@spacey... heh, well no but definitely wrecking strings after a couple session. After a while I had to tell them not to play my guitars.

And I'll keep that intonation insight in mind. Makes sense considering the neck could be getting bent slightly on a table.

Spacey - I get what you meant. I previously said no mater how much I play it or not. That wasn't formulated properly, sort of combined 2 ideas w/o realizing it.

Actually, the strings used to last longer than they do nowadays, because I guess my acidity level weren't as bad. So even playing it 6 hours a day, in the old days, they'd last for quite a bit longer. I think I remember changing the every week or two.

Meaning that one or two 6 hours sessions may be enough to corrode them w/ my current acidity level, but, in my mind, that's not a lot compared to my old standards - or anyone else's I guess.

Haven't they changed a lot of how strings are manufactured in recent years for environmental reasons? Different chemicals and steel makeup? Might be part of the problem.

Rain my thoughts if you were a customer at my counter...

What metals have you tried and did you keep notes?

If there is no lasting improvements due to using different metals
have you tried coated strings?

My goal would be to improve the life of the strings either by string choice
or practice habits.
Currently the only practice habit I can think of would be to increase the
time that the strings are wiped down during a practice session because
we are going on the fact that there is a chemical issue that I wouldn't be
ablt to resolve. The best course of action until it is resolved is to try every
availible/known option.

Adding powders and such is just going to compound the problem by coating
the strings with unwanted coatings LOL.

I think a wet towel to wipe your hand(s) on often and one for wiping the strings (dry one)
and possible some coated strings may help prolong the playing time and save
ya a few bucks.

I had a bandmate who was allergic to nickel. His entire hands and forearms would break out in nasty hives if he played on nickel strings. 

Oh and I used to tell my students to keep their hands clean but wait like 20 minutes or so after washing them before picking up the guit. If you wash the oils off your hands they will secrete more for a while to compensate. Let your skin balance itself out before playing and it might help. Cheers.

If I did that my guitar would get very stinky. ;-)

Ew... I don't want my feet to smell like urine.

This would sure be worth trying out Rain.

Be selective with your strings. Realize that "pure nickel" is only about
8% nickel (usually electroplated steel) and steel. A very good string. Optimum for magnetic pups and easy on the frets.

Stainless?......you're frets...your choice. Found under premature fret wear. Sorry John...
I sure wouldn't recommend them unless the guitar had stainless frets or the cat didn't
mind a fret job in the near future.

How long strings last?....opinions I put with what good tone is.
I change mine when I see rust or they break....and until I go for a keeper recording or I'm adjusting a guitar...what in the world does it matter if I can still play in tune for practicing? JMO.

A phosphor bronze may be a good string to try out with some of that stringlife.
I'd sure try that before the liquid gloves ( which was a bad joke....that nobody seemed
to think was funny but me)

Rain


Not impossible, indeed. It may contribute.

Maybe I should try something else, like those new cobalt strings.

I just picked up a set of 10-52s for mine today after I get done running through it real good cleaning and doing a setup on it.  I hope they sound good on recordings

Rain


Most likely due to the climate change and maybe also the trip on a plane, my new Epi Les Paul seems to need some adjustments (intonation issues). 

And since I'm no guitar tech, especially in the case of a LP, I'd prefer to ask a pro.

I've started shopping around on the internet and I'm also expecting some feedback from the musicians working for Cirque here in Vegas. But I wouldn't take any decision w/o also asking you guys before. 

Since it's the first time I actually have to pay someone to do that, I have no clue what a fair price should be. So far, I've found one guy who does the basic set-up for $85 (seems fair to me).

Aslo, if you've lived here/been here and know of anyone that you'd recommend, please chime in. :)

Welcome to Vegas. I can recommend G.L. Davis- Luthier, at Cowtown guitars, 1009 S. Main Street. Vegas... has a unigue effect on guitars.

I'm pretty sure the work Rain needs is Vegas climate orientated. Party towns create their own climate, which is never stable, but some  hotshot will try top steal the whole scene and, wham!, your tuning is out and intonation is off. Environment in small spaces.

They have 9.5's now (DR is an example).  Maybe that could be a compromise?

Rain


Really?

I've just found that there's sort of an alternative standard - 9, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46. Seems right to me, at least as a starting point.

Apparently, EVH, Dimebag Darrell and Ace Frehley all have custom 9-46 sets.


However, I still wish my fingers were strongers. But turning 40 this year made me realize that I'd rather focus on what I have and make the best of it.

Still, if those fingers were as strong as they're big, I'd be in business... :P

I tried Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkies a few times. They are 9,11,16,26, 36 and 46.
Nickle-wound steel.
 

I've got a Martin Backpacker that I take every where that has the 20 year old OEM strings on it.

The darn thing sounds like a Mandolin when I play it and I don't want to mess up the magic with a fresh set of strings.

When a string finally breaks... I don't know how I'm gonna feel about that instrument.






One of my favorite sets of strings lately has been a set of flat wounds I make up by buying a set of Fender light flat wounds and a single "10".

The flat wounds are something like 13-52 but I end up with a 10-47 set, or something like that... I forget the details.


Another favorite set is the Rickenbacker semi flattened 10-42s... those things feel sort of slinky and sort of flat wound. Hard to find... easy to play.

Each of my guitars has different strings and set ups so that they each have something interesting to offer when you grab them.

I usually buy 10 packs of strings when it's time to re supply so I have a big plastic box of all kinda my favorite strings.

  


Fun stuff.



best regards,
mike