# The Great Ongoing Guitar Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172 "2010-01-31T23:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 311
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6206 "2023-12-20T16:09:24Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Are some poly finishes sticky? Some people, likely those with sweatier hands, find glossy poly to be a bit sticky. You can also find the same complaint about gloss nitro that hasn’t finished curing all the way. 2 of my G&Ls have satin poly necks and are slick, smooth and fast. The Doheny has a glossy neck that works fine for me but isn’t as good as satin in my mind. My Marr Jaguar has a glossy nitro neck and is wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6207 "2023-12-20T16:16:07Z")
My hands don’t get sweaty, or at least not very sweaty, so maybe that is why I’ve never had an issue. I just installed stair treads and finished them with poly. I was warned to use satin as glossy is so slippery. Odd that in woodworking, glossy is slippery, but in guitar neck world, satin is slippery. 🤷 ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6208 "2023-12-20T16:23:37Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Odd that in woodworking, glossy is slippery, but in guitar neck world, satin is slippery. I think it’s more in the nature of the friction. Seems to me that when I do have an issue with a gloss neck, it’s in that moment of initial stiction before you break the seal between your palm and the neck. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6209 "2023-12-20T16:26:49Z")
I live in a low humidity climate and don’t have sweaty hands. I read about strings getting rusty after being played a few times and I look at my year old non-rusty strings and wonder what’s wrong 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6210 "2023-12-20T16:28:56Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I look at my year old non-rusty strings and wonder what’s wron They’re a year old is the problem. I used to change my strings _weekly_ when I was younger and played crunch guitar. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6211 "2023-12-20T16:33:41Z")
I prefer them after the bright has worn off, both guitar and bass. My first decade of playing I was so broke old strings were a necessity. I played a lot more aggressively then (my Hondo Flying V made sense then) and would often break strings and would just replace that individual broken string. Now that I can afford them, I still don’t see the need for what I do. Plus, I play a lot less aggressively and rarely break a string. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6212 "2023-12-20T16:44:21Z")
Yeah, my style and tone has changed since I was a dumb teenager. But still, twice a year string change is about right for me. Set the guitar in a corner to sulk for a week and the bright wears off while I play another guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6213 "2023-12-20T17:43:03Z")
Oof. I wish I could get away with that. For me, days 2 through 4 of new strings are the best. Not a very big window, I am aware. I have switched to Elixers for the most part (Optiweb, the thinnest coating) and find those are good for a month or so before I’m disgusted with the tone. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6214 "2023-12-20T17:51:21Z")
Shit. Speaking of strings, I just realized today has to be new string day. Why? Well, one of the dogs got sprayed by a skunk two nights ago. He took a lap through the house before we caught him and I spent all yesterday steam cleaning rug and scrubbing anything he touched. Well, I was just playing my Doheny and got a strong whiff. Yup, he must have bumped it on his way past. I gotta take the strings off and do a deeeeep clean. DISGUSTING. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6215 "2023-12-20T18:14:21Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > For me, days 2 through 4 of new strings are the best Crunch player, tone control on 11? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6216 "2023-12-20T18:18:26Z")
> [@ColdBrew50](#): > > it’s not one of those drippy thick poly finishes A quick pass with fine steel wool fixes poly slippery. Dulls it just slightly, which IMO is a good thing. Evens out poorly applied, uneven finishes. Also great on sharp fret edges. We’re talking a few minutes work at best. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6217 "2023-12-20T18:29:43Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > For me, days 2 through 4 of new strings are the best. Wow. Maybe I don’t care about tone or I’m just used to the old strings tone, but I couldn’t imagine changing strings that often. I’ll say I’m lucky! I hate changing strings 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6218 "2023-12-20T18:32:48Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I hate changing strings I love changing strings. I’m giving my guitar some love. And a good opportunity to wipe/blow dust off the guitar, get rid of crap it’s accumulated. Guitars are beloved friends, show them some appreciation. Though 3n3 headstocks suck for string changing ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6219 "2023-12-20T19:19:37Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > > [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > > > For me, days 2 through 4 of new strings are the best > > Crunch player, tone control on 11? Nah, right now I’ve been living in a world of sparkly cleans bordering on jangle. Hence the new Jaguar. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6220 "2023-12-20T19:21:56Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I live in a low humidity climate and don’t have sweaty hands. I read about strings getting rusty after being played a few times and I look at my year old non-rusty strings and wonder what’s wrong Strings do seem to degrade no matter what you do? Chris Squire apparently used to be famous for putting on a new set of bass strings before every gig. Though new strings do need a bit of time to settle. at least on my instruments… ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6221 "2023-12-20T19:29:10Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Though new strings do need a bit of time to settle. at least on my instruments Yeah, for me it’s the brightness, but also the tuning stabilizes after a settling period. ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6222 "2023-12-20T22:26:19Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Except: fret buzz? Out of the box? Very very surprised. I’d seriously consider a return. If you got it from Sweetwater, I’d bitch. Well, after tuning up properly and plugging in, it’s not actually that dire. This one didn’t come from Sweetwater, but rather that Other Place that doesn’t really specialize in musical instruments. The interior box a sealed Squier box…I suspect it came directly from the Fender/Squier manufacturer. The action was set very low at the factory. I don’t think that’s going to work for me too well, so when I change the strings to 11s, I’ll have a chance to change that using the “by the book” procedures. As a bonus, though, the fret edges don’t need any filing at all…nicely rounded all the way down the neck. Odd thing, my hands don’t really sweat at all, ever…I doubt the poly-finished neck will ever be a problem for me. Word on the street is that the WR humbucker is actually just some generic humbucker with the WR cover put on it, just for looks, I guess. Sounds fine to me through a basic amp, and different enough from the single coil neck pup that I’ll have fun with it. And the intonation out of the box, with the 9s from the factory, is very much spot-on, just testing at the 12th fret. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6223 "2023-12-21T00:08:16Z")
> [@ColdBrew50](#): > > Well, after tuning up properly and plugging in, it’s not actually that dire Yay! Glad the guitar is un-dire! So what are you playing in open G, and why isn’t it Stones? ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6224 "2023-12-21T03:36:42Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > So what are you playing in open G, and why isn’t it Stones? It _is_ the Stones! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/6225 "2023-12-21T03:39:29Z")
> [@ColdBrew50](#): > > It _is_ the Stones! You have great taste my friend! Here’s a great non-canon cover to enjoy. This guy is awesome. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hg8asMp07qE/maxresdefault.jpg ""Can't You Hear Me Knocking" - The Rolling Stones | Guitar Lesson") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg8asMp07qE) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=310) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=312)