How fast could you put on a new set of strings?

[agreatheight]

I used to have a late 80s Steinberger and with that I could change the entire set in about 2 minutes, if I rushed. Double ball end strings are very easy - loosen the old strings, pop 'em out, drop in the new strings and tighten 'em up, no clipping, no excess winding. The 'berger was a great gigging bass, that's for sure! A normal no rush string change probably took under 5 minutes anyhow!

[Skel]

Originally Posted by xgabriel

I just put on a set of strings and typed this post at the same time!

You funny!

[Chasarms]

My Modulus basses have the quick release bridge. I think I could break 5 minutes easily enough doing all five.

The thing that is nice about the quick release is that you can actually insert the clipped end of the string in the centerhole of the peg, wrap it a couple of times by hand and then pull it down and clip it into the bridge. That alone saves 20-30 seconds per string.

[Edwcdc]

Originally Posted by GregHolmes

Excuse me sir, but I believe that this site's rules state that using the word "bass" in the context of fishing is strictly forbidden.

;-)

My bad.

I meant to say fishing for micropterus salmoides.

[avast_bass]

when im roadying for other bands i usually have the space of a song to change a broken string (take bass with broken string, hand over backup bass, restring primary bass). In Mid-Gig situations we can get away with changing single strings, but i tend to try and get it done in about 30 seconds a string, and then use as much time as possible to get it safely stretched in and in-tune. And I have to do all that in the dark...

Then on my own bass, I tend to take upto half an hour to change a set of strings, just sitting back and making sure everything is just right.

[FriscoBassAce]

I wouldn't know...I haven't had to change a set of strings in years. My bass tech does it for me. I just show up and play.

Nah! Just kidding!

I'm also the kind of guy who sits and listens to music or has the tv on in the background while I'm doing it. I take my time and do it right.

However, one time at practice, I broke the G string on my 4-stringer. It was right before our first gig and we were timing our sets to see if we were playing long enough. I broke the string, finished the song, and said, "I broke a string...gimme a minute to change it." I quickly grabbed my spare set and Planet Waves string winder/clipper tool, took the old string off, put the new string on, tuned up and was ready to go in just a short time. I don't know exactly how long it took, but when I was finished, one of the guitarists looked at me and said, "That was the fastest string change I've ever seen in my life!" We all busted up laughing! True story.

Now, where did my freakin' bass tech wander off to? I need him to change my strings!

[spudmaster34]

Originally Posted by jaysun

they don't jsut snap liek an electric guitar. they more jsut lossen up

ive broken 2 strings that happened once and the other time it whipped up and cut my hand, i didnt realize it till after i had restrung. I probably take 10 minutes to change mine because i have to hack at em with kitchen scizzors and i dont have a fancy string winder so i just have to turn the machine heads over and over

[phillys]

I just changed my strings for the first time all by myself and it took me 2 hours to change the whole 5 strings. Slow, but I guess I have learned a lot this way.

[Alistair R]

If I had a proper bench to restring my SR5 at, and I had one of the winder thingos I think I could do it in under 5 minutes.

You've gotta take your time with restringing though.

[bassmonkeee]

Originally Posted by Chasarms

My Modulus basses have the quick release bridge. I think I could break 5 minutes easily enough doing all five.

The thing that is nice about the quick release is that you can actually insert the clipped end of the string in the centerhole of the peg, wrap it a couple of times by hand and then pull it down and clip it into the bridge. That alone saves 20-30 seconds per string.

That's also a good way to twist the string resulting in dead notes and strange overtones.

[MikeyFingers]

Usually takes me between 15 and 30 minutes, depending if I'm watching TV at the time. I like multi-tasking.

[greenboy]

Five minutes seems fast - until you do a bass with Sperzels and a slotted bridge. With that setup you can drop each string in a bridge groove and pull it through the tuner's hole, twist the locker on that tuner, and turn the tuner key maybe half a wind, then move on to the next one. At the end clip all the excess off the strings. Fast.

[Skel]

Speaking of this - how much length do you guys give your strings - I heard that you don't want too many winds, so I lay the string out and cut it off about 2 1/2 inches past the tuner, and I end up with about 2 winds of string - not a whole lot.

Skel

[PaleMelanesian]

That's almost exactly what I do - 2 or 2 1/2 inches past.

[greenboy]

With the Sperzels you just snip the strings off after you've locked 'em down. No measuring needed. Did I say that I like their tuners yet? ; }