How often should restring my bass?

[rcadble]

I got my (first and only) bass back in October and I play for at the least 5 hours per week. I don't know what the strings are called (rough-wound? they're not smooth, that's for sure!). Contrary to what you might think, I can pluck the strings hard and at a somewhat decent pace, if that matters for anything. I slap occasionally, usually at like like 1/8 the time I'm playing bass.

How ofter should I be getting new strings? I still have the original strings that came with the bass. I don't know how to restring the bass, I presume I'll take it to guitar center if need be?

[Dan Kahanamoku]

If you're just getting started you probably need not worry too much about the age of your strings. Every couple of months at the most. They're expensive. And you should Google how to do it yourself. You don't want to pay GC to do it. It's pretty easy.

[rcadble]

Originally Posted by Dan Kahanamoku

If you're just getting started you probably need not worry too much about the age of your strings. Every couple of months at the most. They're expensive. And you should Google how to do it yourself. You don't want to pay GC to do it. It's pretty easy.

Okay, I figured it wasn't much of an issue. Thanks

[Basslice]

When I used to gig once or twice a week, I was really into the bright, snappy sound of new strings. I would restring my bass with DR round-wounds once a month, or sometimes more frequent if a big venue was coming up. I also used to play quite hard and snap a D string every couple of months.

James Jameson, on the other hand, was famous for loving old, greasy, tired out strings. He liked to sound like mud.

As I have aged, my sound has mellowed and I only restring when the strings can't hold their tune anymore. Of course I play less frequently, though I am planning on ramping up again.

[spaz21387]

I usualy get new strings every 3 months. I always have a backup set too. But since your beginning I doubt you will have to worry about breaking strings yet. I have only broken 2 strings in my 7 years of playing but I still have a back up set incase I break another.

[ksandvik]

Also, if your fingers are bleeding after playing, time to change the strings :-).

You don't need to go to extremes, such as John Entwistle who used to change strings after each soundcheck, as well. Anyway, expect to get lots of different ideas, as some want clean sounding strings, others don't mind about aging strings.

But get a chromatic tuner, you need that every day. --Kent

[idorky]

usually, when her strings are dead, i change 'em, depends on how often i play.
i wipe off her neck and string every time i'm finish with her, (extends the string life a little).

[spaz21387]

Try ernie balls or dean markley blue steels. But stainless steel strings seem to chew up your fingers pretty bad. My p bass has skin flakes on the fretboard from the blue steels but they sound great and last a long time. So far the have been on my p bass for atleast 3 months and still sound as bright as the day I put them on.

[Pilgrim]

When - or even IF - to change strings is much debated. Many of those who play flatwound strings (not roundwounds, like the OP describes) never change them. I have one P-bass with flats that are at least 35 years old, and most of my basses have flats that are between two and five years old. I have no plans to change any of them unless a string breaks.

It all depends on the sound you're looking for...but there is NO rule for how often or if ever to change strings. The newer they are, the more bright the sound - which some like and some dislike. As strings get older, their tone mellows - which some like and some dislike.

BTW - as a bass player, you definitely should be able to change your own strings. Here's one of many references found online: http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_string_change/ . Take the time to read all the pages and you'll find it's easy.

[Alan U]

The Rotosound flats on my Precision have been there for seven or eight years. They still sound good to me and after the first settling in period they felt more and more smooth to play.

It does depend what sound you're looking for though.
I don't like bright.