How often do you change strings

[Sam SG]

How often do you change strings on your main players?
On my Gibsons its about every few shows with practice hours on them inbetween. I use fingerease spray befor I play.There is a point though were a Gibson has lost too much sparkle and needs new strings to sound right.
Never liked brand new strings to my ear strings settle in after about 6hrs play time on um.
However on strats I leave um on as long as possible without having dead string intonation problems. New strings on most strats is a nail on a chalk board thing to me.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Uhhhh ... not often enough. I'm lazy.

Probably overdue to change strings on at least three or four of my guitars.

 

[Chistopher]

Every bass in my house has the strings that came with it

 

[jeremy]

i basically play em till one breaks, then change em all

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I used to change them every once a month when I was playing a lot.

These days, I do the same as Jeremy, and wait until one breaks to change them all.

I do like the sound of brand new strings, but I suppose I'm lucky that my sweat don't destroy them as quickly a some people's does.

 

[ehdwuld]

I got a set of dead ones on my Hummingbird. I noticed the other day when I has it down.... every 5 years.... need it or not

Wait I have a floyded Ibby that has the same set it arrived with

Still in tune , high e has been broken at the tuner for years

 

[Chris Pile]

Ry Cooder said he changed the strings on a guitar when it "sounded like slapping a dead fish". I try to change them a lot more often, like when they won't stay in tune.

 

[Sam SG]

Years and years ago( about 18 19yrs old)I heard of bass players boiling new strings to take the zing out. So I tried it on guitar..didnt really notice much.
THEN I got the brilliant idea to simulate sweat by boiling them in salt water....i think they broke after like an hour
But yea never did like umm brand new.

 

[Chris Pile]

Years and years ago( about 18 19yrs old)I heard of bass players boiling new strings to take the zing out. So I tried it on guitar..didnt really notice much.
THEN I got the brilliant idea to simulate sweat by boiling them in salt water....i think they broke after like an hour
But yea never did like umm brand new.

Stephen Stills was the first guy I ever heard of trying to dull down a brand new set of bass strings. He succeeded by frying them in fat. I was asked to replicate this for a client who loved dead sounding strings, and I found the best way for me was to rub them down with hand lotion, let it soak in overnight, then rub them down again. I would then warm the strings in my toaster oven (low setting for a short time) to allow full penetration of the oils. Wiped all the excess oil off the strings, and strung the bass up. Worked like a champ. I prepped several sets for him to allow restringing of several basses.

 

[Coma]

When they start to feel more like barbed wire than strings. Or when it's time to record.

 

[uOpt]

Depends on the exact kind of strings. GHS boomers lose their sparkle after about 3 hours.

The Dean Markleys I settled for as standard strings lasted longer but alas the company is gone now.

I am in progress of picking new standard strings and longevity plays a role in selection.

 

[Mincer]

Performing outside in Florida in the summer forces me to change them every show. High temps with high humidity, so strings don't last very long.

 

[Coma]

Depends on the exact kind of strings. GHS boomers lose their sparkle after about 3 hours.

The Dean Markleys I settled for as standard strings lasted longer but alas the company is gone now.

I am in progress of picking new standard strings and longevity plays a role in selection.

That's funny, GHS have been my go-to for years, they seem to last much longer than both D'addarios and Ernie Balls.

 

[JMP/HBE]

When the old one's get dull & lifeless.

 

[d1dsj]

Normally when 1 breaks or if I have a good show coming up. I do always take a back up guitar though whether just a rehearsal or a gig.

 

[jeremy]

same, i always bring two guitars

 

[uOpt]

I plan to take some time to evaluate going to a 008 set on standard tuning. This requires experimenting with my touch and probably also pick choices, so it is a bigger project.

But I expect that it could be a major payoff if it works out.

 

[Mincer]

same, i always bring two guitars

Me as well, except acoustic shows.

 

[jeremy]

same. i dont do many acoustic shows if i can help it though

 

[Cynical]

Whenever they're dead enough that pinch harmonics on the low strings don't jump out easily or sustain well anymore.