I change them when I don't like the sound anymore.May be after one month, but it usually is about 3 months of regular playing, but I'm bandless right now. If I had rehersals and gigs they would probably go sooner. I sweat a lot too.
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Dude. That is a tad excessive don't you think?
Not even broke in by then. That's like changing your vehicles oil every 500 miles.
i just can't see wasting the $$$$
As you've seen here, string-changing preferences very wildly and for good reason. If you've tried everything else to fix your tone, then a string change might be in order. ASSuming you think yer tone needs fixin'...
My Jazz V, my Stingray SR5 get new strings every 3-4 weeks, depending on which one is getting used the most (which is usually the Stingray).
The Precision doesn't see a lot use, except where requested (and I always ask myself, why don't I play my Precsion more often afterwards) it gets new strings every few months, or when I play and think, yuck, needs new strings. How scientific is that?...
My fretless Jazz has strings that are over 2 years old on it and for that use, they sound wonderful. I actually dread the day I have to change strings on that bass.
Except for the fretless, I like the grindy, rattly sound of newish strings. That's just my flavor of tone. If you like a warmer, darker sound, then keeping older strings on your bass is the ticket, well that and amp settings, of course.
I play three basses in rotation, so the strings last longer.
I use Elixirs that have a longer life and i don't like the tone of super fresh strings - i like them best in the second third of their total life expectancy.
The Elixirs either start to look fuzzy or go dead after some time - in my case i keep them about a year on each bass, but that depends on how often i play that particular bass.
Ah, and on my fretless i have black Fender Tapewounds that i put on there in 2009.
I use Elixirs that have a longer life and i don't like the tone of super fresh strings - i like them best in the second third of their total life expectancy.
The Elixirs either start to look fuzzy or go dead after some time - in my case i keep them about a year on each bass, but that depends on how often i play that particular bass.
Ah, and on my fretless i have black Fender Tapewounds that i put on there in 2009.
Me, too. I use SS rounds in standard gauge (.045 G), but experiment with different brands.* I'm not looking for clang or a glassy top end, but I want good definition in the upper mids. When the upper mid clarity fades (usually three or four nights in a club), I put the set in an alcohol soak tube. I can get three passes on a set that way, so it really helps control the expense.
* My current fave set is the Dunlop Super Brights. From the name I expected they might be clangy, but found instead they have a very pleasing clarity from bottom to top that they retain for longer than other sets I've used.
Have your hearing checked if you play out a lot in loud circumstances. That was my first clue for me. Couldn't EQ my amps (bass or guitar) without making them sound really shrill to everyone else. I now EQ with hearing aids in. I then mute them to perform.
The jury's out on how often to change strings.
Flatwounds are generally good for a couple decades. I wouldn't know about rounds on a bass.
My guitars would get new round wound strings after a couple of weeks. But that was with infrequent use.
Flats on my archtop guitars...every decade.
It really comes down to when the instrument no longer responds, or sounds the way you'd like it to.
But get your hearing checked too. Installing new strings will definitely get you a brighter sound, but this may mask a hearing loss and lull you into a false sense of well being.
The jury's out on how often to change strings.
Flatwounds are generally good for a couple decades. I wouldn't know about rounds on a bass.
My guitars would get new round wound strings after a couple of weeks. But that was with infrequent use.
Flats on my archtop guitars...every decade.
It really comes down to when the instrument no longer responds, or sounds the way you'd like it to.
But get your hearing checked too. Installing new strings will definitely get you a brighter sound, but this may mask a hearing loss and lull you into a false sense of well being.
They usually last me about 3 gigs. Then I'll boil them. Last 3 more shows. Then I'll boil them again. 3 more gigs and they go to string heaven. I'm presently trying a set of coated strings on one of my basses. Really like them. They remain bright and snappy. Been a few weeks
Not often. I use nickels and like for them to not be so bright. Just depends on the preference of tone
I've read James Jamerson never changed his strings, and he used round wounds. He said the dirt and grime in the strings is where the funk came from. Also read John Entwistle had a new set for every gig. So there you go. If you like the sound they make, keep 'em. I seriously doubt any audience member would come away from a gig thinking "that bass player needs to change his strings."
I don't think 2 weeks is that excessive, considering that's how often I change my underwear.
When I get bored and want to go from, say, round wounds to flats or nylons. Since I typically own about 4 basses this happens 1-2/ year.
You're supposed to CHANGE THEM????
That sounds expensive.
That sounds expensive.
I had to change the rounds on my '02 Fender P in 2013 when they finally just went dead one night. Up to that point they just had a nice mellowness. Went to flats until this year. Now loving LaBella black nylon tapes. I'm going on 10 years now with those on my Ibby acoustic. My J (backup) recently really lit up with a new set of rounds that replaced a two-year-old set.
No set interval, but ends up being the equivalent of every 2 or 3 months on each bass I gig w/ round wounds; basically when the loss of brightness becomes really noticeable (to me).
Recently put a set of GHS pressure wounds on a bass I gig. Loving these strings so far and I do expect a longer life from them than the rounds I had been playing. They are a good compromise between flat's long life and round's zing.
Recently put a set of GHS pressure wounds on a bass I gig. Loving these strings so far and I do expect a longer life from them than the rounds I had been playing. They are a good compromise between flat's long life and round's zing.
I'm a flatwound guy, so mine stay on for years and years. Sometimes I'll change them out just to see what kind of difference a different set will make. I think the strings (flats) on my '75 P are between 10-15 years old. But usually about 5 years and I'll slap on a new set.
Even way back when I was using rounds all the time, I preferred the tone after they got older. Brand new strings were TOO bright for my tastes, and I'd want to break them in quite a bit before gigging with them. That being said, I'm not a slapper. Strictly finger-style with some rare pick work thrown in. Slappers really like those bright new strings.
I'm not quite as bad as McCartney (when it comes to changing strings). When he was asked how often he changes his strings, he replied, "When they break..."
Even way back when I was using rounds all the time, I preferred the tone after they got older. Brand new strings were TOO bright for my tastes, and I'd want to break them in quite a bit before gigging with them. That being said, I'm not a slapper. Strictly finger-style with some rare pick work thrown in. Slappers really like those bright new strings.
I'm not quite as bad as McCartney (when it comes to changing strings). When he was asked how often he changes his strings, he replied, "When they break..."
