Humidity and dust, as the time goes by, make the guitar strings sound opaque. Although replacing the strings should be done at this point, It might not be possible in the moment we need.
In these cases, cleaning the strings can improve their sound quality.
This is an Author 3 guitar, made by Di Giorgio in 1987. The strings set on it is a D'Addario normal tension. Because of humidity, the low strings sound is not good.
For cleaning, we are going to use:
a tea spoon of baking soda;
50ml of fruit vinegar.
We are going to use a brush to distribute the solution over the strings; the tea spoon to measure the baking soda; a recipient for the solution; paper towel, and a soft and clean fabric towel; and one garbage bag for covering the arm of the guitar.
After covering the guitar arm, I distribute the solution along the strings E, A, and D (the low strings). I wait a few seconds and brush the strings to remove the rusty material. With a paper towel I dry the strings.
Now I use clean water with the fabric towel to remove the residue of the baking soda/vinegar solution from the strings. Now I loose the strings to facilitate the cleaning.
I dry the strings very well with the towel and finish the drying with another piece of paper towel.
Now I have to tune the guitar.
Listen to the strings before the cleaning.
Now, try to notice the difference in the quality of the sound. I play here an excerpt of a composition of mine named Caliban ( • Caliban ).
Note: As said before, the ideal solution is to replace the strings. The cleaning can stretch the strings life for few weeks, but it is not the perfect solution. ;-)
I hope you enjoy.
Негізгі бет Classical Guitar - Cleaning the strings
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