INDIAN MUSIC FORUM ARCHIVES: Sitar Forum: oil on string caused some nasty sounds

 

Author Message
pb
oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 18, 2004 02:23 p.m.


Hi,
I thought I would try swabbing down the ma string with my oil (some hair oil my wife uses) for a change. I found out pretty quickly that it lost its tune almost immediately. It still seemed taught enough, but, man, there was no tonality at all! Is this just my oil or do others find this problem as well? If so, I'm switching to wd 40 or 10w30 :-)

Pb

Sangeeta
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 18, 2004 02:36 p.m.


I use the vegetable oil (the same thing I use for cooking) and works all well for me. While in India, I used peanut oil.
-
Sangeeta
Remco
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 18, 2004 03:03 p.m.


I'm using pure parafinic oil now for about a year or so. Before that I had a lot of problem, either with squeeky strings or my callouses getting soft. I had a bottle made at my local pharmasist.

Peace,

Remco

K.K.
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 18, 2004 03:54 p.m.



pb (Feb 18, 2004 02:23 p.m.):
I thought I would try swabbing down the ma string with my oil (some hair oil my wife uses) for a change. .

Pb


Pb: Did you, by accident, get any oil on the jawari surface? :-\

pb
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 18, 2004 05:07 p.m.


No oil on the jawari, fortunately. It is almost as if the string lost some of its tensile strength.

I'll try the oil thing again. I had problems with the oil softening the callous as well.
Pb


K.K. (Feb 18, 2004 03:54 p.m.):

pb (Feb 18, 2004 02:23 p.m.):
I thought I would try swabbing down the ma string with my oil (some hair oil my wife uses) for a change. .

Pb


Pb: Did you, by accident, get any oil on the jawari surface? :-\


tarsi
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 18, 2004 06:05 p.m.


Hairoil is maybe too heavy for bald strings. Use coconut oil and not too much of it.
andowe
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 18, 2004 06:51 p.m.


Parden me for parading my ignorance. Why does put put oil on the string??
K.K.
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 18, 2004 07:28 p.m.


Andowe:
You put oil on the strings to lessen the friction of your finger(s) gliding along them. During a performance, have you ever noticed your favorite sitar player reach down as if touching something on the floor? They are dabbing their fingers into their "oil box." (Available at Sitars Etc.)
pb
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 18, 2004 09:34 p.m.


I'll try some coconut oil too. I don't like using oil, but when I am playing a fast razakhani piece, my callouses often split and I am too stupid to stop! So, a little oil helps. I've tried mineral and olive oil, but that softens them up too much. I'll have some fun and try a bunch of them.

Oils I want to try:
vegetable, coconut, 10w30, canola, that perifin(?) one remco suggested

thanks everyone,

oil of olay :-)

Pb

Lars
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 19, 2004 12:54 a.m.


Hey Paul,
Try to get some either Marico's Hair & care or Parachute jasmine hair oil at the local Indian market.
Remco's solution is intiguing? Wonder where to get it over here. . .
I think Ravi uses WD40!
Lars
Jeff
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 20, 2004 09:52 a.m.


How about "Baby Oil" like Johnson+Johnson brand. I think someone told me about the pros and cons of this stuff but of course I forgot "what and who".
Also,,, I found the perfect oil box, its " Vanilla Mints". They come in a little oval metal box with a hinged lid, the size is perfect for dabbing both fingers.
Jeff
pb
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 20, 2004 11:13 a.m.


Hey Jeff,
I'll give it a try. I have a mini altoids tin which is good for dipping too.

Pb


Jeff (Feb 20, 2004 09:52 a.m.):
How about "Baby Oil" like Johnson+Johnson brand. I think someone told me about the pros and cons of this stuff but of course I forgot "what and who".
Also,,, I found the perfect oil box, its " Vanilla Mints". They come in a little oval metal box with a hinged lid, the size is perfect for dabbing both fingers.
andowe
Re:oil on string caused some nasty sounds Feb 21, 2004 04:04 p.m.



K.K. (Feb 18, 2004 07:28 p.m.):
Andowe:
You put oil on the strings to lessen the friction of your finger(s) gliding along them. During a performance, have you ever noticed your favorite sitar player reach down as if touching something on the floor? They are dabbing their fingers into their "oil box." (Available at Sitars Etc.)

Oh, ok. I thought maybe you oiled the string(s) for some other reason. I've seen players dabbing their fingers and figured it was a lubricant. I didn't realize you put oil on the string also.
I've recently been shown to use lip balm on the finger. It works for me. I usually clean the strings off after I play by dabbing a little isopropyl alcohol on a linen or cotten cloth and swiping the strings. NO! alcohol on the wood, it could damage it.

Peace,
Andy

[Previous] [Up] [Next]

SPONSORED LINKS