How often do you restring?
- Thread starter DeadandBuried
- Start date
Van Noord
New member
Re: How often do you restring?
I do it based on feel and sound. No timetable for any of my guitars. I just know.
I also require new strings have 2-3 hrs use before I'm comfortable with the guitar's sound after being restrung. No way I would ever play a gig immediately after restringing a guitar.
I just restrung one of my Strats last night and it's just now starting to meld.
I do it based on feel and sound. No timetable for any of my guitars. I just know.
I also require new strings have 2-3 hrs use before I'm comfortable with the guitar's sound after being restrung. No way I would ever play a gig immediately after restringing a guitar.
I just restrung one of my Strats last night and it's just now starting to meld.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: How often do you restring?
The answer is, "When I need to."
I adhere to a strict string cleaning regimen, so my biggest issue (besides tone) is grooves in the strings from fret wear.
I use Fender Super Bullets (9-42) on my G&L guitars with the DF Vibrato, and D'Addario XLs on my Gibson and Ibanez electrics, in a range of gauges from 9-42, 9-46 to 10-46.
For my acoustics, I use D'Addario Phosphor Bronze J-Series or their coated EXP sets; or Martin PB SP or their coated Lifespan SP sets. I mostly use Medium sets, but a couple use the D'Addario hybrid Bluegrass gauge and I keep Lights on my Ibanez Artwood. I use the coated sets on guitars that I'm not playing often, and the uncoated strings on guitars that I know I'll be using solid for a week or two.
I find that acoustic or electric, strings last me about 12-15 hours of "GIG" time, and about 20 hours of "SOFA" playing time. Last summer I was doing a one-night-a-week solo acoustic gig, three hours per night. I used my Martin HD-28E Retro (Mediums) and a Takamine 12-string dread. I used EXPs on the Tak, and didn't change that set for the whole summer, since I was only using it for 7-8 songs per night. With practice on the Martin during the week, I changed those after every two gigs.
The 80/20 Brass strings go dead on me much faster, even the coated strings. So tonally, they might get only 10-12 hours max. They are brighter than the PB strings, but they don't hold that tone.
One other tip I can pass along about string changing, is to let them sit for 24 hours, if at all possible before playing them. They will hold their tune better, and keep their tone longer. String it up and let it sit.
And the real trick, is to always change your strings before you NEED to. Kinda like...underwear.
Bill
The answer is, "When I need to."
I adhere to a strict string cleaning regimen, so my biggest issue (besides tone) is grooves in the strings from fret wear.
I use Fender Super Bullets (9-42) on my G&L guitars with the DF Vibrato, and D'Addario XLs on my Gibson and Ibanez electrics, in a range of gauges from 9-42, 9-46 to 10-46.
For my acoustics, I use D'Addario Phosphor Bronze J-Series or their coated EXP sets; or Martin PB SP or their coated Lifespan SP sets. I mostly use Medium sets, but a couple use the D'Addario hybrid Bluegrass gauge and I keep Lights on my Ibanez Artwood. I use the coated sets on guitars that I'm not playing often, and the uncoated strings on guitars that I know I'll be using solid for a week or two.
I find that acoustic or electric, strings last me about 12-15 hours of "GIG" time, and about 20 hours of "SOFA" playing time. Last summer I was doing a one-night-a-week solo acoustic gig, three hours per night. I used my Martin HD-28E Retro (Mediums) and a Takamine 12-string dread. I used EXPs on the Tak, and didn't change that set for the whole summer, since I was only using it for 7-8 songs per night. With practice on the Martin during the week, I changed those after every two gigs.
The 80/20 Brass strings go dead on me much faster, even the coated strings. So tonally, they might get only 10-12 hours max. They are brighter than the PB strings, but they don't hold that tone.
One other tip I can pass along about string changing, is to let them sit for 24 hours, if at all possible before playing them. They will hold their tune better, and keep their tone longer. String it up and let it sit.
And the real trick, is to always change your strings before you NEED to. Kinda like...underwear.
Bill
Re: How often do you restring?
About every month, but whatever guitar I use for the show (I try to use 1 guitar for every show), the strings get changed right after. The Florida humidity is terrible on strings, and many shows are outside, and it is usually over 95 degrees F. Lots of sweating, and strings don't last in that. I hate the way coated strings feel, and sound. The acid in my sweat just dissolves the coating anyway, and I wind up with white dandruff flakes all over me when I've used them.
About every month, but whatever guitar I use for the show (I try to use 1 guitar for every show), the strings get changed right after. The Florida humidity is terrible on strings, and many shows are outside, and it is usually over 95 degrees F. Lots of sweating, and strings don't last in that. I hate the way coated strings feel, and sound. The acid in my sweat just dissolves the coating anyway, and I wind up with white dandruff flakes all over me when I've used them.