Vaseline

[bwanasonic]

The only vaguely musical use for vaseline I can recall is possibly using it on the pads or cork of woodwind instruments, and I'm not sure that's advised by proper woodwind technicians. Generally speaking it's really not much use for anything except maybe your lips or baby's bottom, and even for those it's questionable. OK, in a pinch for squeaky hinges or a stuck drawer, but even then it's not ideal. As for old strings, they're the bane of my existence as I value accurate intonation, and rely on combining fretted notes high up the neck with open strings and clean amps tones. OTOH, I've played with other guitarists who never seem to need change strings, but also never really play clean sounds, or play chords using intervals beyond root third fifth and maybe sixth.