rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth - wipe the strings down after playing. Takes off all the grime in ONE step. Just don't get the alcohol on the fingerboard. Clean the fingerboard properly when you change your strings. If your strings are discoloured or sounding dull change them! Wash your hands before you play. Keep a towel nearby to dry your hands if you are a sweaty player. I love D'Addario strings btw, use them on most of my guitars.
Strings take a while to stretch and get broken-in. This is when they sound the best! You're better off maintaining them (cleaning them) than to needlessly replace them.
I keep an old sock in my case and wipe the strings down after playing. I’ve been playing for 63 years and never considered using string cleaner or string lubricant - I’ll just stick with the sock.
@@tomf429 From u.k The humble sock has many uses! This one slipped under the bed, sorry I meant radar! An English folk singer, NICK DRAKE. Hope you have heard of him, if not check him out. Never changed his strings unless he really had to! It added to his sound, take a listen. Only what I’ve read. Thanks for the tip!👍
I know bass players who soak their strings overnight in rubbing alcohol. Bass strings are expensive and your really hear the tone change as they age, so this keeps them sounding bright and snappy for a long time. Changing bass strings is a very quick process, which also helps. But doing that with guitar strings seems nuts - just change them if you are going to take them off, don't waste time putting old strings back on a guitar.
I don't mind spending the money for new strings, actually keep several packs on hand, I simply find it difficult making myself change the,(lazy about it I guess), when I'm famous, I'll have a tech do it for me😂
