4 Year Old Strings

Plissken · #1 08-22-2009, 12:39 AM

I haven't changed my strings in 4 years (due to not touching it at all) I'm planning on changing them asap.

Question though is this...do old strings change the tuning of a guitar? What I mean by this is...I'll explain with a situation I noticed.

I'm following along with Hal Leonard's Bass Guitar method book. It comes with a CD with songs that you can play along with. I've been playing along with the songs, but something doesn't sound right...it's like my tuning is off a little. So, I check tuning with my electric/digital tuner. Everything is in the green, smack dab in the middle. I play along again...the sound still sounds kind of off...

So I try and tune along with the tuning track on the CD. Voila. I'm playing along with the songs in sync. It sounds like I'm the only bass guitar playing.

I check the digital tuner and find that the tuning is actually off into the red by a little...around +20, and sometimes +50 (using Korg tuner)

So, is it my strings?

JimmyM · #2 08-22-2009, 12:51 AM

I think it's more likely the tuner's tuning is off. Check your tuner and make sure it's set to A = 440 because it's possible it could be off, too. It's rare that your CD would be out of tune. I'd like to think that nobody would release a method book/CD without it being in proper A = 440 tuning.

As strings get old and dented up, they do lose the ability to intonate properly, but in this case, that doesn't sound like the problem. Either your tuner or the CD is off kilter.

TheSuzie · #3 08-22-2009, 12:53 AM

EDITED: What JimmyM said

Not strings but the recording or your tuner. The fact that you can tune to the recording and everything is fine means your strings are good enough to tune. What you are experiencing is the same thing as going in to play with someone on an out of tune piano since they cant tune to the bass the bass must tune to them. It is nicer to play with something that is in tune because it helps you to train your ear but you don't always have a choice. Check your tuner against another tuner or a tuning fork just in case it is somehow defective.

I have seen old strings become hard to intonate at the upper frets (requiring a bridge adjustment) and loose some harmonics but you are OK for now. I have used a single set of strings for about ten years. Don't know if I would do that again but it is possible as long as they are not corroded and kept reasonably clean.

Peace,
S

Plissken · #4 08-22-2009, 01:04 AM

Jimmy and Suzie, thanks!

Yeah, I noticed the Hz was at 436...so I hit the calibrate button and set it to 440. Sounds nice again

Now I'm curious. If 440 is proper tuning, then what are the other numbers? Would appreciate if you could direct me to a resource about tuning or explain briefly on it. Is it pitch?

JustDavid · #5 08-22-2009, 05:54 AM

440 is "standard tuning".

Why deviate? Suzie's example of an old piano is great: say you are at a house party & they have an upright piano. Say it's "average" tuning is 447 Hz. It's a LOT easier to tune the bass & guitars to 447 than to tune the piano to 440. Just de-calibrate the tuner to 447, tune "normally", & pass the tuner to the guitarists.

WayneS · #6 08-22-2009, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plissken

Jimmy and Suzie, thanks!

Yeah, I noticed the Hz was at 436...so I hit the calibrate button and set it to 440. Sounds nice again

Now I'm curious. If 440 is proper tuning, then what are the other numbers? Would appreciate if you could direct me to a resource about tuning or explain briefly on it. Is it pitch?

http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~suits/notefreqs.html