Snake Oil Brand - Rock Formula Strings - Odyssey

[kewlpack]

Okay - I will post my journey with a set of these strings over the next several weeks and post my personal opinions on them here.

Just got my sets in the mail yesterday (1/18/2005). Immediately put a set on my geetahr (Ibanez S470 series) and got going!

First impressions on 9-42 set:

These strings feel lighter and softer than most brands (perhaps all of them) I've used. It's strange but true - they feel like a slightly lighter guage than they are. Nice for bends, shred, and trills, etc. Very smooth to play - and this set is tonally even across the strings (cf: CrunchyRiffs comments around here about that).

They pack quite a punch tone-wise. More on this in another post after I have time to "listen" to them.

I normally notice a lot of "staining" within the first few hours of playing on a set of strings. A friend and I played these for about 3-4 hours last night, swapping back and fourth, jamming over backing tracks. It got so late I just lightly wiped the strings clean before I collided with my pillow. This morning I went to clean them with Ronsonal and to my surprise, they were hardly stained/tarnished at all. Cleaned 'em up to squeaky condition again and headed off to work.

Overall I'd say pretty good so far!
~A~

[kewlpack]

Okay a couple weeks into the set. They aren't sounding so bright (wound strings in particular)... PinkStrat told me to use more lighter fluid when cleaning them and it will help remedy the problem.

They are still staying in tune and comfortable to play. They did finally tarnish a bit. After so much abuse, you'd tarnish too. :D

I'll give 'em a thorough cleaning and see what happens next!
~A~

[kewlpack]

Still going strong. After getting them cleaned VERY well... the tone improved nicely.

Through an amp, the strings still have that bright pick attack and smooth sustain.

I just put a set on my new Ibanez AS83-VLS (probably would be better to use the vintage SOBs, but these are working just fine!).

No breakage at all on either guitar. Although I did screw up the B string when stringing up the AS83 (the ball came loose and I didn't notice until I'd made several wraps on the tuner! Doh)... I straightened the string out, but there is a teeny kink at the nut. Doesn't appear to be affecting the tone or sustain at all. We'll see how it holds up! :shock:

~A~

[kewlpack]

Each guitar's strings are still performing great. I believe the set on my solidbody is mellowing, but they still sound just fine. No qualms.

The set on my hollowbody have a wonderful kind of vibe to them. Nice "woody" type of tone.

No breaks and staying in tune reasonably well!
~A~

[bvmjethead]

What are you "cleaning" these strings with?

Lighter fluid?

I have 4 sets coming from Dean.

[kewlpack]

Yep - Ronsonal. Usually once every other day, depending on how much I play. I've skipped a few days and just cleaned them before jamming and it was fine too.

They really are a good product.

[Crunchyriff]

I don't even bother cleaning mine- maybe once in awhile using a guitar cloth; but that's it.

They just sound super, and continue to do so..

[Teleguy]

Oh yeah, I forgot to order some Snake Oil Strings!

Welp, it'll have to wait for payday, now (I just bought a Squire 51). :cool:

[kewlpack]

The strings are holding up just fine across the board.

Now I have to buy some more because my last set went with the Variax (doh)... In the interim I'm using some Gibson Vintage Nickel 9's on the Parker P38.

I still have the first set of Rock Forumlas on the AS83 and they sound great... just have to clean 'em up once a week (I was really obssessing for awhile there). No problems.

[kewlpack]

Still have the same original set of Rock Formulas on the AS83. I skipped cleaning them for a couple weeks (lazy!) - and cleaned them up just the other day. These things are STILL playing very nicely, staying in tune and have great tone (maybe not as good as fresh, but there's still some mojo).

I just put a set of Rock Formulas on my Parker and they really brought it to life. Much better than the Gibson Vintage strings.

So 2/6 until now (4/5) - 2 months on the same set without breaking a string or going dead... yeowza... very very nice!

[kewlpack]

Still going strong on the same set of Rock Formulas on the AS83... wow, do these things ever die????

Just put a set on the C-1 BlackJack. As usual, they bring a fat tone to the party... color me happy.

[kewlpack]

Finally replaced the Snake Oils on the AS83. Four months. Excellent.

For a change, I've put the new Elixirs (with Anti-Rust plain strings) on my guitars to see how they hold up. So far so good. They sound fine too.

Snake Oils are very very good strings. 'Nuff said.

[dmw]

I'd never knock Snake Oils as I know they're fine strings. For somebody who's a bit more frugal like me, or has to keep strings on a bunch of guitars, I don't think you can beat DR Pure Blues strings. They are pure nickel, have a great feel (no grit), great tone, and last longer than most strings I've tried, and I've tried most of the brands out there. For acoustic guitars, I like D'Addario or D'Aquisto phosphors.

[kewlpack]

I just put some NOS Scalar Phosphor Bronze strings (12's) on my new acoustic. Unfortunately, they've died in about two or three days. :dunno

Guess I'll hike to the guitar store and get some elixirs... :cool:

[stephen]

I like this Snake-Oil torture test your doing! Very informative.

[Crunchyriff]

dmw...

I understand the word frugal inside and out!! That being said, I think you'll find that, in the long run, you'll spend far less for strings on Snake Oil, than your current OTC lines in general; but the DR's don't kill as easy as say, D'Addario's