Oil on flatwounds?

[OldManMusic]

I’m getting into putting flats on some of my basses and have noticed quite a bit of a oil that comes off the EB flatwound when they are fresh out of the pack. I thought I was imagining it on the first set for the fretless a few months ago when I kept noticing how dirty my fingers were when I got done playing. I just restrung it last night and took some time to wipe the strings down before I strung up the bass. Wow – lots of greyish oil showed up on my cleaning cloth and string wipes. Since it’s the second or third new set of EB flats I’ve used with the same oil on the strings, I’m guessing it’s a normal thing. I don’t seem to see as much on the roundwound Slinkys I use on some basses. Is this oil something that is there to protect the strings from rust and should be removed like I did or does it have a long term benefit (beyond making my hands look like I can fix a car – which I cannot do)?

Kevin

[bovinehost]

I think it's more a "dust" than oil. Graphite dust, for some reason I think it's graphite. And it's not just EB flats ALTHOUGH THAT IS OF COURSE ALL I HAVE EVER USED.

Wipe 'em down good before you play and no dirty fingers!

[shakinbacon]

I’m getting into putting flats on some of my basses and have noticed quite a bit of a oil that comes off the EB flatwound when they are fresh out of the pack. I thought I was imagining it on the first set for the fretless a few months ago when I kept noticing how dirty my fingers were when I got done playing. I just restrung it last night and took some time to wipe the strings down before I strung up the bass. Wow – lots of greyish oil showed up on my cleaning cloth and string wipes. Since it’s the second or third new set of EB flats I’ve used with the same oil on the strings, I’m guessing it’s a normal thing. I don’t seem to see as much on the roundwound Slinkys I use on some basses. Is this oil something that is there to protect the strings from rust and should be removed like I did or does it have a long term benefit (beyond making my hands look like I can fix a car – which I cannot do)?

Kevin

I haven't noticed this myself on EB flats.
Could be residual polish on the strings or possibly the wear on the fretless fingerboard

I have played upright bass strings that had lots of gunk on 'em, so I know what you mean.