Do You Wash Your Hands Before Playing, and if so, Do You Think It Helps Make Strings Last Longer?

[TSJMajesty]

I do, most all the time, and I definitely think it helps.

Curious what others' experiences are though.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I'm compulsive. So yes.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

My hands don't really corrode strings. I don't like fresh strings much. Use DR Blues pure nickel. Change 'em once a year or so at most.

I wash my hands AFTER playing typically, but don't worry much before.

 

[DrewJD82]

Nope, but when I put a fresh pack on and I’m recording, I wipe the strings down with the Music Nomad stuff after I play. Then once the song is done I go back to not caring until the next time I change strings.

 

[Stone]

Wash hands and hand stretch exercises, makes difference for me
Once a week wipe down the strings with music nomad string fuel also makes a difference

 

[Sleezy E]

Yes and yes

 

[Eagle]

Some people sweat acid and destroy string very quickly. If that’s you do it.

 

[maguchi]

I do, most all the time, and I definitely think it helps.

Curious what others' experiences are though.

Usually just soak my left hand in  hot tap water for 5 minutes before and after playing to loosen it up and prevent injury. I wash my hands during the day so they're usually relatively clean when playing. Never had a problem with strings not lasting long, so I think my acidity, alkalinity etc. is probly not detrimental to guitar strings.

 

[MindCrime]

Yes to both questions.

 

[TSJMajesty]

I have no idea if my hands are "corrosive", but I can tell that washing them removes oils. (Or was it the grease from the potato chips? )

 

[Stone]

Maybe grease is in the Toanz

Schon replied, "I use Italian salami, for real," adding that he was inspired to do so by late great jazz guitar legend Wes Montgomery. "I wipe the fat grease up and down the fret board," he explained

 

[TSJMajesty]

Maybe grease is in the Toanz

Schon replied, "I use Italian salami, for real," adding that he was inspired to do so by late great jazz guitar legend Wes Montgomery. "I wipe the fat grease up and down the fret board," he explained

So that's what Leon means when he talks about greasy tone.

 

[PLX]

I don't even wash my hands before I eat a sandwich.

 

[gearJunkie]

yes and yes, but I mainly do it because I know where my hands have been.

 

[Achilles]

Yes with hot water. To clean the oils off but also to help warm up all the tendons and stuff.
Wring your fingers under some hot water for 10 seconds and it makes the aches go away too.

 

[mavrick102000]

It depends on what I've been doing. I barely wash my hands before eating at times.

My immune system seems to have liked it, or at least deals with it well

 

[megametal7]

Nope:… I just play the damn thing

 

[Warmart]

I do, and I even kinda look like Mr. Clean. Figure it helps with string life but I do it to minimize smudges, overall. Less wiping down equals less opportunity to scratch em up.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Depends on what I've been doing beforehand. I'm a pretty dry guy. My hands are lacking oils, cracking, scaly, bleeding. I try to keep them out of water and wear gloves when I need to.

 

[OrganicZed]

I wash my hands before playing, but I’ve done that for years and I couldn’t honestly say whether or not it enhances string life. I just do it because I don’t like gunk to build up on my instruments.