when do you know its time to change strings? and what is this gray stuff rubbing onto my finger tips?
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another stupid question
- Thread starter paradog
- Start date
I use TI Jazz flats. They are now 5 years old and I plan to leave them on for the rest of my life. I am now 73 and in fair health.
Rocky
Rocky
Grey stuff is most likely the coating on the strings or tarnish.
If you feel like your strings are sounding "flat" or not as bright, then it's time to change them. A lot of players prefer the flat sound.
It's up to you really. If your strings still sound good to you, then leave them be.
If you feel like your strings are sounding "flat" or not as bright, then it's time to change them. A lot of players prefer the flat sound.
It's up to you really. If your strings still sound good to you, then leave them be.
Usually the gray is from the nickel in the strings. Stainless steel versions in strings is just that: stainless (in essence anyway) and won't usually stain or discolor your fingers.
Exception: if you are Acid Man - then all bets are off.
Bronze strings however, will turn your fingers righteously black!
BTW: nickel on some people can create a condition called 'contact dermatitis' - which can manifest in shades of:
And nickel is also the prime ingredient in many stainless steels as it's the 'stainless' part of it for some reason. It DOES however prevent rapid oxidation (rust) of steel.
Exception: if you are Acid Man - then all bets are off.
Bronze strings however, will turn your fingers righteously black!
BTW: nickel on some people can create a condition called 'contact dermatitis' - which can manifest in shades of:
1) no trouble at all
2) mild irritation
3) hospital time.
Everyone's skin varies in reaction to nickel. 2) mild irritation
3) hospital time.
And nickel is also the prime ingredient in many stainless steels as it's the 'stainless' part of it for some reason. It DOES however prevent rapid oxidation (rust) of steel.
Hi everyone, new member here. Recently got interested in bass guitars and was wondering what the price difference is between stainless and nickel strings? Thanks again.
i keep mine for about 4-6 months, and sometimes i want to do it for every week
and im still on search for with kind of strings i want to use, and im stock on nickel roundwounds, and i just order flats to my jazz, just for experiment how good they are, i heard that you never get used to go back to rounds after you tryid flat
and just order steel for my tribute l2500
and im still on search for with kind of strings i want to use, and im stock on nickel roundwounds, and i just order flats to my jazz, just for experiment how good they are, i heard that you never get used to go back to rounds after you tryid flat
and just order steel for my tribute l2500
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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it depend on with producer you buying
but mostly stainless are more expensive, and also depent on if you want them longer, you have to go for the expensive ones
I recently invested in (2)sets each of 4 5 and 6. Unlike guitar strings where you break strings and can afford to change them every 2 or 3 weeks, bass strings cost too much to just change them . For me when I can't get them to stay in tune and sound good to me , its time. Usually its 6 weeks to 2 months maybe more or when I go into the studio..................
Not much; many are comparable, but it mainly depends on the brand. D'Add Prosteels are inexpensive, and sound fantastic as do SIT Powerwounds (nickel) if you want something a little warmer.
I change them when they feel weird on my fingers. I like the old string sound, and i hate the new string sound. On average every 6-8 months. It's usually when I do a setup.
I change them when they get "dead sounding"(i.e. no sustain or life to them). If I want a rapid decay sound that old strings DO make then I'll do that with technique.
Stainless DO pickup tarnish here in Texas when you play "cook offs" especially if the cookers are using mesquite and you're playing anywhere near it. I had Roto stainless do this as it seems they "absorbed" the invisible soot particles at the show and then rattled them out onto your fingers for about the next 4 shows.
Stainless DO pickup tarnish here in Texas when you play "cook offs" especially if the cookers are using mesquite and you're playing anywhere near it. I had Roto stainless do this as it seems they "absorbed" the invisible soot particles at the show and then rattled them out onto your fingers for about the next 4 shows.
Right on Rocky! There's hope for my rock til ya' drop generation yet. I've got a ways to go to catch up but I'm just hopin' I'll still be playin' at 73 as well.
Rofl! This is the only post from this user...
Anyways, I have a question myself:
What do you guys think is a better match?
I have two Jazz basses, one is an active Squier 5'er, the other is MIM Fender FSR Jazz with DiMarzio Model J's.
I want to put a set of flats on one of them. If it were up to you guys, which would you pick for the flats and why?
I'm leaning towards the Fender for flats...
To the OP, I play fairly regularly, and practice almost every day, whether my strings start to sound dull or not, I usually get a new set of rounds every 3 months or so.
(This is when I had one bass. It changes, of course, if I play the same amount on two basses instead of one.)
Even if my strings haven't lost most of their brightness by then, I just like the feel of new strings.
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