How often do you change your strings on tour?

Fishbrain · #1 04-30-2007, 07:55 AM

If your on tour playing a set between 30 mins - 1 hour (including sound checks and little tinkerings when your bored and what not)

would you change them more frequently then normal or just a good pair before you set off an that'll do you?

cheers

braun-jovi · #2 04-30-2007, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishbrain

If your on tour playing a set between 30 mins - 1 hour (including sound checks and little tinkerings when your bored and what not)

would you change them more frequently then normal or just a good pair before you set off an that'll do you?

cheers

If your questioning it, just take another set of strings with you. It's probably not a bad idea anyway. Especially if you don't have room for a back-up bass.

zachbass02 · #3 04-30-2007, 09:08 AM

as much as I can afford too...

Dave Muscato · #4 04-30-2007, 12:27 PM

I change my strings when they break. I *always* have several sets of spare strings with me on the road, although I've only broken one string, ever, since I switch to bass (from guitar) 5 years ago - and I wasn't even the one that broke the string

I love the feel of dead roundwound strings, and the tone of them on tape... they have less string noise and once they lose that "zing," they sit in the mix very well.

I recently changed the strings on one of my basses, because the old strings had been on there for over a year... very much regretting doing so, now. It will take weeks to get my tone back.

Dave

Fishbrain · #5 05-01-2007, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

I change my strings when they break. I *always* have several sets of spare strings with me on the road, although I've only broken one string, ever, since I switch to bass (from guitar) 5 years ago - and I wasn't even the one that broke the string

I love the feel of dead roundwound strings, and the tone of them on tape... they have less string noise and once they lose that "zing," they sit in the mix very well.

I recently changed the strings on one of my basses, because the old strings had been on there for over a year... very much regretting doing so, now. It will take weeks to get my tone back.

Dave

i do know which tone your talking about! can you buy any strings that sound like that?

J. Milton · #6 05-04-2007, 12:41 PM

I try to change them out every four weeks or so if I can afford it. If I'm about to go into the studio, I always put on new strings if I haven't already done it in the last few days. It's up to your personal preference I guess. I'd at least bring another set just in case.

Dave Muscato · #7 05-05-2007, 11:08 PM

The guy I take my instruments to for repairs recommended Fender black nylon tapewounds for that "dead" tone & feel. By the way, he likes his strings dead, too, and has had the same set of rounds on his '60s P since 1995!

Since I play a Line6 Variax, I'm not so much concerned about tone as I am with feel. I've noticed almost no tonal difference between new & old rounds when played through the digital output - the processors don't seem to care how bright the strings are, since the sounds from the piezo saddle-pickups are converted to a digital signal, anyway.

Dave

Dawkinzz · #8 05-06-2007, 10:40 AM

for me its whenever i feel they need changing iguess? i never really have a set time

Pilgrim · #9 05-06-2007, 04:43 PM

Depends. Dick Dale's bass player uses Dean Markley Blues and changes them daily, but that's what Dick wants and after 50+ years he knows exactly what he wants...an extremely crisp, treble tone.

At the other extreme, many flatwound players never change strings unless they break. Carry a spare set and you may never need them!

I'm partial to dead rounds and dead flats - I just don't like the zing of new strings at all.