I've always thought the absence of string squeaks were what gave a guitar part that "rompler" sound.

ORIGINAL: yep

ORIGINAL: krizrox

Yeah - I agree with Syd - try lubricating the strings with fastfret or even some light oil (cooking oil or whatever). It doesn't take much - a very light coating usually works fine. Elixer has these teflon coated strings that might help (there are other brands with similar coatings and things).

Yeah, exactly. You can buy special string treatments, but wesson oil works just as good in my experience. Just put a little on a paper towel and wipe the strings.

I love the smell of crisco in the morning

Chet Atkins used to steal a little grease from the corner of his nose or behind his ear and wipe it across the strings. I've been doing that for years too. Doesn't work so well right after a moring shower though. I do it to lubricate the strings though rather than to stop squeaks. If I want to stop squeaks (which I usually don't) I just let up the grip of my fretting hand as it moves along the fretboard.

I don't mind the odd squeak here or there. The problem occurs when I'm running a two note melody line, sliding up and down
the fretboard when one finger is on a wrapped nylon string. The squeak is almost as loud as the note. I tried some
finger-ease to no avail. I'll try the cooking oil next.

Thanks

There's one last comment I'd like to make - that you won't like

technique

I mean I've seen guitarists play acoustic guitars with no lubricants and zero finger squeeks on regular strings and nonfancy guitars. In the same room. Sitting right in front of them. How do they do it? If it's a problem for one person it should be a problem for everyone right? I mean, all things being equal, if you drag your fingers across the string it should squeek right? I've never thought to ask about it before because in my world, the problem is very rare. In fact, I can't remember the last time I was recording an acoustic guitarist and finger squeeks were an issue. Lot's of other issues but not finger squeeks.

I might suggest - that if the vegatable oil trick still doesn't work, try different strings or even a different guitar or try changing your technique somehow. Good luck!

Out of curiosity -
How does the wesson oil effect the sound and the life of the strings?

ORIGINAL: yep

ORIGINAL: krizrox

Yeah - I agree with Syd - try lubricating the strings with fastfret or even some light oil (cooking oil or whatever). It doesn't take much - a very light coating usually works fine. Elixer has these teflon coated strings that might help (there are other brands with similar coatings and things).

Yeah, exactly. You can buy special string treatments, but wesson oil works just as good in my experience. Just put a little on a paper towel and wipe the strings.

Use a multiband compressor and tone down the frequency those sqweeks are most prominent.

Kind regards

Dave Rich

ORIGINAL: NW Smith

Out of curiosity -
How does the wesson oil effect the sound and the life of the strings?

The strings basically sound identical, except with less squeak, and maybe a slightly less "stringy" sound. New strings will sound clear, bright, and transparent, older strings will sound tubby and mellow.

I haven't found any significant decrease in the life of strings with oil if you keep your hands and the strings clean. In fact, I have even heard theories that a little oil can prolong the life of the string, but I haven't experienced that.

I have tried almost everything I can think of to extend the life of strings and have not come up with much (other than cleaning) that will allow a set of strings to last more than a week or so before going dead, with or without oil.

As has been said above, I find a certain amount of string squeak tolerable, even desireable sometimes. Ususally, I only oil the strings if they must be recorded brand-new with no break-in, or if something about the material or the player's technique calls for a squeak-free recording.

Cheers.

ORIGINAL: yep

older strings will sound tubby and mellow.

Cheers.

Or just plain dull and lifeless I've never liked the sound of brand new strings on a guitar. I like the sound of strings after they've been broken in a little bit. I don't know, maybe after a half hour of practice or something.

We're not talking about a thick coating of oil here. A thin coating is all you need actually. FingerEase, I think, is too thin to start with and wears off quickly. Cooking oil is a tad thicker. Maybe that is the key.

I was reading something a long while ago about convicts at some prison. These guys had access to a practice room with instruments. They basically had one guitar and if they were lucky, they'd get a fresh set of strings once a year. They kept the strings as fresh as possible by wiping the strings down after each session and using cooking oil from the cafeteria. Apparently, they were able to keep the strings sounding good for longer than normal. I don't remember if they were boiling them too. They might have.

ORIGINAL: krizrox

There's one last comment I'd like to make - that you won't like

technique

there it is. well, someone alluded to this before but anyway... it's in the left hand. if you are sliding the note you have to press firmly. if you are transitioning (not sliding) then your finger does not touch the string. you look at where your hand must go before it has to go there and practice until you get it right.

you can typically get away with quite a bit on non-wound strings but wound ones require good technique. i usually allow some squeaking when i play but it has been a long time since it's been a recording issue for me. i've never used oil but i do use elixir strings (steel) on my acoustic. when i took classical guitar it was never a problem since my technique was fairly decent.