how often should i change/replace strings???

lbrasz44 · #1 12-18-2011, 03:16 PM

apparently it depends on how dirty they get or whatever but what are the signs that i need to change them and what do you guys think would be the approximate amount of time to wait and replace bass strings?

JohnMCA72 · #2 12-18-2011, 03:37 PM

Some people like the feel/sound of old (i.e. "broken in") strings. Some leave theirs on for years, & only change them if they break.

I change mine every 4-6 weeks. To me, they get to the point where they start to feel "floppy" & I don't like that. Others love it. It's all a matter of personal preference. The signs that it's time to change are whatever you think they are.

soulman969 · #3 12-18-2011, 05:14 PM

Your ears and your fingers will tell you more about that than we can. A lot of it depends on what kind of strings you're using and what you expect your bass to sound like.

Flats may last for years and there are some players who like them more aged than they do fresh. In my entire life I have only changed one set of flats because they seemed worn out and those had been on that same bass for over 5 years before I bought it used and played it another 3 years.

Rounds, especially bright springy ones, need to be changed more frequently. Once they lose tension and brightness the don't feel very good and sound evem worse. Guy who slap and pop will most likely change more often than fingerstyle players. Some rounds actually sound much better after they lose their brightness.

That said so much depends on the style you play and the tone you're looking for and you're the best judge of that. There is no exact schedule or formula.

mello_bedwetter · #4 12-18-2011, 07:05 PM

I use EB Flats and change them 2-3 times a year.

Marton · #5 12-18-2011, 07:09 PM

I use d'Addario Chromes, and I'll change them someday. Maybe.

Jay2U · #6 12-18-2011, 07:16 PM

My d'Addario Chromes stay in shape for 100 to 200 hours of playing. After that it depends on personal taste, whether you continue or replace them by fresh ones.

Pilgrim · #7 12-18-2011, 07:51 PM

Simple: There is no schedule for changing strings. As long as you like the sound, don't change them.

JimmyM · #8 12-18-2011, 11:56 PM

I used to change roundwounds when they went dead and lost their zingy new sound, but I don't change them anymore...I just rub them with (WARNING: cheap plug but for a good guy with a good product) BassBrites | Advanced Bass Guitar String Cleaning Wipes . Flats, however, as soon as I can decide on which flats I like, I won't ever change them unless they break. How often you change yours is strictly a matter of taste.

winterburn69 · #9 12-19-2011, 12:13 AM

Change them when they stop sounding how you like them to sound (or can afford to).

Stumbo · #10 12-19-2011, 12:14 AM

Some bass players with new flats expedite the process of deadening them with various DIY techniques.

Note: don't use food products because the will rot/go rancid after while.

James Judson · #11 12-19-2011, 12:26 AM

I use rounds and I try to get 6 months out of em.

JimmyM · #12 12-19-2011, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Some bass players with new flats expedite the process of deadening them with various DIY techniques.

Note: don't use food products because the will rot/go rancid after while.

I'm sorry but I have to call shenanigans on this rancid thing. I have yet to ever have a string get rancid and grow stuff on it because I wiped grease from food on it. And I've done it a lot, both on purpose and accidentally. And maybe I missed it, but in 50 years, I can't recall ever seeing a headline saying, "Bassist dies in mysterious rancid string poisoning." Maybe if you wiped grease on them then put them in a hot closet for a year, they'd get green stuff on them, but I've never seen it happen on any of my basses. And if you're really worried about it, just wipe them down with alcohol.

ksandvik · #13 12-19-2011, 01:06 AM

It all depends on your fingers, playing style, sweat, how often you play the strings and so on. In my case I hardly sweat and I clean my roundwounds after each practice/jam/gig so my Lo-Riders last about 2-3+ months. Then the feeling of playing the strings is not fun and no cleaning whatsoever will change that.

Schlyder · #14 12-19-2011, 01:25 AM

With my fretless basses, I change strings when I break one. Then I change the set.

Fretted basses, I change the set when the frets wear a spot out on the bottom of the strings.

SLaPiNFuNK · #15 12-19-2011, 02:57 AM

It all depends on the sound you like to hear and the feel you enjoy...

When they dont sound good to you or how you want your bass to sound - change em...

lbrasz44 · #16 12-19-2011, 03:48 PM

haha I had a feeling it would be all about how i prefered them to sound like :P thanks for the info guys

darkstorm · #17 12-19-2011, 09:26 PM

I'll ussually change strings about every 4 months. Dr neons been changed about every 5 months. Could go longer with them, less loss of treble snap, but about 6 months as longest. I prefer the sound of new to freshly broken in sound that still has nice top zing.

klokker · #18 12-19-2011, 11:18 PM

I have DR Lo-riders on my P bass and I change them once a year. But I only gig with it about once a month.

I practice more on my G&L 5 string (for a church gig I have) and I've had Sunbeams on it for about 6 months. The B on it is going bad, but the others are still great.

I probably change my strings once a year on average, but once in a while I just want to try something different. I put some Dunlops on my G&L last year instead of the DR's, but I chucked them and went back to Sunbeams after about a week.