What factors make a string wear?

[Smallmouth_Bass]

In your opinion, what makes strings wear or need replacement?

For me, it would be the build up of dirt and sweat, etc... in the grooves of the strings (roundwounds) that make them sound thuddy and lose their zing. When too much is gone, that's when I know it's time for a new set.

In 18 years, I have only ever broken one string while playing and it was in my first year, so it might have been my fault. Do the strings actually break down or wear beyond playability? Contant stretching, tension or fret damage marks; do they make a string break down?

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I guess they all just last forever!

[saxnbass]

I think when you don't like the tone of them, it's time to replace them. If they break or unwrap, it's time to replace. If they don't stay in tune (and it's not because of the tuners), it's time to replace.

I have one bass dedicated to a dull, muffled sound, and it has a rag under and over the bridge using a bridge cover to hold it in and hide it and it has some dull sounding flatwounds. Most people wouldn't like the sound of the strings the way they are, but they work great on the bass for what I want them to do.

[SUNNyday r.]

Check out the "Another TI Question" I posted. I was curious about wear due to winding and unwinding also. I think dirt and finger scum and sweat would be the greater concern for a roundwound string,and frets only if they had a sharp groove on it that might dig into the string. Hardware store acetone is nice way to wash your strings and get more life. It works for me anyway.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I've only had to replace a string because of dirt accumulation due to usage. I've had a few duds right out of the package, but I've never had a string go bad on me otherwise.

[Fuzzbass]

Dirt and oil kill strings in the short run. If you like bright sounding strings, wash your hands early and often. Wipe sweat off your hands frequently in hot conditions. Same goes for beer/soda/chicken grease in any conditions.

In the long run, strings go dead from metal fatigue and fretwear.

[HELLonWheels187]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

Dirt and oil kill strings in the short run. If you like bright sounding strings, wash your hands early and often. Wipe sweat off your hands frequently in hot conditions. Same goes for beer/soda/chicken grease in any conditions.

In the long run, strings go dead from metal fatigue and fretwear.

why would that effect the tone of the strings? Its lot like grease has an magnetic effect.

[saxnbass]

Originally Posted by HELLonWheels187

why would that effect the tone of the strings? Its lot like grease has an magnetic effect.

It gets into the strings (in between the windings) and causes it to not vibrate as freely, muffling it and making it sound duller/not as bright.

[Luis Fabara]

Originally Posted by saxnbass

It gets into the strings (in between the windings) and causes it to not vibrate as freely, muffling it and making it sound duller/not as bright.

+1

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Other than Jaco, I have never heard of anyone "chicken greasing" their hands before they play. I always wash my hands before I play. (and I don't eat meat, so chicken is not a problem!)