Showing posts with label lubricant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lubricant. Show all posts

Friday, December 9, 2016

Strat set up (2)


Usually, I would re-condition the rosewood fretboard of a new guitar on its first re-string. This is what I have been using- wood conditioner from the hardware store & it's not a guitar product. Usually, guitar-related manufacturers would alleviate product desirability by adding scent to the formula & this would more often than not increase the acidity to the content (eg: lemon or other citrus ingredients). Acidic fluid, when applied frequently to fretboards, would soften the wood & it becomes less resistant to scratches or dents. It might eventually weaken the neck strength altogether.


I'm easily bothered by nut choke (& how it affects tuning) so I make it a point to address this by lubricating the slots. I'm using commercial vaseline (bought this one at Mustaffa Center) & again, it's not a guitar related product. Use a pointed implement to apply the vaseline into the slots, in this case, a satay stick does the job. 


No vaseline in the house? Vicks Vapo Rub works as well.


If you are particular about what goes into those slots & would want a safe bet, look for slot lubricants in the stores such as this GHS product. The reason why I stopped using them- they cost more & don't necessarily work better. Some guitar techs would tell you just rub pencil lead into the slots, that's the least costly way to do it but that stains the lighter coloured nut & might prove to be a point of contention during re-sale situations.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

GHS: GraphitALL



GHS' GraphitALL is a graphite lubricant in a gel-type incarnation. For those of us who are hesitant in using pencil graphite & other petroleum-based substances to lubricate the guitar nut, know that this product doesn't stain/ harm the guitar's finish. In addition to nut slot fillings, the manufacturer recommends its application on points of string-hardware contacts.
I've been using the GraphitALL for 3 weeks now, suffice to say that it works as stated on the label. Nevertheless, it isn't significantly better than the vaseline I've been using but both get the job done. This is especially useful for non-locking nuts, nevermind if you don't whammy. It is important that the string passage to the tuner is choke free but lubricants aren't the primary remedy to such an anomaly. The primary procedure in curing choked nut slots is still filing the gaps before applying any lubricants as enhancements.
If you are willing to spend on supplements which would ensure performance enhancements for your instrument, the GraphitALL is a product that works.
Price: $9.65
Available at: Yamaha Music