Old strings and tone
- Thread starter UberMetalDood
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Old strings and tone
+1. They gradually lose treble, which you usually don't realize, and if you wait too long, you think "Geez, these new strings sound so alive, I gotta change them more often."
+1. They gradually lose treble, which you usually don't realize, and if you wait too long, you think "Geez, these new strings sound so alive, I gotta change them more often."
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Old strings and tone
I rebuilt an amp for a guy a while back, he is a respected pro player (country/jazz kinda stylings) and he told me he only changes strings once a year or so. When he came to get his amp, he bought one of his guitars and played, and he sounded great. So it seems to work for him anyway.
A long time ago when i was teaching, one of my students turned up with a broken (steel) string. I had some spares, and fitted a new string for him. The next week i asked him how it was having the full set of six strings again, and he said something like " I don't like the new one, it's too twangy".
It seems to me that better quality guitars and gear tend to show up the strings' condition more .... good acoustics in particular seem to reach a point where they suddenly sound very average and tuning becomes a nightmare. If I'm not gigging, my main concern is to change the strings well before they reach the point where they can be damaging the frets, but my guitars usually demand fresh strings long before then, the notes stop singing and become dull 'plonk' sounds instead.
I rebuilt an amp for a guy a while back, he is a respected pro player (country/jazz kinda stylings) and he told me he only changes strings once a year or so. When he came to get his amp, he bought one of his guitars and played, and he sounded great. So it seems to work for him anyway.
A long time ago when i was teaching, one of my students turned up with a broken (steel) string. I had some spares, and fitted a new string for him. The next week i asked him how it was having the full set of six strings again, and he said something like " I don't like the new one, it's too twangy".
It seems to me that better quality guitars and gear tend to show up the strings' condition more .... good acoustics in particular seem to reach a point where they suddenly sound very average and tuning becomes a nightmare. If I'm not gigging, my main concern is to change the strings well before they reach the point where they can be damaging the frets, but my guitars usually demand fresh strings long before then, the notes stop singing and become dull 'plonk' sounds instead.
G
Grandturk
Guest
Re: Old strings and tone
I'll let a set of strings go pretty long. Brand new strings sound pretty zingy, but that wears off after a session, after that, mine don't really get crusty. I'll change them when the D gets flatted and scrapey. Usually I change strings when I'm bored.
I'll let a set of strings go pretty long. Brand new strings sound pretty zingy, but that wears off after a session, after that, mine don't really get crusty. I'll change them when the D gets flatted and scrapey. Usually I change strings when I'm bored.
Re: Old strings and tone
I find that strings have a 'sweet spot' where they have lost their initial excessive brightness, but don't yet sound completely dull.
The amount of playing time to get to the sweet spot depends mostly on the pickups - with humbuckers I like the strings to be almost new, but with singles I like to leave play them a bit longer to get to the ideal tone.
The exception is on bass, where I much prefer the sound of old strings, in fact I've had the same strings on my bass for more than a year.
I find that strings have a 'sweet spot' where they have lost their initial excessive brightness, but don't yet sound completely dull.
The amount of playing time to get to the sweet spot depends mostly on the pickups - with humbuckers I like the strings to be almost new, but with singles I like to leave play them a bit longer to get to the ideal tone.
The exception is on bass, where I much prefer the sound of old strings, in fact I've had the same strings on my bass for more than a year.
Fikealox
New member
Re: Old strings and tone
^+1. I recently held off changing strings on one of my guitars for much longer than usual, and it was only when I eventually changed them that I realised how bad the old strings sounded. It really was a night and day difference.
^+1. I recently held off changing strings on one of my guitars for much longer than usual, and it was only when I eventually changed them that I realised how bad the old strings sounded. It really was a night and day difference.
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: Old strings and tone
My body chemistry is not too bad on strings at all, but one thing I insist on is thoroughly wiping down the strings with a blitz cloth after playing - under the string and over the string. Strings on maple fingerboards seem to last a little longer than on rosewood - I've gone a year without a change before on a couple of occasions.
What I change for most often now is when I need to slack the strings to change something inside. When I tune up, something seems off with the strings, even if they have an hour on them.
My body chemistry is not too bad on strings at all, but one thing I insist on is thoroughly wiping down the strings with a blitz cloth after playing - under the string and over the string. Strings on maple fingerboards seem to last a little longer than on rosewood - I've gone a year without a change before on a couple of occasions.
What I change for most often now is when I need to slack the strings to change something inside. When I tune up, something seems off with the strings, even if they have an hour on them.
Invader09
New member
Re: Old strings and tone
-1. I like a Korn type bass tone, and always must use BRAND NEW Stainless Steel strings!
Strings last about 2 weeks, and then off they go.
Nothing better than a clean bass twang.
-1. I like a Korn type bass tone, and always must use BRAND NEW Stainless Steel strings!
Strings last about 2 weeks, and then off they go.
Nothing better than a clean bass twang.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Old strings and tone
for bass? new strings is where its at bro. the amount of clarity is amazing.
I'm from the school that believes that bass shouldn't be EQ'd live. At all. The bass produces its fundemental frequency which automatically sits between the drums and guitar. If the guitars are middy, even better.
So for me, the ideal is bass with new strings, everything up, everything at 5 or midnight at the amp.
for bass? new strings is where its at bro. the amount of clarity is amazing.
I'm from the school that believes that bass shouldn't be EQ'd live. At all. The bass produces its fundemental frequency which automatically sits between the drums and guitar. If the guitars are middy, even better.
So for me, the ideal is bass with new strings, everything up, everything at 5 or midnight at the amp.
