String Noise

[ha2he]

Hi All,
I've noticed sometimes I get an unwanted noise from my strings (haven't we all It happens when moving about on the fretboard and only on the wound strings. I've heard it a few times on commercial releases too. I can't think of a good way to describe it, it's similar to the noise you get if you run your pick along the length of a string but much quieter.
Anyone else come across this before?
Any ideas to lessen the effect?
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Tim.

[Charlie Hall]

I know just the thing, Monopole tapewound strings! Seriously I haven't used those since the early 60's when I didn't know any better.
FastFret might help. I use it all the time to keep strings lasting longer. About the same price as a set of strings and could pay for itself quickly, depending how often you need to change strings now, compared with how much longer they could last.
Setting the amp for less highs should help too but obviously the sound will change. Consider whether you really need as much high end and try it with less.
A lower action might help too, although again, the sound will change.
Regards,
Charlie

[ha2he]

Hi Charlie,
At the moment I'm using GHS Boomers 10 - 46. I've also noticed this noise on Fender Bullets too.
It also happens when not plugged into an amp so the problem is either to do with the strings or my rough pads ;D
What are the alternatives to Monopole Tapewound strings, is there something to look out for on the packets or is it just a case of being in the know.
Regards,
Tim.

[bill]

Hi,
The strings make a difference but it is actually possible to minimise the noise by adopting a different angle, pressure on the strings when moving your fingers. The example that comes to mind is from the classical guitar world, compare Julian Bream (more noise) with John Williams (best technique ever?). There are recordings of the two of them playing duets together.
Bill

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Tim,
I mentioned Monopole as most players who remember them would also know dead the sound could be with them!
Flat wound strings are mainly used by jazz players.
There was or still is a brand making ground wound strings. I can't remember the name of them. Ground wound strings were round wound and then ground flat to make them less noisy. I never tried them myself.
If you want to stay with the sound of round wound strings I don't really think there is much difference noise wise with any of them.
If you haven't used FastFret, try some. Well worth £6 or so and it lasts for months.
If you think your hands are causing it, you might consider using some kind of hand cream to soften them.
Regards,
Charlie

[ha2he]

Hi Charlie & Bill,
Thanks for the replies, I'll try some fastfret first, that's got to be a whole lot easier than changing technique.
The lady of the house recommends more washing up to soften my hands (now hands that do dishes, etc) ;D
Good example from the classical guitar world Bill, thanks.
Regards,
Tim.

[ha2he]

Hi All,
Just noticed Billy Gibbons has the same problem ;D at 2:58 in the clip you posted Charlie.
Nice clip.
Regards,
Tim.

[UK Brian]

Tim, first off I will get my knuckles rapped for this one.....surprised at Charlie saying to use hand softener, I mean we all nurture our finger end callouses , or do we, anyway skin softener IMHO is a NO No.
Yes fast fret certainly helps allow a quieter slide along all strings.and the fret board.
But I find the best remedy is the strings, I use fender 150's , these are lightly rolled to go someway toward reducing finger sliding noise, dont cost an arm and a leg and if you wish, email me and I will advise the best/cheapest supplier.

Brian

[Charlie Hall]

I have few problems with string noise (I do hear it more with acoustic guitar) and I think it is because I have soft fingers, not heavy working fingers as some players who do manual work like motors etc. That is why I suggested a hand softener.
Regards,
Charlie

[Kevin]

I was always taught that the first thing you did was to soak your fingertips in surgical spirit every night until they had hardened up. It bl**dy hurt when your fingers had been bleeding after being cut to ribbons on cheap strings. I find Fender 250 Super Bullets quite good. I have got D'Addarios on at the moment and I am getting finger noise. If you listen, even Hank has this problem.
Listen to the intro to "It's been a blue day".

[ha2he]

Hi Charlie & All,
I got my Fast Fret this morning having only ordered it yesterday on the well known auction site - £4.99 post free, now that seems good to me.

Results:-
It does help with the noise but I'm now going to try some different strings too.
However I shall continue to use this stuff as it really makes for a silky feel which I like.

Thanks to all for help and suggestions.
Regards,
Tim.

[Deleted]

HI TO ALL .,,,,TRY THIS get some 1'000...grit wet&dry & rub the wound strings with the emery & ''bingo''& &don't laugh until you have tried it,,,,,,,,,,,,IT-WORKS..
''silicon-spray'' does as charlie say's ,& buy ''armour-oil'' from your motoring shop[cheaper],its all silicon-based..
BRIAN does'nt need it as if you look at his hands ,There all ''HAIRY'' ..HA,HAAR...
CHEERS GUY'S & GAL??? ''aussie'' barry..

[George Lewis]

I think string noise can add real atmosphere to some pieces. eg the opening slides in Flingel, just love it. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. ;D
George

[Deleted]

There's one soloution and one solution alone.... practise.
Work on it.
No other way.
Ecca

[Bojan Drndic]

Several questions were asked here that have remained unanswered:

First, alternatives to Monopole tapewound strings. There are many flatwound strings and many famous string makers offer flatwounds in their assortment, including D'Addario and Fender. They are usually stainless steel flats, nickel plated, or pure nickel. The best ones as far as I'm concerned are the German-made Pyramid Gold pure nickel flatwound strings. These strings are hand made by a family owned factory and are extremely good quality. But they also have quite strong tension, so they would not be so good for bending. The other alternative is Austrian-made Thomastik-Infeld, also extremely high quality strings with far less tension, which is why many prefer them nowadays. Both are expensive but last forever.

I would like to make a point regarding flatwound strings for bass guitar. These used to be the standard and I think they were used exclusively in the early to mid sixties (until around the time of John Enthwhistle and others who started using roundwounds. I am sorry that nowadays bass players use only roundwounds (except maybe some jazz players and those that play fretless bass) because the sound of flatwounds is far better for bass and the sound is closer to a real double bass, which I think is the best bass sound by far.

Anyway, someone asked about groundwound strings, or compressed roundwounds as they are also called. I have a set. They are made by Rickenbacker and can be purchased in different gauges, but mostly light. They are quite good, and the sound is literally between flatwounds and roundwounds.

As for string noise, I remember when we played Shadows tunes in the early and mid sixties, we copied the original recordings so faithfully that our lead guitarist was very sad that he was not able to copy Hank's string noise because at that time we only had flatwounds!!!

There are also the Elixir Nanoweb strings. I have never actually seen or used them, but many people in thse forums use them and they say they are quite good and last long. They have a special coating and perhaps because of that coating they could be prone to making less noise.

[Tone]

Yes, I use Elixirs and as well as reducing finger noise they're much slinkier so feel better. I'd like to put them on all my guitars but a couple have wound thirds and the last time I looked Elixir didn't do a set with wound thirds in the gauges I wanted.

I also use Fastfret which helps.

Tony

[shadfan4]

Monopole Tapewound, that takes me back, I also used "Red Dragon" then.

[Charlie Hall]

There were Burns strings back then, and they were flatwound and "endorsed by Ike Isaacs". Light guage (for those days) and fairly easy to play.
I remember Mohawk (reckoned to be one of the best but I never tried them), Black Diamond (I think I read that Buddy Holly used those), the first roundwounds I tried were Fender 1500's but they were too heavy for me. I liked Fender 150's when they first came out, although I wouldn't use them now in the gauges they came in then.
Regards,
Charlie

[ha2he]

Hi Charlie & All,

I stumbled upon an explanation of how and what strings are made of which I found interesting reading so I thought I'd post the link Here
I'm sure most of you will already know this stuff, but just in case.

So, based on the replies to this thread I've come up with a cunning plan:-

I've ordered a set of Fender Bullets 150s 10-46.
Soak finger tips in surgical spirit.
Use Fast Fret.
1000 grit wet & dry (really I'll give it a go)
Wait for a full moon (Hairy hands effect

As a last resort I could learn how to play and practice

Thanks to all for the replies.

Regards,
Tim.

[Deleted]

WELL ,,GOODONYER,,TIM you've got it all covered mate,with that lot...but you forgot to try nylon strings ''very quiet on an electric guitar''L.O.L??

CHEERS FROM OZ...

[Bojan Drndic]

Yes Tim, you do have it all figured out, but may I just add that you don't necessarily have to wait for a full moon to get the hairy hands effect.

[UK Brian]

I'm easily hurt, in fact pass the tissues, just cos I have to shave my finger tips so I can fret the notes cleanly, lol, I think we're getting "off topic" here so i'm outa here LOL

Brian

[ha2he]

Well folks tonight is the night (Full Moon).
I've now restrung my guitar twice over the last week or so, first a set of Fender 150R Bullets, up to pitch and left to settle for a while, up to pitch again, bit of playing (mainly bending all the strings) and high E broke, ended up with the Bullet end with no string in it at the rounded end but still there at the flat end.
I now remember why I stopped buying these although it's the first one I've had break like that.
Restrung with another set of Fender 150R Ball ends, O.K. so far. Nice tone too.

I've been trying to find out what has been causing this problem apart from the strings and found that I've been lifting my digits slightly so they are just in contact with the strings then moving them thus causing the noise. It's not there doing slides up or down as I maintain enough pressure on the strings to stop it but mainly when moving barre 'G' shape chords.
It seems to be something that has crept into my playing unnoticed and now is a real pain, I'm working on it though and it is getting better.
A friend of mine who plays golf told me years ago he'd developed a 'yip' and tried to explain to me what it was, any golfers here will probably know what he means, don't know what the guitar equivalent is.

So hopefully the combination of New Strings, Surgical Spirit, Fast Fret, Wet & Dry (not used yet) and I forgot to mention Dr. Cureall's wart remover and hair restorer for my hands all should be well.

Thanks for all the input.
Regards,
Tim.