How often to change strings

Richard Shelley · Post by **Richard Shelley** » 16 Apr 2003 3:56 pm

I realize there are all kinds of opinions on how long strings should last on regular guitars, ranging from one show to several years. Would be very interested in any input as to individual experience with the life of strings. Personally, I keep a cloth for each guitar, just for wiping the strings down after each use & it definitely prolongs the life of them, as human sweat seems to be their worst enemy, causing unseen rust. Your experiences & any tips?

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Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 16 Apr 2003 5:21 pm

WHEN they break!?

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 16 Apr 2003 5:23 pm

Richard:

Of course, new strings have that special "zing" that lasts only a couple of days. After that, I have found that a set of strings would last a long, long time if I would wipe them off as you said. A "Blitz" cloth is good for that purpose, as it leave a thin film of oil on the string that prevents rust. If you don't wipe them off they eventually accumulate a layer of crud under the bottom side of the string -- a mixture of rust and dirt. I used to keep the same set on for weeks or months, and only replace them a few days before recording sessions. Bobby Koefer would keep them on until his bar wore through the winding. Most players now are more interested in maximum sustain, and wouldn't agree with me. I guess in the end it's a matter of opinion.

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 16 Apr 2003 5:29 pm

Ray, don't you have a Bigsby w/original strings on it?? I got an Excel keyless in 2000 from Scotty at Rick Troyer's April show that spring. I changed the tuning to C6th & have never changed the strings yet nor have I broken one either. Must be I don't sweat??!!
I used to in the hay field! (13 years!)after
I left KMA (& Ike Everly) & Dad & Mother bailed me out & let me run the farm! Ha! Ha!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 16 Apr 2003 5:58 pm

For beginners, once a month would probably suffice. The slight loss of tone or "edge" experienced after the first few days of playing does not effect their usability for practice. Those who play professionally, or play for a living, might change them every couple of days, or once a week, as their personal sound requirements are much more stringent than the average player's.

Wiping the strings off thoroughly at the end of each (playing) set will extend their life significantly.[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 16 April 2003 at 06:59 PM.]

LARRY COLE · Post by **LARRY COLE** » 16 Apr 2003 6:12 pm

Ray, you must be a bluegrass player. I might like Martin guitars if they ever changed the stings on them.

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Playing For JESUS,LC. WILLIAMS U12, SHO-BUD PRO1,CARVIN TL60

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 16 Apr 2003 10:14 pm

When I'd goof on the 'puter, in the early days, my son would say "read the screen, Dad!"
Read the screen! change the stings?? on a Martin? stings = strings, I hope. I have been stung on guitars many times, but it was always my own fault!

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 17 Apr 2003 2:14 am

Strgs don't sound good til they have been on there for a yr.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 17 Apr 2003 2:47 am

Obviously a subjective topic.

I'll use my telecaster as an example. After what seems like a zillion years I know what I know what I know..and that is, I know what MY tone is and should be. A new set of strings that zing on the Tele' can't be beat..for me that is. When that zing is gone..so is the tone. personally if I am bewtween gigs , a week or two..I will not change strings until a day or 2 before the gig. I won't gig with the lost tone or zing of the strings. When I was giging regularly, which was every week, It was every week or at the most every other week to change strings. On the Tele the high end brightness is zero with dead strings. No more chickin pluckin tone. No more snap of the strings with the thumb...

When the tone that you are striving for is no longer possible, then it's time to change strings, not amps, not pickups..strings.

Same with the Steel. When you fully understand and are comfortable with the tone is that you are looking for and it can't be accomplished, it's time to change strings. Turning the mid knob on the amp is not the answer.

the steel is obviously much more forgiving with strings than a 6 string as you don't get near the natural finger oil and dirt transferred from your little left hand fingers.

using a cloth does not really help. What may help is this habit which I started many years ago. I do not touch my 6 string unless I wash my hands first, home or gigs. between sets etc..seems obsessive..but it really is not . Clean hands allow for better feel of the strings and frets and not to mention it's better for the neck in general. Same for the Steel.

How many times do we set up on a gig or come in from outside and just pick up the guitar and start playing ..probably a lot. After setting up a gig one can almost guarantee that your hands are filthy. Lets just transfer that filth to the guitar neck..or ..not.

just my little view..

tp[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 17 April 2003 at 03:48 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 17 Apr 2003 3:04 am

I killed my Sho-Bud's strings in 2 weeks flat to the point I couldn't stand them. E9 and C6. Just got new ones on there yesterday and it's night and day.

I played bluegrass in NYC and our Martin's had new strings once a week. Without fail! One night, before we mic'ed up the band, the guitarist broke 7 strings on a '52 D-28 ;
2 low E-s 2, highE's, 2 A's, and a D.
And 4 on the F-5 mandolin. He has a a VERY strong right hand!
He always played with fresh strings after every 6 sets.

Richard Shelley · Post by **Richard Shelley** » 17 Apr 2003 5:17 am

Wow! Thanks so much for all the great input. I've only had this guitar for about a year & a half (& it's predecessor for 4 months), as a rookie on the steel. I've been amazed that the strings seem not only to continue to sound great, but seldom ever need tuning (as compared to a six-string). Could it have something to do with the considerable stretching, & therefore somewhat elastic properties they eventually take on?

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 17 Apr 2003 5:27 am

When the 5th and 6th strings on both necks start sounding flat when I play higher on the neck. As to the wound strings sounding dead, just loosen them up to the point they're "flopping" and pop them like a rubber band. That will knock most the crud out of them and they'll ring again.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 17 Apr 2003 8:44 am

C C said,

"Strgs don't sound good til they have been on there for a yr."

hallelujah! amen!

Seriously, I will never know how long an Excel SuperB model PSG can keep the same strings without breaking them, since I had to take all the strings off to replace the new ("counterforce") keyless head Mitsuo Fujii (Excel) made me.

But when I took the originals off, the guitar was a few days older than 3 yrs old. Obviously, I would never keep them on that long again. I just wanted to see how long before one broke. That did not happen* and I don't intend to put the old ones back on when I complete this counterforce install.

I can't wait to get it completed since it is suppose to have zero "cabinet drop" when adjusted properly. I must say it is a very clever way that Mitsuo did it. While it works on the same principle as the LeGrande III's, he does it differently. The action takes place at the keyless end rather than at the changer. I have further improved upon it (IMO) by makin one change.

So needless to say, I am quite excited about it.

God bless Mitsuo and all of you,

carl

* Note: The guitar DID break two string:

1. The forth string was defective and had to be replaced within a coupla days after I received it.

2. The 1st string was being asked to exceed its mechanical limit.

After I corrected both, It never even hinted at breaking a string in all 3 years. Which to me is incredible. [This message was edited by C Dixon on 17 April 2003 at 09:48 AM.]

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 17 Apr 2003 9:28 am

YOU ARE RIGHT....Doug!

Great memory you have there!

I leave them on now, just for spite.

About "GUNK" under the strings! I usually wash my hands at regular intervals and don't seem to encounter this phenominon....... however for optimum bar handling I no longer wash my hands just prior to playing because a little stickiness seems to make holding the bar a little easier.

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 17 Apr 2003 9:10 pm

I've read some articles what the pro's have written concering that, and I do remember Paul Franklin stating that he never leaves them on for more than a week. He said that they do loose the sparkle. We may not notice it because as time goes on, our hearing adjusts to the dead-type sound. Another article by another pro mentioned that some of the strings develope a slight flat spot on the roller location which makes it harder to keep in tune. And some of the spring-back action is stretched out to where they don't always come back to a true pitch correctly. I personally keep them on for about 3 weeks - depending on the hours of playing time.

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 17 Apr 2003 9:12 pm

sorry - mispelled "concerning"

Ricky Littleton · Post by **Ricky Littleton** » 18 Apr 2003 12:54 am

I do pretty much the same as Randy said above. The higher positions on 5 and 6 can really tell you alot about the condition of those strings. The snap trick on the wounds is also a pretty good rule of thumb!

Ricky

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Boss Comp./Sustain, Ibanez Auto-Wah

Lonnie Portwood · Post by **Lonnie Portwood** » 20 Apr 2003 7:53 pm

I agree with Ray!! after all, I don't know that many people who make a living playing steel,and the "old poops" (affectionatly called) at the V.F.W. and Moose don't deserve new strings at the rate they pay!. Besides, most don't know a steel from a #3 tub. Just a little light Humor, guys!!!

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 20 Apr 2003 8:51 pm

As often as you wish.

If you are playing gigs, at the end of say a particularly hard 5 niter, or even a weekend, you can look down the strings under strong light, ( such as a Bill Hankey String Illuminator (tm)) or a common house light. If you see inconsistencies in the reflections, It's a good indication.

Mainly if you find one or more that have a dead "plunk" timbre.

If you don't play gigs, then just change them when they break. It'll be a good excersize in producing sustain. Nobody will hear it but you.

There are so many places online here and elsewhere to get sets for under 10$ that it's good to order three or four sets.

If you get a couple "plunkers" don't worry about it.

FOr each set, I try to have at least one extra .020, .017, and a .010. Sometimes it will just be a "bad string" right out of the box. Lately even the best brands have that happen.

I was in the middle of recording last week and had a .020 go dead, or I had been just becoming aware of it. I changed it out and was right where I needed to be.

Mind that your changers or nut rollers don't cause deadening with too much space, or boogers in them.

EJL

Jesse Harris · Post by **Jesse Harris** » 21 Apr 2003 12:43 pm

I also play bluegrass flatpick guitar and have always have had problems with string life, I could never get a set to make it thru the gig, then my life changed when I discovered elixer strings, now I can play a few gigs on them and the are great, also they dont start out super snappy, I would think the original elixers would be bad on steel because you would lose the friction on the wound strings but the new ones they make get coated before they wind the string and have a similar feel to nn coated strings, I kight have to put a set together for steel and see how long they last.