Flatwounds + Sweat= STICKY - Does it get better??

[heavyfunkmachin]

Hi,

I'm really enjoying my transiton from roundwounds to groundwounds to flatwounds, currently GHS precission flats, BUT I have an issue with their stickyness...

I'm not talking about the initial stickyness caused by factory goo and dirt, I clean the strings and they are really smooth... until I break to sweat! It's ok at home and most rehearsals, but in long/hot rehearsals or in a stage (indoor, lights, people...), if I start sweating, my fingers get softer and it's like rubber agains glass...

I do dry my hand when this happens, but it's a drag and you can't allways stop midsong to do that... so, Does it get better with time? Is is just getting used to it or is it a different kind o callous that you have to develop?

In short: how do flatwound guys deal with sweaty sticky hands?

 

[1stnamebassist]

I find rounds less sticky and easy on the fingers compared to flats. If your doing a lot of sliding you may want to try this. You can buy little cloth bags of talc at a billiards supply place or use baby powder. Just rub a bit on the strings and your fingers before playing and see if it helps. You can keep those talc bags in your pocket to tap your fingers on as needed. I used to do this on my Ubass when I had real sticky thundergut rubber strings on them and it helped quite a bit. The thunderguts make flats feel like ice in comparison!

 

[shawshank72]

In short: how do flatwound guys deal with sweaty sticky hands?
Your body's natural oil.
Rub your fingers on side of your nose, through your hair, or over your scalp if you have none like me.
Works like a charm.
Any strings will do that when in those circumstances.

 

[Klonk]

I play flats, and I sure sweat up there on stage, but I've never had that problem. If anything, my strings feel more slippery when I sweat.

 

[hotbass57]

I use GHS Fast Fret on all 3 basses with flats. No more sticking and slides as smooth as butter.

 

[bassbully]

I have issues with my flats in humid weather or if my fingers get wet. I use fret ease on them. If I take a drink between songs and say my beer has condensation on the bottle I just dry my hands on my pants.

 

[GregBass1979]

Also never had that problem, except when I use half rounds like D'Addario..those are super sticky when they are new!

 

[Remyd]

Nose grease! Nose grease!

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

Nose grease! Nose grease!

I've read this before... This won't work for me... HOW GREASY IS YOUR NOSE?

 

[Remyd]

Nose grease! Nose grease!

I've read this before... This won't work for me... HOW GREASY IS YOUR NOSE?

More than you think. Especially once you've been sweating underneath the lights. If you don't believe me, ask any teenager.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Hi,

I'm really enjoying my transiton from roundwounds to groundwounds to flatwounds, currently GHS precission flats, BUT I have an issue with their stickyness...

I'm not talking about the initial stickyness caused by factory goo and dirt, I clean the strings and they are really smooth... until I break to sweat! It's ok at home and most rehearsals, but in long/hot rehearsals or in a stage (indoor, lights, people...), if I start sweating, my fingers get softer and it's like rubber agains glass...

I do dry my hand when this happens, but it's a drag and you can't allways stop midsong to do that... so, Does it get better with time? Is is just getting used to it or is it a different kind o callous that you have to develop?

In short: how do flatwound guys deal with sweaty sticky hands?

This is exactly why I don't use flats anymore. Although I hear that the high dollar strings like Pyramid and Thomastik don't have the same issue.

 

[woodyng2]

Have never had that issue with chromes,but the labella ltf set i'm using on one bass has to be wiped down from time to time. I use a polishing cloth that has a some oil embedded in it.

I'm gonna try that nose oil thing,too.

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

This is exactly why I don't use flats anymore. Although I hear that the high dollar strings like Pyramid and Thomastik don't have the same issue.

IT has to do with string smoothness... Thomastik are flats but the winding is not tight, the tiny grooves between wraps makes them not stick, but also not feel so smooth... super-smooth strings like GHS precision flats are a bliss to play whith dry hands, but sticky-hell one fingertips get soft, hot and sweaty

 

[AndreasK]

Had the same problem with GHS precision flats. Actually got burns on long slides. Nose grease may work, but i went with this:

Works perfect for me

 

[slagbass]

This is exactly why I don't use flats anymore. Although I hear that the high dollar strings like Pyramid and Thomastik don't have the same issue.

I had this issue with Thomastik flats. And any other flat I have tried.

 

[Dougie44]

It does get better with time

 

[JimmyM]

Yeah, it takes a little time. You actually have more skin surface touching the strings than with rounds, and even though it seems counter-intuitive, it does cause sticking and rubs a lot of rounds users more sore than rounds. But you can get used to anything if you do it long enough.

 

[ale29]

 

[BasementWarrior]

i found that rubbing the strings down with vasoline when they were new helped with this.

I watched a YouTube video somewhere that suggested it (Scott Devine maybe?) and it worked like a charm.

 

[loopee]

vaseline? I think I'll try that......I usually clean them with rubbing alcohol before installing them...that seems to help with the initial sticky situation when new.....and now use Fret Ease, etc if it gets really bad but since using the rubbing alcohol on my last install I haven't had the problem....bit it's not summer yet and I haven't had gigs, so who knows....