Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(1 votes) 
Member
Offline
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~
Offline
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
Offline
@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.
Offline
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Regulars
Offline
@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 :).
Member
Offline
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~
Offline
Wiping the strings is the correct thing to do IMO. Problem with leaving layers of rosin on the strings is that it will affect the sound and can even slow the speed of vibration and in some cases account for squeaks/whistles.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Member
Offline
Pirastro recommends using an alchohol based string cleaner weekly
Offline
Perfect, just dip a cloth into your drink while practicing and rub those strings. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Member
Offline
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.
Offline
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
Offline
Hmmm... I'll take drinking, maybe it'll help when I do Strings on Sunday, hahaha
☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
World's Okayest Fiddler
☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨* •☆•*¨*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
Regulars
Offline
Ha ha @damfino!!!!!
Offline
Cheers Mandy!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Member
Offline
Hehe... now we're getting into some help I can sink my teeth into, lol!
Cheers! 
"I know that the most joy in my life has come to me from my violin."
~Albert Einstein~
Offline
Gjinja said
Hehe... now we're getting into some help I can sink my teeth into, lol!Cheers!
The thought of sinking my teeth into a cold drink just gave me the chills. LOL..... Cheers to everyone!!!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
1 Guest(s)
Mouse
ELCBK
Fiddlerman