The True Cost of Tone: What's your string math?

[onestring]

I've been playing on TI Jazz Flats since the late 1990s (the same set, FWIW), but the last few months I've been on a string binge. I figure, hey, I've been away for awhile, what changed? Are there gorgeous new tones out there? Will I discover that I miss rounds? Etc.

I'm not going to review all the strings I've tried here. You all have done the same. Overall, I found my love for TIs remains true (although I developed a soft spot for La Bellas, the TIs are a better fit for me).

What I did do was the math, and it really surprised me.

People get sticker shock over the TIs. But they are soooo cheap in the long run. In the 1990s I favored D'Addario XLs, and I changed my strings almost monthly to keep the tone I wanted going. At $20 a set a month, that was $240 a year, or $2400 over the 10 years I did this.

When I switched to TIs, I found the tone I've always dreamed of. Roughly $50 that has lasted me ten years. That's $5 per year. THAT'S 42 CENTS A MONTH!!!

So my TI Jazz Flats cost me $.42 a month. They are not really that expensive--for me, they have great value!

SO, what do your favorite strings cost?

Let's do the math: Your favored strings, cost per month, and a ten year projection!

[onestring]

It's not intended to be a comparison, or a competition. There are already plenty of threads like that.

I think it would be interesting to look at to cost of ALL strings and people's different habits, in the same way that looking at how a cup of coffee adds up over the course of the year or how the average person spends 2500 hours standing in line over their lifetime is also interesting!

[guroove]

I agree with onestring completely! I have LaBella flats on both of my main basses, and will try to keep those on for as long as possible. As far as the rounds vs. flats thing, I had a set of Ken Smith rounds on my bass for about 4 years. I changed them because they were developing pits on the back sides from contact with the frets. Doesn't Phil Chen have a set of LaBellas that have been on for 40 years?

[ghiadub]

I think the real cost savings has more to do with your preferred sound than brand of string. I happen to dislike treble. I roll it all off on my passive and active basses. I roll it off on the amps. Thus, I have no need for new strings unless they are in danger of breaking. (I have only broken one bass string ever in 30+ years of playing, a DR "d" string)

I use TI flats as well. My oldest set is 6 years old, I have no intentions of changing them unless they corrode and start to disintegrate. I paid $38 for the set new. Who knows what their final cost will be?

I have a set of rounds are are coming up on 3 years, Daddarios. They are nice and dead, just how I like them. Cost was $10. Jury is still out on these too.

[darkstorm]

Agrees that flats left on for years is super cheap but to me the sound is horrible dull. No reasonable ten yr projection can be done if one changes strings even as little as every 4 months. Since inflation price rise can be reasonable guessed imo. The cost of two sets of strings for two basses every 3 months or so is $40 or less per time today. Very reasonable and low cost to maintain fave sound etc.

[Pilgrim]

Well, my parents bought me this '63 P-bass in 1967. I don't recall ever changing the strings on it, but I know for a fact they haven't been changed since I had it re-painted in 1972.



So others are free to figure out the cost per month for the strings on this bass. Multiple decimals are welcomed. My parents paid $150 for the bass, and the strings came with it.

My math is simple:

Get bass. If flats are on it, play them. Forever.

If rounds are on it and they sound good, play them. Forever.

If I decide to chance strings, install Labella Deep Talkin' flats and play them. Forever.

Every month, my strings get cheaper. Of course, I'll change them if one breaks...but none of them ever have broken.

[JimmyM]

i've been alternating the same two sets of rounds on my p lyte for the past 2 years thanks to denatured alcohol. they don't come back exactly like brand new strings, but i prefer the sound of the strings slightly broken in, and they do come back to that.

cost of two sets of strings: $25
cost of denatured alcohol: $15 for a gallon, of which i've used maybe a quart, so let's say $4.

total cost of strings for 2 years: $29.

not bad!

[mnavarre]

I strung my '51 RI with a set of LaBella 760FM/L back in March, 2 sets from Elderly for under $60 shipped and I got another set for my bithday, so that ought to last me until the heat-death of the universe. put Webstrings heavy flats on my squier Fifty Faux. $17 per set, now that the D & G strings (which are really clangy and growly when new) have settled in, I'm really liking 'em so they're staying on forever. Just strung up my Heartfield 5-string with webstrings flats, and I'm liking 'em so far.

So that's three basses set for the foreseeable future for under $100. And I've got piles of strings.

[Chowowbus]

My strings cost me about 30 dollars a month.
I buy the cheapo hartke 3 pack of xtra lights and they dont last very long under my sweaty hands. Thats why I buy the cheapies. However, $30 per month is more than I would like to spend..
I have a bucket of old hartke strings that I have been saving for the past two years...it weighs about 10 punds!

[JimmyM]

get some denatured alcohol, soak a few sets of those old hartke strings in it for a week, and you'll cut your string budget way down.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by onestring

I've been playing on TI Jazz Flats since the late 1990s (the same set, FWIW), but the last few months I've been on a string binge. I figure, hey, I've been away for awhile, what changed? Are there gorgeous new tones out there? Will I discover that I miss rounds? Etc.

I'm not going to review all the strings I've tried here. You all have done the same. Overall, I found my love for TIs remains true (although I developed a soft spot for La Bellas, the TIs are a better fit for me).

What I did do was the math, and it really surprised me.

People get sticker shock over the TIs. But they are soooo cheap in the long run. In the 1990s I favored D'Addario XLs, and I changed my strings almost monthly to keep the tone I wanted going. At $20 a set a month, that was $240 a year, or $2400 over the 10 years I did this.

When I switched to TIs, I found the tone I've always dreamed of. Roughly $50 that has lasted me ten years. That's $5 per year. THAT'S 42 CENTS A MONTH!!!

So my TI Jazz Flats cost me $.42 a month. They are not really that expensive--for me, they have great value!

SO, what do your favorite strings cost?

Let's do the math: Your favored strings, cost per month, and a ten year projection!

Yeah, if you are a 'worn in flatwound string' player with a P Bass or something, you can play a set of strings for decades. Unfortunately, if you like the sound of relatively new roundwounds, they only last so long.

The good news for me, I went from changing strings every week (back in the 6 night a week gigging days of the 70's and 80's) when I was stuck with Rotosounds that died after about a gig! (they were pretty much the only game in town back then). Now, the improved roundwounds made by DR, etc., can literally last a couple of months for me.

So, about $26 a set for a 5 string set, around 6-8 sets a year..... small price to pay (tax deductable... so take another 20% to 30% off, depending on your bracket) if you like it grindy and upper mid present and deep and growly!

[Mojo-Man]

I'm with you.
I have a set of TI flats on my fretless P-baas. (4 years)

And just put a set, on my new Lakland Glaub P-bass.

For roundwounds, I have a set of DR "Sunbeams" (6 months)

I will keep the roundwounds on for at least a year.

[Pilgrim]

Just for grins, I did the math on my bass. Assuming the strings really were replaced in 1972, and that they cost $30 (a convenient, hypothetical and justifiable number), the cost per month would be $0.79.

[ridgeback]

going by that theory when i was doing gigs it was costing about 2000euro a year give or take on strings.yamaha round 40s..i like bright strings so yeah its expensive but for me part of the job!

[Chowowbus]

Thanks Jimmy, I have been contemplating that for a few days and I am going to get some denatured alcohol today.
However, a lot of my old strings show where they rub on the frets and they look kinda dented...its weird. Also some of them have major rust where I palm mute the strings.
Still, I will find strings worth saving. Every dime counts!

[Hookus]

I've used the alcohol trick. Worked well, but my experience was that the strings were super-bright for a little while, way more than new strings, then got back to be a little more broken in quickly.

I just leave a set of strings on for like a year, and on my 8-string and fretless, probably two years and going.

[MrLenny1]

I've used GHS Boomers for the last 15 years. $30/5 string.I like Med gauge, medium action.
Change them once a year on average gigging. That's about $2.50/ month.
Once in a while I try something new(Pedulla nickel round, taper cores lately) and,back to the Boomers. The Pedulla's were $24.00.
I use LaBella tapewounds(on other bass) they are pricey but cheaper thru Carvin.Hmm?
Just went to GHS tape wounds, cheaper than LaBella but usualy keep them on 5 years.
That would be $0.50/month approx.

[Handyman]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

get some denatured alcohol, soak a few sets of those old hartke strings in it for a week, and you'll cut your string budget way down.

Hm, I've been wanting to try this for a while. What sort of container works well for this? I'd hate to stick an alcohol/string bomb in my garage.

[Chowowbus]

Handy,

I looped the strings in a circle, like when they come new in a pack. They will fit nicely into any tupperware like container.
I used a small bottle of alcohol and did not even use the whole thing. I filled it to just cover the strings.


Later

[cassius987]

For denatured alcohol treatment I use a sealed tube of PVC that runs the length of the strings.