Cleaning Rosin off Electric Upright Strings

[Stompbox]

Good evening - I've an NS WAV4 upright electric that I'm now learing to play with a bow (although I mainly play pizzicato) - but when I've finished playing there is a lot of the white powdered rosin left on the strings.

What's the best thing to clean it off please?

Meths?

White spirit?

Water & a bit of washing up liquid?


I'm concerned that if I use the wrong thing it will a) Not clean it off properly & It may make the core of the strings rot/rust - I'm using the NS steel tape flatwounds that were supplied.

Whilst I'm asking - would there be a "Better" string type to use? (The WAV4 uses a piezo electric pickup so there is no need for magnetic considerations for the strings.)


Thanks for any help you can give,


Geoff

[geoffbassist]

Just use a cloth. Wipe towards the bridge to avoid getting on the rest of the strings. Don't use the same cloth to wipe the rest of the strings down (if your hands sweat).
It's also worth doing before you put it in it's case to avoid getting rosin on the inside.

[geoffbassist]

BTW I think you can actually buy string cleaner, some people even use nail polish remover. I don't find it necessary.

[tm486]

Unless you find that the rosin is making the area where you play pizzicato sticky, i'd be inclined to leave it. I bow way below where i pluck so this is not a problem for me. Leaving the rosin on the strings and leaving them sticky gives the bow better grip on the strings which makes it easier to get a better sound.

Hope this helps,

Tom

Edited December 25, 2011 by tm486