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 :-)
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.
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.)
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
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
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
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.
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.
