how often, would be normal, to change strings?(round wounds)

[varunkapahi]

am talking only about round wounds here...
i am aware its highly personal some change a set a week and others keep them on for years! its about the sound you want.

but after how much of playing would you say its would be acceptable/normal to change strings if you like the newish strings' sound more than what old ones sound like?

[Matthew Bryson]

This also depends quite a bit on your body chemistry. Some people have more acid in their perspiration which causes them to wear out string faster.

My P bass usually get's new string every 2 to 3 months - it's played mostly only at rehearsals (we don’t gig much just yet) twice a week for about 3 hours each night. Six hours a week = 24+ hours a month…. I'll say that I get about 50 to 70 hours of playing time out of my Nickel D'Adario XL's before I'm ready to change them.

[Jimbob Jones]

Roughly every 6 months, but if they're not dead, then I wont change them until they are.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

am talking only about round wounds here...
i am aware its highly personal some change a set a week and others keep them on for years! its about the sound you want.

but after how much of playing would you say its would be acceptable/normal to change strings if you like the newish strings' sound more than what old ones sound like?

If you play every day and you really want to keep a lot of "zing" in your tone, changing strings every four weeks or so would not be unreasonable. But everyone's experience is different. And it really will vary a lot, depending upon your body chemistry, how clean you keep your strings, the make/model/type of strings you use, etc.

MM

[varunkapahi]

i have been only using Nickel D'Adario untill now would be trying out rotosounds next.
also i have noticed that people using passive basses change strings much often than those employing active pickups or circuitary; is it really so? if yes, why so?

[Phalex]

About every 6 to 8 gigs.

[Valerus]

One time, it actually took me over a year to change them. Talk about lazy.

[mjolnir]

As often as budget allows.

[neurotictim]

Originally Posted by mjolnir

As often as budget allows.

+1

I've got three "regular" basses that I switch around, and my main is a sixer... one set runs me upward of $60... So maybe once every couple of months, at best.

[dewbass4]

I guess I'm pretty easy on strings and my hands must be acid neutral. I also prefer a 'broken in' sound to my strings, I'm not a big fan of the overly bright 'new' string sound.

With that in mind: I will change strings when they will no longer tune properly, lose string to string balance, or won't stay in tune. IME I've noticed how long a string last will depends on the brand of string. Some have lasted 5 years or more (Elixers, DR Extras, D'Addairo ProSteels) some only a matter of 1 or 2 weeks ($5 GC House brand). Needles to say I like the strings that last a long time.

Passive or active, 4 or 5 string bass makes no difference concerning string life or when I change them. Environmental variables like: the number gigs outside in the summer, the number of gigs in REALLY smoky bars, has someone else used my bass, or how often to I play a particular bass, seem to make a differences on string life.

Flat wound strings on the other hand will last 10 - 20 years with the record going to a set of Chromes that were on 5 different basses over a 25 year time frame before being retired.

Of course my results may vary from yours.

[Pilgrim]

I have a J with 7-year old rounds, and they sound just fine (to me). I also have flats on a '63 P that were installed no later than 1972, and they may have been on it when I bought it in 1967.

But it was in storage for 20+ years, so the strings weren't played on during that time.

[Flintlock]

I've had a set of Rotosounds on my Jazz for about 8 months now. Dead as hell, they sound like flatwounds rather then rounds, but I quite like the effect. I think its personal preference really. It might be worth recording your fresh strings and playing them back in a few months just to remember how they used to sound.

[waseok]

Originally Posted by Jimbob Jones

Roughly every 6 months, but if they're not dead, then I wont change them until they are.

Best advice u can find here.

[sedan_dad]

How twangy do you like it and how often can you spend $35.

[glwanabe]

I kept a set of RS66's on a jazzbass for over a year. I also had a set of Fender 7250's on a bass for over a year.

Both were broken in after about two weeks, and they pretty much kept their tone for the rest of that time. They kept their intonation and tuned up no problem. They were not nearly as bright as when new, but they were still plenty playable.

Just wipe em down after playing, and wash your hands before you play. Then just play em.

[varunkapahi]

any more thoughts?
and one really cant go slap/popping using flats right?or has anyone tried and liked it?

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

any more thoughts?
and one really cant go slap/popping using flats right?or has anyone tried and liked it?

Sure you can. Hell, I slap/pop with flats on a fretless on occasion. Not often, mind you, but sometimes it adds a little flavor that's just right.

You just gotta keep in mind it's not going to sound like conventional slapping. On a fretted bass the difference wouldn't be too huge I imagine, but on a fretless the lack of attack on fretwire makes a HUGE difference in tone.

[kirkm24]

It depends on the strings you use, the frequency of usage and what kind of sound you like.

if you don't play too often and the bass is kept in a good climate controlled environment or in your case, they will last much longer. If they are exposed a lot and not stored in a case, they will get cruddy faster.

Flatwounds last longer typically because you don't have the grooves that can trap crud and grime.

Also, if you like a darker sound, older strings will be better than new ones. It is said that James Jamerson never changed his strings once on his bass!

I play my basses about 2-3 times a week for about an hour each time and I am just now changing the strings after one year. I also use Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes for strings which help them last a little longer.

[varunkapahi]

are steels really too abrasive for the hands and frets??

[BobXboB]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

any more thoughts?
and one really cant go slap/popping using flats right?or has anyone tried and liked it?

There's a bunch of sound clips here and they have a roundwound and a flatwound sample for the slapping clips.

http://www.lakland.com/audio.htm

I like the sound.