Cleaning Cobalt strings = strings rusting out?!

[xtinct]

Hello EB forum,

Back in February I purchased two sets of EB's new Cobalt Hybrid strings. One set each for my two six string electric guitars.
One guitar I play a bit more often than the other, thus, a couple weeks back I decided to clean the stings using planet waves renew string cleaner and lubricant. Initially, the strings regained their original luster. But then, about over the next 2-3 days the strings began to rust out very badly.

I believe the planet waves cleaner has a high content of isopropanol and I do live in a fairly dry climate...these maybe factors if the cobalt alloy used in these string does not react well with isopropanol.

Has anyone else had issues with their EB cobalt after using any such cleaning solutions on them?

Thanks,

 

[DCStingray]

Hey Xtinct,
that's really odd. Not sure why they would do that, but I don't think it would from the Isopropanol. I've used plenty of String Cleaner Wonder Wipes with no issues. They work really well at getting rid of all the buildup on your strings after a session.

Hello EB forum,

Back in February I purchased two sets of EB's new Cobalt Hybrid strings. One set each for my two six string electric guitars.
One guitar I play a bit more often than the other, thus, a couple weeks back I decided to clean the stings using planet waves renew string cleaner and lubricant. Initially, the strings regained their original luster. But then, about over the next 2-3 days the strings began to rust out very badly.

I believe the planet waves cleaner has a high content of isopropanol and I do live in a fairly dry climate...these maybe factors if the cobalt alloy used in these string does not react well with isopropanol.

Has anyone else had issues with their EB cobalt after using any such cleaning solutions on them?

Thanks,

 

[Big Poppa]

you have stripped the coating off the cobalt

 

[xtinct]

you have stripped the coating off the cobalt

yikes, did that occur from me cleaning too aggressively? Or was it from the contents of the cleaning solution?

Will another pass with the cleaner clear up the rust? Or are they goners?

I can't notice any dramatic drop in sound resolution/clarity and high freq content....they just don't feel as nice as they used to prior to the treatment and cleaning.

 

[Archer]

See my post in the thread titled "prolonging string life"
Short version, let your string cleaner dry out (leave sit in front of a fan open all day) and recharge it with corrosion-x (corrosion-x.com)