How often do you change your strings? - Page 3

Nomadic Herder · #41 07-18-2002, 07:14 PM

I could change mine on both my basses every week, but I don't. That wouldn't leave me with much money. I do change steels about every 2 - 3 months. Nickels go dead way too fast for my tastes.

The Lowest · #42 07-24-2002, 09:21 PM

James Jamerson and Duck Dunn...two guys that never changed strings unless one broke.

Flatwounds go for a long long time...year after year.
you can keep them on until the intonation goes south. And sometimes it doesn't for many many years. I mean like 10 or 15 years.

Roundwounds are another animal...you can boil them, clean them with alcohol, all that. If you're playing a lot and go through all of the above changes you can get 6 months out of them if what you like is a relatively live string. If you are a live string fanatic you have to change them as often as every couple of days. Anthony Jackson changes them every few takes when he's in the studio...so it really boils down what sound you like.

lonote49 · #43 07-25-2002, 10:16 PM

I have 3 stage basses and I have a rotation where each month one of them gets new strings so every bass gets restrung every 3 months.

LowEndRider · #44 07-25-2002, 11:36 PM

It's obvious to me that when the strings start sounding dull you need to Buy ANOTHER bass!....

John K. · #45 07-25-2002, 11:39 PM

whenever i have money...

Nedbone · #46 07-25-2002, 11:56 PM

My hands sweat a great deal sometimes, especially during the summer months, or a tight room. That can really take the snap out of a set of strings fast!! I'll have to change the set after a nite like that, but other times, I can go for months with the same set, just wipe them down and make sure my hands are clean and dry. I also really love that new string "piano sound", so sometimes I'll change them just for the hell of it. Call it a special treat for myself, and then I'll soak the old ones in hot water, then alcohol, and reuse them.
Oh, the many ways...,

ms747 · #47 07-26-2002, 06:22 AM

i buy stainless steel strings as i find they last longer and i like the bright sound for slap in particular. i use fender stinaless and find they last fo rmany months and have not snapped a sting yet. i find stinaless great as you can also boil them about 3-4 times and get the brightness and tone back before they go completely dead after 4 boils. so i would say ever 4 -6 months i would change strings or whenver one snaps.cheers

BIg O · #48 07-29-2002, 01:35 PM

Not often enough!! Depends on how much I'm playing, but works out to every few months.

BTW I consider re-using strings that have been revitalized by soaking in alcohol as "changing strings", not just putting on NEW ones.

craptastic · #49 07-30-2002, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BassistJ
After every gig (and rehersal). My sweat eats away at string like no-ones business.

My g**tar teacher used to have that problem to an incredibly severe degree; he'd torch a set of strings within five minutes. But when he went on blood pressure medication (I believe) for kidney stones, the problem vanished.

PollyBass · #50 07-30-2002, 04:54 PM

BOILING IS BAD, Do not boil your strings. The ones on my p-bass are half a year old, but the ones on my ibanez ATK have NEVER been changed, i want to get them changed, but i dont know if i would jinx the 5 year running string thing.

ms747 · #51 07-31-2002, 05:14 AM

hey polly bass
why do you think boiling is bad have you ever tried it
it removes all the gunk like sweat and skin etc out of strings , this only really works wiht stainless steel though as it can handle the water and not rust, i have heard of many studio bassists who isist on boiled strings and know many a pro who reccomend boiling the strings in my experiences boiling works great strings last longer and are brighter with more tone for longer!

BIg O · #52 07-31-2002, 07:31 AM

Using denatured alcohol (as mentioned earlier in the thread) instead of boiling does a better cleaning job and does not put the string through thermal stress, which could weaken the windings or change the playing/tuning characteristics.

ashtray9 · #53 08-01-2002, 02:41 AM

I currently put on a set of fender flatwounds, and don't plan to change them unless it becomes hard to hear the pitch. Idealy it would be cool to have a bass set with flats and another set with rounds.

The Mole · #54 08-01-2002, 05:20 PM

I'm still using the strings which came with my bass when I bought it a few months ago, I bought some string cleaner today and they feel as good as new... probably don't play as good as new though

Pharmecopia · #55 08-01-2002, 05:45 PM

monthly...DR strings.

Cogno · #56 08-06-2002, 08:27 AM

Flatwounds, only if they start to go dead -more than a year. Roundwounds, 3 or 4 months.