Knowing when to replace strings?

[Oscar South]

My bass came with a set of used strings, I've no idea how old they are and have never changed the strings on a double bass before, can anyone tell me some telltale signs that they need replacing?

Thanks.

[winston]

For many here on TalkBass, the fact that strings (even new ones) have been on a double bass for more than 5 minutes means they need to be replaced in the chimeric pursuit of magical tone through constant gear acquisition.

How do the strings sound to you--do the pizz and arco tones suit your needs for the styles you play? If you like the tone, and there are no obvious signs of extreme wear/fraying (at the nut or bridge slots particularly), and they feel comfortable to play, there's no real need to change.

If you could tell us the wrap color (at bridge and tuners) for each string, chances are someone can identify the string and its typical lifespan.

[Oscar South]

The wrap is a kind of sky blue colour, possibly a little darker than typical 'sky blue' though. There is a little unwrapping of the thread below the bridge and they're taking a slight greenish effect near the nut. Arco they sound ok, nothing like what you hear from professionals but thats more likely to be more down to technique and quality of the instrument or bow itself (plywood is the best I can afford right now, it is a decent ply though). Pizz is decent on the D and G but I feel that the A and E are a little 'hollow' sounding, again though it could just be the instrument itself. I've also only heard the bass played by myself for the past few months and a I've found a Double Bass sounds almost completely different when you're playing it yourself to when you're standing in a better position acoustically listening to someone else play.

[TroyK]

Those are almost certainly Thomastik Superflexables. Very good strings. I know a guy who's had the same set on for more years than he can remember. I know another guy who uses them and replaces them every 6 months "When they go dead". He sounds great too.

There are a couple of things that can make you replace strings:

1) Compulsion (Try not to get into this. I'm almost clean. Don't you start!)
2) If you see some physical sign of failing. Wire exposed somewhere. Something unwinding, more than just some widening at the bend in the bridge or nut. If you're afraid it might break, get ahead of it. But this is unusual, especially with Thomastik strings.
3) If the fundemental goes out of the string to your ear. This is tough if you started with them used of some unknown age. You don't know how they sounded before. You don't know how that bass sounds with new strings. WIth different strings, with a different set up, etc. So, it's somewhat subjective.

If you're a jazz player and you generally like those strings, you might try just replacing the E and A with the same brand. Most of us prefer some age in our D and G to take the zing out of them. Or if you've got the bread, pop for a set and carry these in your bag as backups. Hopefully, you're someone who can not look over the wall and wonder too much about every other string on the market.

You might describe the strings a little more carefully, though so that we can be sure what you have and tell us who you are and what you play. It didn't look like you had a profile, but I'll admit that I didn't click through.

Troy

[Karl]

I used Superflex' for about a year now and the A and E string need to be replaced, sounding hollow, while D and G string still sound OK, though not as good as they used to so I decide to replace them all.
My experience with Superflexibles so far is, that they still sound good arco when they already sound dead pizz.
So if you're not happy with the pizz sound you might want to replace them anyways, but as long as you think the sound fits your needs keep them, unless they seem to break or extremely lose pitch (which was the sign for me to change my strings now).

[Dave Martin]

Somehow I feel like I'm not trying hard enough - in 20 years, I've only changed strings on my upright 4 times. This last one was the quickest turnaround, since I'd put new strings on only about 3 or 4 years ago...

[TroyK]

God bless. Don't try harder. I want to be like you when I grow up.

I am actually learning to not like strings, so I think I'm getting there.