a question about changing strings

[zacharyk88]

hi all,

I dont really post on the strings part so sorry if i dont know a whole lot of the terminology.

with that being said I know to prevent rust you wash your hand and wipe your strings bla bla bla

so bassicaly my questions are:

how often should you change your strings?

how expensive are good strings?

can you pay someone else (like at a music store) to put them in?

and if not how hard is it the change your stings?

thank you for any and all posts

 

[pringlw]

Let me offer a few perspectives (I'm assuming that you are a beginner and I'll answer with that assumption).

How often? Change the strings once you no longer like the sound of the strings. Strings go through 3 "phases" in my view. The first phase is when they are brand new, very bright and somewhat "piano like" in their sound. This usually lasts a few weeks.

The second phase is the "normal wear" phase. The overly bright sound wears down, and the string sounds the way its intended to sound. This can last a few months or longer depending on how often you play, whether you wash your hands every time you play, etc.

The last phase is the "old strings" phase. They tend to get a bit dead sounding. This can last for years - basically until the string breaks (which is rare compared to a guitar).

Most folks replace their strings after stage 2. Some replace them every few weeks because they like the sound of brand new strings. Some (especially people who use flats) keep their strings for a long long time because they like the sound of old strings (they get more thumpy). So it really depends on what you want. Nothing "wrong" with using old strings though - it all comes down to whether you are getting the sound you want.

Cost: $20 to $25 on average. There are some that are more. A few that are less.

You don't need to pay someone to put on strings. Get someone to show you once and you should be ok. Very simple job.

 

[Eland]

Very, very good answer

 

[zacharyk88]

thanks guys

 

[bassmantony]

Strings will become very easy to replace once you learn how.

 

[prokfrog]

I think the Daddario website might have a string changing guide. A qiuck internet search will give you many hits.

 

[Pilgrim]

All your questions have been discussed here at length, and there are "stickies" linking to instructions on changing strings.

One important answer I'll volunteer (my answer represents one position): use flats, don't change them ever - unless on breaks.

 

[lupien]

Changing the string is pretty easy. Like pringlw said if someone shows you how the first time then you should be all set.

Just make sure they never look like this and you`ll be ok.
Link Removed

Hahaha

 

[JTE]

Good answers already posted. I managed a guitar store for 11 years, and I was appalled that people would pay me to change strings on most instruments. Now, if you bought strings from us we'd put them on for free, but there were always someone who bought strings someplace else regularly but had me restring the instruments for them. One even knew how, but he was lazy enough that he'd pay me...

Now if it was a Bigsby or a Floyd Rose, then it's worth paying someone else. But for a typical bass? Insanity.

John

 

[G00D+~VIBES]

One important answer I'll volunteer (my answer represents one position): use flats, don't change them ever - unless on breaks.

Hand washing? String wiping?

ONE set of flats (ok, maybe a couple until you find the ones you like) don't second guess, don't look back.

On a side note I started using the heaviest strings I could after my first set and with high action (mostly for tonal preference) but they made me alot better alot faster w/o doing silly strength/dexterity exercises

Big strings = BIG TONE