how can you tell if strings need replaced

[60's Bluesman]

some back ground on this, i got my bass at a pawnshop and these strings came wit it so i dont know how old they are or how wore out they are, plus these are my first flatwounds (i love them). i know flatwounds last for a long time so how can i tell if they are shot?

[7flat5]

If one breaks, it needs replacing.

[60's Bluesman]

Originally Posted by 7flat5

If one breaks, it needs replacing.

well they arent to that point just yet

[MooseLumps]

if they won't hold tune, flats or no, they have to go.
also, rust and excessive corrosion are good indicators. A rusy or corroded string is probably not performing, or is about to break.

after that, there are guys who run the same flats for 25 years. there's no reason to change if you love it. More guys change rounds more often, because of their high end content disappearing as they wear.

[Tim Skaggs]

Last year in BP magazine, Phil Chen claimed his '62 P- bass had the same LaBella flats on it for 45 years: http://www.bassplayer.com/article/ph...s/jul-09/97409

That's getting your money's worth out of a set of strings....

[60's Bluesman]

would it be a good idea to put my own my primary bass and maybe put the old ones on my back up bass?

[MooseLumps]

If you like the tone, play the strings till they go bad and keep the extra set till something needs replaced.
If you don't like the tone, replace them, but there's no reason to switch sets on two basses just cause you have a set of strings lying around.

[Ric5]

how can you tell if strings need replaced

With round wounds they sound bad.

With flats replace them when they break.

[60's Bluesman]

well my back up bass has rounds on it and i really dont play anything that requires rounds, there pertty new so maybe i take em off put them old flats on it and put some new flats on my primary and keep the rounds around as a spare

[Pilgrim]

Unless they won't hold tune or they break, they are good to go. Don't replace them if you like the sound.

The flats on my '63 P have been on it since at least 1972.

[waytoodeep03]

My strings go in stages like this

New- Super Zingy sound(don't really like this)
Broken in- Nice deep thump, great clarity and the bass just talks to you and makes you want to play better
Dead- Sounds very hollow especially on the B and E strings