I've been using FastFret since I got my first Ovation in the early 90's

Latest version has finally hit rock bottom. Just put the price up by $2 and give us back the product we loved. Metal container, paper wrapped sponge. Used to last for years, now just a few months. The latest tie fighter shaped handle is ludicrous, what, just to save 2c of plastic?

Really really disappointed - won't be recommending any more. Luckily I still have the tin from the last one, so that will help a bit.

Quite amused you are still calling it "The ORIGINAL string cleaner!".  

No, it's not. You've killed that one. This is a cheap substitute.

This product used to be great quality and something I would strongly recommend to my students. In good honesty, I no longer can recommend them to my students and also colleagues. The prior versions lasted three times longer than the current editions; the lubricant drying and the applicator pad falling off. Highly disappointed from this and question if the rest of the brand is lowering it quality.

Friends of Fast Fret-we are listening and actively pursuing options to return Fast Fret to the product you know and love. Your input is much appreciated as we work through these changes.

I'm late to the party, but I have been using Fast Fret since the early 1990s and I will no longer be using it after the recent and semi-recent changes. It's quality fade pure and simple, while the truth is me and many others would literally pay double to get the original quality back.

In fact, Fast Fret goes for about double here in Japan than it does in the states, so I would be fine with 4x the price. Think about it.

I hope these comments are truly heard.

Dear GHS.,
I've used your product since 2009 when i started working in a guitar shop.
I still have my first Fast Fret. Wood handle, brown plastic container.

I've swore by it, and my enthusiast sold your product do many customers.
Last year i went through 3 fast fret applicator, they dried very fast, i think the new sponge has a much higher evaporation rate (probably also due to not having the "paper" wrap like the old one) and the first application are messy.

My 16 years old wood handle applicators still works. I know that you're selling more products this way because they dry up so fast, but can't we have a "reissue" of the old one? wood handle, nice felt tip with the wrap around paper branding? I'm willing to pay double the price for that, i don't care, it just need  a nice reliable fast fret applicator and get my 16yo old on to retirement .

I know that people don't like changes and want to complain, but i think that there is a real problem with the new applicator material, I also had customers complaining about ti getting dry fast.

I've started selling the "fingerboard caring kit" as a refill for the fast fret, not sure if is exactly the same stuff, but it feels like it, can someone confirm it, or is a completely different product?


So, yeah, please, evaluate doing a "reissue" edition. We're addicted by your product, we don't care if it cost double, just give us the possibility to have back the good quality,


Thanks for your time.

S.Alge

On the fast-fret container, composition is of little consequence unless it negatively affects the application or quality of the product. It is easily discernable to me, comparing my metal can version with the newer plastic, that the product contents is different. Not only the odor / aroma, but the effectiveness of its cleaning and lubrication. And, in the metal can version, the applicator handle has, what looks like a refill cap. What is the exact chemical difference between the old & new versions of the fast-fret product? Thank you. Paul B. Searles, US Coast Guard, Retired 

Unfortunately, they have severely downgraded this product. I have used this product for years, swore by it, I applied it before and after every set. Bought a bunch, one for each gig bag and to keep in my car. Saw the new product on a shelf and was intrigued, so I bought it and gave it a try.

The new case is plastic instead of metal. Not exactly a big deal in itself even though it feels cheesy, but the case just doesn't keep the fluid from leaking out. The applicator is a much worse material and actually fell off after a couple uses. As for its lubrication, I will admit that it did feel about the same on the strings as it used to, though it definitely let out a lot more fluid than it usually did. As far as I can tell, it was indeed a genuine GHS fast fret and not a knockoff, which was so upsetting to find out.

I used to tell every bassist I knew to buy fast fret but I can't recommend it anymore.

Please revert to the old version!!! 

I just bought a new fast fret and I am now really sad. You - GHS - just destroyed Your best product! Everything become plastic. Plastic is a synonym of "useless" , "no quality" and "short sighted"  and I did not mentioned the environmental part of the changes. I am really- really disappointed! 
You product become absolutely useless! 
- the sponge is useless. The fluid comes out uncontrolled, everything will be covered by the fluid
- the plastic handle is useless. it's to small and in it DOES NOT hold the sponge!!! The sponge falls out from the handle 
- the cover is useless. It covers the spongle, but it does not stay on the top, it falls off ! 
- the plastic packaging is useless. It's not sturdy, so the top falls off. If you put the Fast Fret in the pocket of your gig bag, the top falls off, the cover falls off, the sponge falls off and all the fluid comes out in the pocket... this is just useless! 

I am so sad to tell You, your product just become absolutely useless ! I used over 2-3 DECADES and it really helped me, especially at out-door venues and festivals. 

I am asking You - no! I am begging You to return to the "real deal" 

Wishing You the Best. Really. I really hope, You can fix it.   

Gusztav Nadzon ( Germany / Hungary )   

Had to create an account for this...

been using fast fret for near on 30 years

the cleaner is different, that wadding applicator and smell has gone, the strings dry out quicker, the pot is tacky, and it dries out waaaaay to quick.

Sorry to say it but after years of using nothing else i have to find an alternative.

Hi everyone,

We sincerely appreciate all the feedback regarding the changes to FastFret packaging and applicator. The shift from the metal tin to plastic was driven by unavoidable supply chain challenges due to COVID-19. We understand that this change has caused disappointment and frustration among our loyal customers, and for that, we apologize.

Your concerns about environmental impact, product durability, and applicator functionality are important to us. We are actively exploring alternatives to improve the packaging and enhance the product's performance. Quality control remains a top priority, and we are investigating the reported issues to ensure that our products meet the high standards you expect.

We value your long-standing support and patience as we work through these changes. Please feel free to reach out to our customer service team for any immediate assistance. Thank you for being part of the GHS family.

GHS Strings

Horrified when I saw the new packaging/product in the guitar shop today. Bought a new one for a friend as my current ‘vintage’ one is still going strong nearly 20 years. This one doesn’t look like it would last a month. Plastic everywhere now which is terrible for the environment, old one had none. And there’s no paper around the juice so it all comes out the sides when using it. I will not be buying again until you bring the metal tin and wooden applicator back. You want to save money? I’ll be saving mine from your piss-poor product. 

Hey there! Log time user here.

I can generally understand every explanation here that aims to clear the air with all the downgrade but I still feel that this is a huge bummer. The packaging is really something that I could not care less. Whether it is in a metal can or plastic, I don't care. But what I do care about is the actual product. The carelessness on the whole issue is just unbelievable as you literally changed the packaging and the product but could not spend an additional 5 minutes to review what is written on the package. It says "Do not peel back protective paper wrapping". Let me tell you, that "protective paper wrapping" is not on the brush anymore. You decided to remove it, to let it dry out faster, thinking that would generate sales I guess but did not care to remove the warning about it? 

This thing was my favourite gear of all but the thing that I buy it and in a week or two it is completely unusable is generally the saddest thing. 

Man... 

Wow... I just noticed many other negative comments about the "NEW" FastFret.  Bring back the dependable applicator. 

I have been using FastFret for many years.  Over the past month I have purchased "2" from Musicians Friend.  The first arrived and I opened the container.  The item was in multiple pieces ‍♂️. Musicians Friend provided a replacement.  Unfortunately, the replacement also fell apart the first time I used it. The lubrication cake fell off the handle and this one is unusable as well. Looks like I will need to find a new product.  After many years of using FastFret, I just can't deal with constantly returning the item whether on line or at a box store. Jeff Taulton, Western Maryland. 

Another fan of the "old" Fast Fret here! Current package does not stand up favorably.

Regular user and promoter of Fast fret and other GHS products to my guitar students, i recently started to get negative feedbacks about their last batch of fast fret. Wanting to see by myself, I bought one and unfortunately confirm the quality has really gone down by a lot. Aside from a return to plastic casing (touring musicians will "appreciate" for sure...), the cleaning tip appears not to be reliable anymore and got detached after one single use to finally dry out a few days later. After several occurrences being reported among my students, musician friends and professionals, i now understand why so many of them may see here some kind of betrayal from GHS.

After nearly 20 years using fast fret, it seems the brand is now rapidly losing its credibility through downgrading the most simple product they could provide their customers' base with. Not even mentioning the so called "sustainable approach" brought up trying to defend a weaker product (the original applicator lifespan lasting way way longer than the new model). I am now seriously worried the rest of their products could be going the same line and cannot recommend them anymore to my networks.

Dear GHS, please bring back the old applicator and just charge us more. Thank you.

I've been using your product for 35+ years. I was at a local store yesterday trying out guitars and wished I had my trusty fast fret. You should make a pocket sized application available. Maybe like a wetnap? Maybe a small chapstick size? That'd be cool. 

(I still use my original can btw... it's "vintage" now).

It used to be the best string cleaner for me, but the quality has gone down a lot lately. The metal can has been replaced with a plastic one and the handle has changed as well as the applicator. Even the oil smells different now. I'm currently looking for an alternative product.

Some things were perfect when they were first designed. Original Fast Fret in a metal can was perfect. I have 4 year old Fast Fret that still works and the can stays closed in my cable bag. These plastic cans are junk. You made these plastic cans in the 90s and you eventually got rid of them. Well get rid of them. Stay with the metal cans. I'll gladly pay more for an original trusted product.