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Indeed, I'm learning that the hard way atm lol.
Hey, I have another question. This may be better served in a new thread in case anyone else wonders it to but if so just let me know & I'll move it.
I clean/wipe down my instrument every time I'm done w/practice, including the strings. However, I'm still noticing a build up of rosin on the strings so I'm wondering... should I clean them with alcohol or some other cleaner off & on to remove that build up or is that bad for the strings? I'm thinking if they're nylon/synthetic core this might not be a good idea but steel core I dunno... my strings are the D’Addario Kaplan Amo.
Advice?
Thanks
"I know that the most joy in my life has come to me from my violin."
~Albert Einstein~
Interesting to perhaps hear from others - but this is my own feeling -
I would not be "over-enthusiastic" about trying to return the strings to their original un-rosined state. Rosin is sticky stuff, especially on wound strings - and - OK - IMO only of course - and depending on the rosin on the bow - I just feel that, in general, strings settle down once they are rosined. You don't REALLY want to do this too much ( because of grease, sweat etc from a finger ) - but - once you have started playing on a new set of strings - you can feel the difference on the bowed-area as distinct from the un-bowed area by running a finger over the string . but - don't touch it too much - in the same way you don't want to handle the bow-hair......
To me, this is perfectly normal, and the strings with a SLIGHT sticky-feel are just exactly what they should be.... And again, to me, yes, brand-new strings "settle in" in many different ways - and their playability and sound/feel/timbre changes from being "brand new" to "moderately used" ( the sound/feel/timbre will "fall off" for other various reasons over time and you'll realise you want to replace them )
I would not advocate cleaning your strings with alcohol (in an attempt to "restore them" to their original ) on any sort of frequent basis. If you have let a HUGE build up of rosin occur (which, from what you say, you have NOT) - and the strings are like hawsers that would have held the Titanic to the dock ( OK, I exaggerate ) - then yeah - if the solidified rosin cant be removed by a duster - dip 'em, or rub 'em down with denatured C2H6O ( ethanol or any denatured alcohol )
I suspect from what you say ( because you say you DO wipe them down ) that the "build-up" you see may well be "normal" ( i.e. very slight, and marginally sticky to the touch) - but that's just exactly what the string "wants" LOL I would not be over-concerned about this - I suspect what you are seeing is normal...
Let's see what others have to say....
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Regulars
@Gjinja I have a cello and if I think I have been a bit too generous with the rosin, I use a kitchen scrub pad made of plastic, very gently, to scrub some of the excess of the strings a bit. (I saw this recommended somewhere on the internet). Never alcohol, just a little loosening. I guess you could use the same pad on a violin if it looked like there was buildup, but I am with @BillyG , I think it belongs there and is in fact what makes it work.
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Regulars
@BillyG That was great! You win, $5 add-ons and a pretty good sound. Plus much more transportable.
I got my cello from Fiddlerman, and it came in the mail. Very large box, the deliveryman wondered as it was quite huge. It travelled well though. I couldn't resist when I saw them on his shop website. I must work to keep myself in this hobby :).
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BillyG and intrepidgirl... thank you so much for both of your inputs. On reflection, it makes sense that allowing the strings to maintain a slight rosin over coat seems like the thing to do so I'll just keep wiping them clean with an untreated cloth after each use & let nature take its course. Thanks again!
I also want a cello. Actually, I have a very close friend that wants to learn to play one & we've been musically involved together in the past so my learning the violin has them chomping at the bit to get a cello even more now so we can learn together as a duo. So I thought if I had one they could use mine.
"I know that the most joy in my life has come to me from my violin."
~Albert Einstein~
Member
Fiddlerman said
Perfect, just dip a cloth into your drink while practicing and rub those strings.
This made my day.
and although I suggest cleaning off strings weekly with an alchohol based cleaner, Im not recommending you do. I don't do it, and I do fine. It's one of those things for professionals only; unless you're a professional, the usefulness of it is very low. I may start doing it soon regardless, as my strings are expensive.
Regulars
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