Your string changing habits?

[Hector_G]

I've gotten into this regiment about my instruments.
I've turned into one of those guys that compulsively wipes down my instrument after I'm done playing it. Every time.
Whether it be a few minutes just practicing at home or after band rehearsals. I take the polish rage and wipe down every single string, the body and the back of the neck.

Maybe this contributes to the longevity of the strings?
Anyone else do this? Anyone else feel it makes the strings last a little longer?
I would think never letting any oil or gunk build up on the strings helps them retain their tone longer.


So anyway... When it does come time to change the strings, I always change out one string at a time. To keep the tension on the neck.
Lately I've been reading on here that people take all the strings off first... wipe down their fretboard and body... THEN put the new set of strings on.

I understand that getting to the hard to reach crevices in the pick up area and having access to clean the entire fretboard, but are there any negative effects of releasing all the tension
from the neck when changing strings?

Oh... and one more thing...
Is it really necessary to oil the fretboard? I've never done it.

[joegeezer]

All at once. Wipe it clean, put them on. Check the neck, adjust as needed. I use DR High Beams, change once a year, 7 basses,150 bucks,per year.

[KPAX]

I do one string at a time but it's ok to take them all off too.

Originally Posted by Hector_G

I've gotten into this regiment about my instruments.
I've turned into one of those guys that compulsively wipes down my instrument after I'm done playing it. Every time.
Whether it be a few minutes just practicing at home or after band rehearsals. I take the polish rage and wipe down every single string, the body and the back of the neck.

Maybe this contributes to the longevity of the strings?
Anyone else do this? Anyone else feel it makes the strings last a little longer?
I would think never letting any oil or gunk build up on the strings helps them retain their tone longer.


So anyway... When it does come time to change the strings, I always change out one string at a time. To keep the tension on the neck.
Lately I've been reading on here that people take all the strings off first... wipe down their fretboard and body... THEN put the new set of strings on.

I understand that getting to the hard to reach crevices in the pick up area and having access to clean the entire fretboard, but are there any negative effects of releasing all the tension
from the neck when changing strings?

Oh... and one more thing...
Is it really necessary to oil the fretboard? I've never done it.

[John Wentzien]

Take 'em all off at once.
Won't hurt a thing.

[selfblessed]

I change them one at a time. Just because. I have wiped them down after rehearsal and gigs but stopped. Probably because I am lazy. I also have not changed my strings in over six months. I like it a lot. I think I might end up with some flatwounds at this rate.

[CatfishStudios]

Wait.......You guys change your strings? ....you can do that?

[Ryan L.]

All at once, clean and oil the fretboard when they are off.

[unbridled]

Wipe the strings everytime after playing, new strings one at a time every 2 months, all at once and wipe/oil neck every 4 months. Works for me.

[Kwesi]

I change strings like I change clothes... all at once or not at all

[ShirazBop]

All at once....3 fretted basses get changed out every 6 months or so, fretless goes for about a year with 1/2 rounds... Wipe 'em down after each use. Wipe the neck down pretty well every string change. Sometimes apply some baby oil to the rosewoodboard. If I played that one exclusively probably wouldn't need it....8^)

[Hector_G]

Originally Posted by unbridled

Wipe the strings everytime after playing, new strings one at a time every 2 months, all at once and wipe/oil neck every 4 months. Works for me.

Whoah! Every TWO months? What kind of strings do you use?
I use the Carvins (as discussed in another recent thread). And as inexpensive as those are, I don't think I'd change them that often.

Also can someone please elaborate on the fretboard oiling process. What type of oil? How much? What does it do for the wood? (maybe, just maybe, I can use the almighty search for this huh?)

I've had my Carvin for about 10 years now and I've never done anything to it. It's an ebony fretboard by the way.

[Gubna]

I used to put on new sets every couple of weeks. I used rotosound roundwounds back then, the swing 66. the way I played, I would break them on occasion, and I never wanted to have that happen during gigs. (probably had a burr on the bridge or something).

nowadays, not gigging, I might change a set to try out something new every few months. I have too many basses to change them all. If I were to break a string, I'd put on a new set.

[beelzelboss]

Well for both my basses I use DR lo-Riders. I take them all off at once. Clean the fret board and pickups and bridge as needed. If fretboard is really bad will take some lighter fluid to it to clean it up.
Probably replace them every 6-10 months just because I love the way they sound when they are dead. Hate the bright new string sound

[unbridled]

Originally Posted by Hector_G

Whoah! Every TWO months? What kind of strings do you use?
I use the Carvins (as discussed in another recent thread). And as inexpensive as those are, I don't think I'd change them that often.

Also can someone please elaborate on the fretboard oiling process. What type of oil? How much? What does it do for the wood? (maybe, just maybe, I can use the almighty search for this huh?)

I've had my Carvin for about 10 years now and I've never done anything to it. It's an ebony fretboard by the way.

I really don't like old strings and I have acid sweat! I even went through a stage where I was using alcohol swabs to wipe the strings after gigs. It works well but don't let it get on the fingerboard because it will dry it out.

The Spector 5er gets DR Hi Beams, the 2 standard 4s get Curt Mangans, the Mikro is still undecided what it likes the best. Currently D'addarios.

Every bass is on a rotation so I don't have to buy new strings for them all at one time.

Most will say use "lem-oil" but it is very close to mineral oil with a lemon smell. It can be over done on a rosewood board. If it doesn't soak in after about 2 mins of wiping it on, wipe it off with an absorbant towel. Not sure about ebony.

[etherealme]

Good replies.

For me, it depends on the bass. I like to leave strings on some longer than others. A set of nickle D'adarios sound right on a fretted bass once they've been on some time; somewhat more auto-scooped. Roundwounds stay on a while - six months or so. An active modern sounding fretless with roundwounds gets changed most often at three months. The age and wear and design of the string has a lot to do with one's tone IMO.

I remove them all at once. Dr. Duck's Ax Wax the fretboard, soft damp cloth the body for dust, New strings, check action if different gauge or tuning, adjust accordingly.

[Pilgrim]

When I change them, I usually change all at once. So far, I've never changed strings after I got a set I liked on a bass. My oldest set of flats was installed about 1972 on a '63 P (but I admit there's no brightness left in them). Most of my strings are 2 to 9 years old.

[Hector_G]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

When I change them, I usually change all at once. So far, I've never changed strings after I got a set I liked on a bass. My oldest set of flats was installed about 1972 on a '63 P (but I admit there's no brightness left in them). Most of my strings are 2 to 9 years old.

WOW!!!! That's gotta be a record. What do strings even feel like after that long? Is there any sort of corrosion or rust on them?
What brand are these 36 year old strings?

[ibnzneksrul]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Take 'em all off at once.
Won't hurt a thing.

+1

BTW I've found that taking strings off every so often (between changing sets) and wiping them down with rubbing alcohol helps them last longer.

[imkelvis]

I don't change them all at once because I don't wear them out evenly. I go thru two E strings on a four string set and most of the time I leave the old G on. I guess if I slapped and popped it would be different, but I buy sets singles every time. Anybody else do this?

imkelvis

[6jase5]

My string changing habits are simple, when one breaks, I change it. I prefer chest thumping thud to ear bleeding clank.

I used to be a string boiler......please don't tell anyone.