String Change Questions

[Boogie Bill]

Re: String Change Questions

For home use, or "sofa time", I get about 20 hours of Play Time. For "gig" time, I shorten it to 10-15 hours. I prefer a bright tone from my guitars.

You can stretch out string life by using a cleaning regimen. After gigs, I wipe the guitar and strings down with a damp rag, and then buff it dry. Water will remove about 99% of sweat and contaminants. I then go over the strings with the Dunlop 65 String Cleaner, which removes any residual water, cleans, lubes and protects.

The issue that I have with strings is that I hit hard and wear divots in the strings. When you have divots in the strings, the string will no longer intonate properly, as it no longer has equal mass and diameter for each section of string.

So, this regimen applies to acoustics (with either coated D'Addario EXP or J-Series phosphor bronze) or the D'Addario XLs or Fender Super Bullets on my electrics.

But...some people a certain chemistry in their sweat that can kill a set of strings in five minutes or less. I had a friend like that. He was an auto mechanic and I had to ban him from my guitars! If you have this type of body chemistry, all bets are off...better start buying your strings in bulk!

Good luck.

Bill

 

[dave74]

Re: String Change Questions

An hour every day?,,,,,,,probably twice a month if you only like newer-string tone, and once a month if you're not too picky. (pi)
I probably average 20-30hrs a set, but a bit more often sure wouldn't hurt for even better tone.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: String Change Questions

Martin guitars has a great tutorial on changing strings.

I usually change them three at a time...first the basses and then the trebles. If I need to thoroughly clean and oil the fretboard, then I will take them all off.

I try for at least 2-1/2 wraps on the 5th and 6th strings, more on the 4th and 3rd, and the most wraps (about five) on the 1st and 2nd. Usually, you can use the distance between the tuner post as an indication of how much extra length is needed for a good wrap.

I ALWAYS cut the excess string off...those flying ends are dangerous. A friend of mine almost lost her eye because some idiot didn't cut them off. Now she has a small ragged scar just under her eye.

Invest five bucks in a good pair of side-cutting pliers.

Bill

 

[dystrust]

Re: String Change Questions

I don't really base string changes on playing time; I change them when they either start sounding dead or will no longer hold tune.