How many gigs do get out of a set of strings?

[HMZ]

I find during the summer when I'm doing outside gigs I can kill a set of stings in one or two gigs. The rest of the year i can go maybe four gigs on a set.

[illfield3]

Wow, that's intense, mine last for a long time. What have you done to your strings to have to change them after 4 gigs. That must take a lot of money out of your pocket.

[Ironderby]

i play fingerstyle (which i guess is less aggressive than slapping or picking) but even from about 20 hours practice a week and 4-6 gigs a month it takes 2 months before i feel i want to change them, not because i have to.

[stflbn]

Just depends entirely on what you're personal taste and expectations of 'dead' are. Some expect strings to sound like new, others hate the brand new sound and like them after you consider them dead.

If you like the brand new zing and sizzle there are few real options other than using new strings.

You can also try soaking your 2 gig old strings in Denatured Alcohol for 24 hours or so, which cleans them and brings back the snap and zing.

[Venom of God]

I live for that new Rotosound 66 zing on my Tbird, but I like the dying/dead flats I have on my J.

[shawshank72]

I use flats, so basically ive gigged the last 2 years and practices with them. The chromes i bought off a fellow tber were already a few years old when i bought them and he also gigged with them.

[BassLife77]

very subjective question. It depends on what the bassist likes. Some like that fresh pack bright sound all the time. I prefer the strings to be broken in to mellow out the highs so the mids can stand out better.

[MrLenny1]

I go a full year on one set, maybe 2 sets on a busy year.
I don't like the new sound of strings and as they age you can compensate with EQ.

[Tupac]

Just curious, when do you guys consider a set of strings "dead" and in need to replacement? I still haven't changed mine after having them for half a year.

[refbassist]

id on't care about the zing, i change the strings whenever i feel like it, hence bored lol

[funkinbottom]

I only change strings (flats) if I break one. Probably three years ago or so. Five or six gigs a month and rehearsal at least once a week. (couple different projects)

[Soverntear]

Had my ray for a year, changed the strings as soon as I got it cause the EB strings we're BRIGHT like UBER BRIGHT. went to some d'add 45-105's and have not changed them since and I don't plan on it till one breaks.

[Steve]

I change strings after two weeks, that's about 50 hours.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Tupac

Just curious, when do you guys consider a set of strings "dead" and in need to replacement? I still haven't changed mine after having them for half a year.

With flats, I consider strings dead when they no longer stay in tune.

But to answer the OP, I change strings when I see a set of strings I *have* to try Right now I have flats on all my basses: Labella 760FL, Fender 9050M, Chromes, and Rotosound 77s. The 77s just went on, before that the bass had rounds tuned BEAD.

The 760FLs are the oldest at over 7 years. I actually bought a d-tuner for that bass, but I am afraid to touch the strings because they should soooo good. I am probably being silly, but if you look at the bottom of strings, and flats in particular, they have a wear pattern where they hit the frets. I am worried I will lose a bit of the mojo if I remove the string and put it back on.

[JeffBTZ]

Originally Posted by seanm

I am worried I will lose a bit of the mojo if I remove the string and put it back on.

Don't do it! If they sound good, why remove them?

I'm on my first set of flats, and they've been on for two weeks. Not sure how long they're going to last though because I'm really not liking them. They're RS 77 flats, and I know a lot of people like them, but they just don't work on my Schecter. I might just have to go back to rounds... I miss the mids and my bass doesn't have any natural mids; I probably need mid-heavy strings to compensate. Perhaps Chromes would be in order.

Before I put these flats on, I had a set of nickel rounds on for 2 years. Dead as a door nail, but they didn't sound bad. I just decided they were too floppy and weren't really holding tuning that well.

[4-string]

Impossible to answer how long or how many gigs, it depends on the type of gig, indoor/outdoor, weather conditions...

I typically get a month or so out of my strings, but I just changed strings on my Sadowsky for the first time since I got it in October. The blue label Sadowsky ss strings are great, but I think it more than anything demonstrates that taking care of your gear helps. I keep that bass in its whenever it is not played, always wipe it down first.

[Pet Sounds]

Er, I've had the same set of LaBella flats on my main P-bass since the mid-1990s. To my ear, they still found great.
Frankly, about the only time I change strings is if there's a problem, like breakage or serious corrosion, which almost never happens. I wipe 'em down after gigs and keep my basses in their cases. But I play "old school" stuff and like my strings to be a little "dead."

[HMZ]

I love the sound of new strings and once they lose that zing I'm looking to change them. I use D'Addario XL 165 and I buy them in the 2 pack for like $24.00 so its not too bad money wise.

[Giorgetto]

I get at least a year's worth on a set of La Bella 760FS's on my P/J basses.

Giorgetto

[Catbuster]

I get about 3 gigs/rehearsals from a set of strings. But, I'm changing from 3 basses.