How Often should strings be changed?

[flank]

ive been havin trouble keeping my strat in tune and im wondering if its simply because i dont change my strings very often? i usually will play a set of string for at least 3 months before i get a new set, sometimes longer......and im wondering if thats enough time to have the string quality degrade and lose its tuning stability?

if not, what could be causing my loss of tuning stability?........sometimes its really bad........like a couple big bends on the g b or high e string will cause it to go flat pretty badly, just after only a couple big bends

 

[Fiber-Optics]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

It is just prefrence, some people like to change them every week some like to change them only when they break. I change them about every month or so and replace broken as needed. I do not like the sound of old strings to me they sound as if they have no "life". You could have a nut problem or your tuners might be slipping I would get a new nut first since that is cheaper then new tuners.

 

[3 cent hero]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

I change mine the first Saturday of every month, my buddy changes his strings every year on his birthday. Change them when you think it is time, there is no real right or wrong.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

Sounds like a nut problem to me too. Get a good tech to cut you a nice bone or graphite nut.Another option is the LSR, it'll stay in good shape indefinately and stays in tune well. The only downside is that there's material taken off the neck, so the mod won't be reversible.

 

[Zeppelinfan8790]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

I replace a string whenever one breaks, and 97% of the time they stay in tune after whammy bar usage. I am gonna go with the others to in suggesting that you get a new nut put on it.

 

[GHWelles]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

Yes, try lubing the nut or changing it.

 

[Bludave]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

I attempt to judge how much "playing" time I have on the strings, rather than how long they have been on the guitar. I have a lot of guitars, so I don't play the same guitar every day. A little trick I use is I have a maintenance sheet that I keep in the case of each guitar. What I do is date the last string change as well as the last setup. These usually coincide with each other, I generally go thru a complete setup when ever I change strings.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

When I pick up a guitar and it seems dead, it's time to change them. You'll know it.

 

[Bludave]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

I attempt to judge how much "playing" time I have on the strings, rather than how long they have been on the guitar. I have a lot of guitars, so I don't play the same guitar every day. A little trick I use is I have a maintenance sheet that I keep in the case of each guitar. What I do is date the last string change as well as the last setup. These usually coincide with each other, I generally go thru a complete setup when ever I change strings.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

When I pick up a guitar and it seems dead, it's time to change them. You'll know it.

yup

that and when they get dark, icky and rough, ew. I change mine every few weeks

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

Try to use a graphite pencil on the nut on the problem string slots. It may help, and if it does, it's at least partly a nut problem.

 

[aleclee]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

Keep in mind that, back in the 60s, most players only changed a single string when it broke. A lot of the recordings we consider classic today were made with strings that would be considered ridiculously stale by today's standards.

 

[sanrafael]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

I think that changing strings more often became necessary as the gauges got smaller.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

I don't mind loss of dullness, but I do notice the intonation tends to go on strings after a certain time. I generally get 1-2 gigs (and maybe a rehearsal) max out of a set before I change.

If you're not gigging, you could probably go quite a bit longer if you need.

 

[skh515]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

I'd look at how my trem is set-up (if your guitar has one) before I did anything drastic to the nut. Is your trem floating?

 

[TheLizardKing]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

what are the needed tools to go about changing these strings?

 

[Kac]

Re: How Often should strings be changed?

Change the strings when they break... And the day before a big show...

Always wipe off the strings everytime you get done playing and they will last longer.
Rock On :smoker: