Do You Wear Long Sleeves When Practicing?

[penguins0141]

Does anyone else wear long sleeves when practicing in order to avoid getting perspiration residue on your guitar body? This is a new pattern for me, and I think I might be getting a bit OCD. Also, I wipe down the strings afterwards, put it in the case, and polish to the top again before closing it up. Sheesh, I need help.

[JackC1]

I roll up my long sleeves when I play. I guess I'm opposite.

The crud from my arm perspiration is kind of gross, but nothing a little babywipe can't remove.

[sayheyjeff]

I do. Tend to where long sleeve shirts all the time in any weather anyway. Guitars I had showed where I would have been better off wearing a long sleeve shirt. On the other hand, I could be more disciplined about wiping down strings and the whole guitar before putting it back in the case.

Jeff

[SpruceTop]

I don't wear long sleeves when practicing or when playing live when it's warm in a venue. Perspiration, at least on gloss finishes, wipes off with warm water on a soft cloth. A satin finish can discolor with perspiration.

[soma5]

Clean your guitar regularly (not even necessarily every time you play) and you won't have any issues. At least, I haven't had issues once I started doing that. I like short sleeves so I will continue to wear them.

I tried to develop the habit of using a sleeve over my arm (actually, it was an arm warmer used for bicycling in the cold) but I could never do that. I now use a cleaner every few weeks.

[ewalling]

No, I don't, even here in south Florida. I look after my guitars, but wearing long sleeves or otherwise avoiding bodily contact with the wood is beyond what I'm prepared to do.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by ewalling

No, I don't, even here in south Florida. I look after my guitars, but wearing long sleeves or otherwise avoiding bodily contact with the wood is beyond what I'm prepared to do.

I try to wipe them off occasionally to remove the so-called gunk if it’s noticeably significant. I will state that at my age, it ain’t that important anymore.

[L20A]

Does anyone else wear long sleeves when practicing in order to avoid getting perspiration residue on your guitar body?

My answer is yes and no.
On a hot day, I will try to use long sleeves.
Most of the time I don't.
Wiping the guitar down after every use is a great goal and I try to do it.
When ever I see a build up or just a dirty looking top on my guitar,
I will wipe it down with a warn soapy cloth and if needed, apply guitar polish.

Washing your hands before playing and wiping down the strings and guitar, will help the strings last a lot longer.

[D-utim]

Long Johns for me.

[b1j]

I put a cotton sleeve on my right arm to avoid oiling up the lower bout. With two essentially new and expensive (for me) guitars, and one very well preserved vintage one, I just want to keep them looking fresh as long as I can.

I rarely wear a long sleeve shirt when I play because almost all of them have buttons. So I’m usually spotted playing with a T shirt and a white cotton sleeve on one arm. When it’s not hot, I do have a few long sleeve tees for playing in.

[TBman]

Short sleeves though sometimes I will wear a long sleeve t-shirt during the colder months.

[Athens]

I assume you’re talking about nitro or similar finishes? Catalyzed poly finishes couldn’t care less about that type of thing. A damp cloth and away you go.

[jaymarsch]

I don’t always wear long sleeves but I do have a small soft cloth like classical players use especially if it’s a hot day. It just lays on the area of the guitar between the top lower bout and strumming arm. Works well.
Best,
Jayne

[penguins0141]

Originally Posted by b1j

I put a cotton sleeve on my right arm to avoid oiling up the lower bout. With two essentially new and expensive (for me) guitars, and one very well preserved vintage one, I just want to keep them looking fresh as long as I can.

I rarely wear a long sleeve shirt when I play because almost all of them have buttons. So I’m usually spotted playing with a T shirt and a white cotton sleeve on one arm. When it’s not hot, I do have a few long sleeve tees for playing in.

Nice. I've seen these, and have considered trying one. Thanks for the feedback everyone.

[The Bard Rocks]

I wear whatever is comfortable for the weather when practicing. When jamming or performing out in the hot sun, my wife sacrificed a pair of panty hose for me. I cut the ends off and can slip a portion of the leg over my right arm. It looks kinda neat, white and silvery. Or dorky.

It stays in my gig bag, takes up virtually no space and negligible weight, I rarely use it but won't go out in the summer without it. And it is much more comfortable than long sleeves when it is hot.