String Changing

[Philbiker]

whenever I feel I need to

Wow, really general. I change strings when they start losing intonation or I want to go for a different sound. I recently replaced 1 year old strings on my Tacoma and 3 year old strings on my Dean Fretless. In both cases the old strings still worked fine, I just wanted a change to flats and tapewound flats.

[bryan bailey]

I change them when they break, because I love the sound of dead strings. I hate bright strings , but that is just me

[ashton]

when they break...

i just put new strings on my bass and they sound too metallic.

Lukas

[FiveStringsNme]

yea, I'm not a fan of the glary sound of new strings or the dry feel. I like an almost dead sound, but haven't found the brand to stick with, so string changing really varies.

[only4him012]

i like to change mine whenever usually when it breaks. but doesn't the sustain decrease too much.....like the note you play doesn't stay for even a couple of second. i like the dead sound, but sustain is too bad...any body has idea what i'm talking about?

[luisnovelo]

I only change them If they get broken but I keep on cleaning them like every two weeks.

[robert betty]

I change pretty regularly once a month. I also love the sound of strings after a couple of days, not fresh out of the wrapper. I can't stand the muddy flat sound of old dead strings. I've tried just about every make & model of strings including the Elixir's. I didn't feel the Elixrs lasted any longer than the E.B. Slinkys I used before, and they sounded about the same. Now with a new guitar I have to go through the trying all kinds of string brands again to see which one sounds best on my new Modulus. Right now I'm using D'Addario SW2000-5SL, and I love the way they sound, I may not even try any other brands.

[Rick Blanc]

I didn't vote because "before each gig" isn't an option. But if it was then that's what I would vote for

[rockbassist1087]

2-8 months. Thats usually when about all the life in my strings is gone.

[fourstr00]

I clean my strings, but I only change them when they break. Why? Nearest shop that sells my brand in a 6-string is 45 minutes away.

[keylock71]

usually when they break (mostly D and A for some reason). Sometimes before a gig, I'll change 'em to avoid doing the quick change dance on stage.

[Thor]

On the guitar I'm playing every, 2-3 months.
The guitar I'm not playing much, 1 year, even if I haven't touched it.

Dead strings lose intonation, and notes that are off on the high frets really bother me. I like my bass in perfect tune.

I love that first shot with new strings. They sound good for a while, but you forget how really good you sound with new strings. Sounds too bright?
Adjust the tone setting.

O-man

[brianrost]

Flatwounds stay on until they break or won't stay in tune any more (I have one set that's held up 25 years and counting).

Rounds stay on until I think they sound dead (usually about 6 months of gigging).

Until recently I've changed upright strings not because they needed changing but because I was looking for a different sound (i.e. changing string type). I did have some Thomastik Ropecores on for 13 years at one point but I wasn't playing that bass much at the time. I took 'em off when one of the windings started to unravel.

[greenbassfreak]

iv been playing on mine since december and i dont even remember what type i have

[bryan bailey]

I like my strings in exact middle, from the brightest strings, to the deadest(I made another word) strings. But I usually just use nickle plated steels adnd wait for them to break, and when they are dead they are still in my liking, because if you slap em, they've still got some tone left in them, but for finger style there is little fret noise etc.