the part of the string covered in rosin. In some parts of the world denatured alcohol is called methylated spirits. What boiling the strings does is simply loosen and release the grime you cant get to. First, rubbing alcohol is not pure isopropyl alcohol. Dont substitute anything else to clean your bass strings. Feb 20, 2009 by far the best method to clean bass strings is to soak them in denatured alcohol. Being young, my partner terry and i had little money. To clean guitar strings, start by resting your guitar on its back so you have both hands free to work. Generally speaking and depending on the bass, the dirt, the age and type of varnish, there are a few good, safe ways to clean an upright.
Out of the many things that i have heard of people using to clean their strings, i currently posses. The best ways to clean string instruments maids by trade. I do wipe off my violin and strings after i play it but after about a month the rosin build up on the strings drives me crazy. Then, rinse your cloth and dampen it with rubbing alcohol. Can i use alcohol to remove rosin from bass strings. You can wipe down the strings and a rosewood fingerboard with alcohol, but i wouldnt wipe down the body or back of the neck with alcohol typically, if theres gunk on the fretboard, ill get it off with rubbing. Can i use rubbing alcohol to clean my frets and fretboard. Put a few drops of the alcohol on a clean cloth and rub the strings. Not only is it cheap, but its effective as a degreaser, disinfectant, and a general cleaner. If you play your bass regularly, it needs to be cleaned regularly, and each part of the bass requires.
Why rubbing alcohol is better for cleaning even better. Wipe up any excess rubbing alcohol with a clean rag. After every set i wipe down the strings with the rag and alcohol. First, one should never use a commercial furniture spray polish or wax on a good bass.
Let the alcohol sink into the cloth for a few seconds. Remove the strings from the instrument and soak them in denatured alcohol for 12 to 24 hours. If youre at all familiar with this concept, you probably saw it on a. You need to know how to properly clean a bass guitar if you want yours to last for years to come. Aug 08, 2007 yes rubbing alcohol isopropyl alcohol is bad for your guitars fretboard. Cleaning your guitar strings is easy and can extend their life as well as feel. Some manufacturers recommend a polish as in a few examples above but note their suggestion of a clean, dry cloth for cleaning the body. How to disinfect musical instruments during covid19. You need to just buy a new set of strings, although you could boil them in rubbing alcohol, some people swear by it.
Wipe your item gently with the rag to get rid of any stains and sterilize it. Your perspiration chemistry will determine how well these hold up to standard. For guitars with steel strings, put 70 to 90% rubbing alcohol, preshaving gel, or a commercial cleaner on your towel. John carruthers shows you how to clean your bass electronics. Boilingwashing used guitarbass strings is it worthwhile. Feb 18, 2006 whoever mentioned rubbing alcohol for strings is correct. I have used rubbing alcohol on my strings between virtually every gig i have ever played in my adult life. Just apply a bit of rubbing alcohol to a cotton swab, swipe it across your device, then buff it dry with a clean microfiber cloth. You can also clean the bow by wiping it with a clean cloth. It has really helped to keep my strings lasting longer.
Denatured alcohol can also be used to clean the strings of your bass guitar. Can you use rubbing alcohol to clean the body of your guitar. In order to clean the strings, you can simply use a towel or a cleaning kit. For at least 30 years, i have kept a little eyedrop bottle filled with rubbing alcohol in each instrument case. Although rubbing alcohol is very effective for removing some types of stains, such as paint, ink or tree sap, it can also cause stains of its own. Your best bet is to use a triedandtested string cleaner and lubricant. Cleaning upright bass strings cleaning your metal wrapped upright bass strings is a good way to keep them sounding good for a longer time. Nobody ever let me touch their bass because they knew what i would do to their strings. Rubbing alcohol, if it gets on the guitars neck, can end up sucking. Sep 06, 2017 over time, bass strings get grime pushed into them.
Now, completely dry off the strings with a clean dry cloth, and then install them back on the guitar. So the least you should do is keep those fingerprints clean the next few sections walk you through cleaning the various parts of your bass, one by one. I clean my sunbeams with iso wipes without taking them off the bass but that is just general cleaning. Isopropyl alcohol, commonly called rubbing alcohol, doesnt work nearly as well. Fretboard if you care you didnt mention the fretboard but i can assume that it may come up, especially if you happen to get some rubbing alcohol on the strings and potentially the fretboard. Were dedicated to making the highest quality guitar and bass strings.
When it gets to the point that it affects the sound, thats when you get out the rubbing alcohol and a cloth or paper towel. Amazon brand solimo 91% isopropyl alcohol first aid antiseptic, 32 fl oz pack of 6 4. Ocassinally, they would last longer after boiling and then rubbing alcohol wiping then when new. You can also use this to clean the fingerboard underneath and around the string. I cant imagine playing a gig without doing it with the same old strings on from the gig before. There is an article on this site that gives instructions for cleaning a computer, inside and out. When you consider how much more bass guitar strings cost, it makes. When standard oil made this product, chemists realized that it had unique household properties that could make it a wonder chemical for health and home. You dont want to put water on your bass strings like i warned in the boiling bass strings article. You can finish this cleaning by carefully moistening the same cloth with a little rubbing alcohol. Can you use rubbing alcohol to clean the body of your. No doubt the rust and grime has made its way into the core. And no matter how often you clean your strings, once grime gets in there, its very difficult to get out. Pure alcohol can be used to remove more stubborn rosin buildup on strings, although extreme caution must be taken.
Mar 26, 2020 before you apply the rubbing alcohol, wipe your item with a clean, damp rag to get rid of any dirt or grease. The rotosound string cleaner works for all 4 or 5string bass guitars and promises to revitalize old strings and preserve the life and tone of. Dont clean your keyboard with alcohol as described in the microsoft article. Whats up everybody, im scott from stringjoy guitar strings, and today were coming at you with a short video talking about whether or not its a good idea to use isopropyl rubbing alcohol to clean your guitars strings, and get longer life out of a set of guitar strings. Denatured alcohol, or methylated spirits, has no water in it. Check out the can i use rubbing alcohol to clean my strings. While scientific evidence has shown that proper washing of wounds along with the use of isopropyl alcohol is a good way to clean wounds and keep them infected, research has also shown that some peoples bodies dont react well to the substance. Cleaning guitar strings is a great way to get longer life and better performance out of your strings. You can also wipe the upper part of the strings to get the sweat from your hands off. A bass player i know says he wipes his strings down with a little bit of rubbing alcohol. I played bass in a hard rock band for 20 years, and i did boil each set of strings between each gig and it did work.
John carruthers will show you the best way to clean your bass guitar. If your guitar has nylon strings, use a dry or slightly damp towel to wipe off any dirt or grime. So take the strings off, rub with alcohol and then put in the oven for a few mins to dry. Alosinac uses isopropyl alcohol at times, but only on the strings and. Some of the information is helpful, but the instructions say to clean the keyboard and its keys with rubbing alcohol on several cotton swabs. Keeping the strings clean of excess rosin on violins, violas, and cellos is something ive been concerned with for over half a century. Cleaning your bass guitar is the most basic of maintenance jobs, and the first step is to wash your hands. By far the best method to clean bass strings is to soak them in denatured alcohol. Basically the idea is you use regular isopropyl rubbing alcohol, put it onto a cotton swab or some sort of cleaning cloth, and use it to clean your. Alosinac uses isopropyl alcohol at times, but only on the strings and unfinished fretboards e. Whoever mentioned rubbing alcohol for strings is correct. If you dont want to remove your strings and soak them, you need to use this denatured alcohol. My grandfather used to run it through a loaf of bread and drink it. I really really need to clean my fiddle strings but i dont have any proper string cleaner.
If youre a guitarist, do you clean your guitar strings. Dont clean your keyboard with alcohol as described. That said, i do not think it will clean the strings when they are already that far gone. Rubbing alcohol may dry out the wood of the fingerboard, and may damage certain. Electric bass nickel plated steel with nanoweb coating. Isopropyl alcohol was invented in the 1920s and has been available for home use since the 1930s or so. With its enhanced ability to remove all sorts of grease and oils, isopropyl alcohol provides the next level of indepth cleaning. Sep 18, 2014 isopropyl in 70%, or 99% concentration is an effective solvent with the only drawback being the odor. Sep, 2012 hi, i have been cleaning my violin strings with rubbing alcohol and i was wondering if it will shorten the life of my strings. Isopropyl in 70%, or 99% concentration is an effective solvent with the only drawback being the odor.
Sep 30, 20 how to get new bass strings in 2 minutes. Its far too harsh a drying agent and could damage a board that hasnt previously been taken care of. Isopropyl alcohol for reel cleaning bass fishing forums. Get a thin tube that can hold your strings, fill with alcohol and shake a bit.
The other cleaning method i use is to run some 0000 steel wool over the strings before i. I boil my strings with rubbing alcohol and i notice a big difference every time for decades. You will be amazed at how well cleaning your bass strings this way works. How to clean guitar strings and fretboard guitar tricks blog. Since alcohol damages the violins varnish, however, it is very important to use a. Over time a persistent rosin deposit may build up on the area where you bow that doesnt come off with a dry rag.
The finish on the wood and hardware shows every fingerprint. When we play guitar or bass, our hands and fingers touch almost every part of. But is cleaning guitar strings with rubbing alcohol a good idea, as many have said. But really, unless you always play with your hands dirty andor swet a lot, wiping down after playing should make your strings last until you want to replace them because of wear. The life of these treblebass strings are totally dependent on use. Rubbing alcohol is a great choice because it evaporates quickly, and theres less of a chance that moisture will affect your devices. If youre a guitarist, do you clean your guitar strings with. I know people say to use a cloth to wipe the rosin off the strings after each time you play. No matter how careful you are, your bass guitar is bound to collect battle scars. Acetone to clean strings bass guitar harmony central. I wouldnt suggest doing this before you play because it will change the temperature of the strings and knock them out of tune, temporarily. Make your own electronics screen cleaner for pennies. I dont know but i suspect that soaking in anything would only be good for all metal strings. Rubbing alcohol wont hurt maple as must as rosewood.