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In warm weather my hands get sweaty and the strings get sticky. Not a problem for three chord rock, but I lose my fluidity on more demanding parts. It becomes an effort. Makes me wonder how others deal with this. Players like Martin Taylor or Tommy Emmanuel, who play very demanding music and do 200 shows a year and most of those in conditions where my hands would get clammy and I would struggle. How do you deal with that? I seem to recall reading an interview with Neal Schon where he said he used to slide greasy salami over his strings before a show…
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08-12-2025 02:57 PM
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When playing in front of a crowd, you maybe tend to detach from such problems and just get the job done. It's afterwards that you notice that your guitar is covered in sweat and the strings seemed to have mysteriously "aged" a few days/weeks. Playing at home, stopping to adjust this and that every few minutes, you notice every little detail, and it can get somewhat obsessive IME.
No salami grease for this vegetarian, LOL. YMMV.
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Here’s a picture of me on a farmers market gig, it was 96°F (35c).
Like Peter C said, you just play.
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Oscar, I have the same problem! Warm weather, humidity, sweat, and for me, a touch of nervousness. Back of the neck, strings and fretboard. All of this happening when you least want it - at the time of your big solo!
Dunlop makes a string cleaner / conditioner, Ultraglide 65. It works. Haven't used it much because of a lack of gigs this year, but it does help. A friend recommended it because it does not get gummy or greasy, (like some others do) unless you overdo it. When needed I used just a little. It's a bit tricky to use because it takes a while before you realize that it's actually coming out of the applicator, but that's a good thing. Prevents overdoing it .
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I empathize, and usually spray on some lubricant before playing and wipe down with a cloth as needed between sets/songs. I picked it up from watching John Pisano use a similar spray in a video from Frank Potenza’s “For Joe” session. And Neil Schon’s greasy salami story reminded me of seeing Jonathan Kriesberg slather something oily on his neck before playing live.
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I experience this as well. It's a medical condition called palmar hyperhidrosis. Rather than modifying your guitar, you might want to address the problem at its source. There are creams and lotions specifically aimed at reducing hand sweat. You could apply antiperspirant to your hands that block the sweat glands. Staying hydrated is very important, as dehydration makes you sweat more. Certain foods and liquids can also play a role in hyperhidrosis. There's a wealth of info out there. I hope you find a solution that works for you. When you do, please come back and share your experiences with your sweaty brethren!
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When things get sticky, I use a cloth wet with a bit naptha. Lighter fluid.
It works to remove the stickiness and evaporates very quickly. It's a solvent. It's as flammable as you might expect lighter fluid to be.
I haven't noticed any damage to my guitar, but I certainly don't guarantee that there won't be any damage to some other guitar. Or that I've overlooked some subtle problem with my guitar.
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Use string cleaner like fast fret and wash your hands before you play.
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Can't promise this will work for everyone; personal hand chemistry varies, but get some automotive paste wax and shine up your personal reliable transportation.
After buffing it out with a cloth rag, I noticed my hands became extremely dry for the next 4-5 hours.
You don't have to wax your vehicle before each show; just save the rag you used in a zip-lock bag in your guitar case, and about 15 minutes before down beat take it out and handle it for a little while (and maybe be cautious mentioning you need something out of a baggy to get you ready to play...
)
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I have seen some players using baby powder in their hands.
Could that help?
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Quote:
"I haven't noticed any damage to my guitar, but I certainly don't guarantee that there won't be any damage to some other guitar. Or that I've overlooked some subtle problem with my guitar."
Risky with a lacquer finished neck, no? I seem to have more of a sweat problem with poly-finished guitars.
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I use baby powder for this issue and works great. I saw a video once of Jeff Beck doing this and that got me to try it. I keep a bottle in a ziplock bag and keep the bag open and nearby during a set - then just dip my fingers in every-so-often and I'm set for quite awhile.
Originally Posted by Herbie
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Interesting, thanks. IIRC, naptha is the active ingredient in John Pearse String Swipes. Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
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Do you have a fairly new guitar with a nitro finish on the neck? When I bought my Gibson L4CES back in 2002 brand new, the neck was sticky after about 10 minutes of playing. This was inside my music room in an airconditioned house. I thought "this is going to be a problem". At some point it stopped and I can play, at least inside, without any of this stickyness for hours. Could it be the finish?
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Jim Hall was another baby powder (more on the back of the neck than the strings/fingerboard) user.
In the summer months, also watch out for bug spray and sunscreen that could potentially damage the finish...
PK
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I have used the talcum powder approach for years.
When I saw Kreisberg, he had a bottle of what looked like probably mineral oil that he would apply to his index finger between songs. The fingerboard was fairly well glistening by the end of the show.
There are a bunch of different preparations for guitar and bass including sprays, wipe-on, rub-on, etc., options. The one that I remember from many years ago was Finger-Ease. I had a friend who used it in college and I remember seeing it sitting on the amps at Grateful Dead concerts.
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Oh yeah, washing hands before playing is key. Been doing that for 40-odd years. Had mixed results with string cleaner, haven’t found one yet that really works for me. But will try some of the products recommended in this discussion. Originally Posted by Dave70
This is a common issue, sadly enough. Guitars get shipped out before the nitro has cured properly. Those guitars are unusable, for me at least. I once had a Gibson that I was infatuated with so I sanded down the back of the neck and oiled it. Played great! Then when my infatuation ended and I tried to sell the guitar… ouch!Do you have a fairly new guitar with a nitro finish on the neck? When I bought my Gibson L4CES back in 2002 brand new, the neck was sticky after about 10 minutes of playing.
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I’ve heard about that for ages but never tried it. I can see why it would keep your hand dry, but I can’t see how getting powder on your hand (and on the strings, and on the guitar…) will make things feel nice and smooth… I guess I wrongly assumed it would create more problems than it solves. Originally Posted by Cunamara
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I saw both Tal Farlow & Jim Hall use talc while playing gigs...
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I use a lot less of it than, say, Jeff Beck did. If you look at videos of him, his hands are practically white sometimes with powder like a gymnast. I use a dusting, just enough to make the skin feel dry. I don't notice talc building up on the string windings or the fretboard. I also only use it when necessary rather than every time I play. It seems to be more needed at outdoor gigs in the increasingly hot and more humid summers that we are experiencing here, and I don't even play one of those some summers. Originally Posted by Oscar67
It seems like everybody's skin oil and sweat chemistry is different. I know people who have to wipe down/clean the strings immediately after every time or they corrode; I don't seem to have that problem, I have never wiped the guitar down after playing and strings last months for me.
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Probably one of the reasons for the rise of satin finishes on necks, along with reduced costs from not having to buff and polish out the finish. Originally Posted by Oscar67
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Same for me. I only do this when playing in very humid scenarios and I only put a bit on my fretting hand (I just dip my hand into the ziplock and get a bit on my hand). Then I rub my hand on the back of the neck mostly but just a bit on the strings. There is no visible sign of the powder on the neck or strings. When I get home from the gig I wipe the neck down with a fretboard cleaner just to be sure there is no powder residue left. Originally Posted by Cunamara
Works like a charm.
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I sweat like a pig and have corrosive hand chemistry, so I use talcum powder right on the fretboard as well as my hands. However, I understand that talcum powder consists of very jagged particles at a microscopic level, so I always wondered if it contributed to fret and string damage, not to mention lung damage if you breathe it in.
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Works a treat - and not just for the strings but any other part of the instrument that one might touch. Getting rarer but Johnson and Johnson still make it. Originally Posted by Herbie
David
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It's safe if it's made of cornstarch, not talc, Like Johnson & Johnson's product since their big lawsuit settlement. i.e., avoid cheap generic brands of talcum powder that may contain asbestos. Originally Posted by strumcat
Does Baby Powder Still Have Talc? What You Need to Know
Hmm, now that you've mentioned it, the chalk (magnesium carbonate) that gymnasts use may be a better choice. Originally Posted by Cunamara
https://blog.gkelite.com/why-do-gymnasts-use-chalk/
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