Do strings lose tension over time?

[project_c]

Not sure if it's just my head messing with me or if this is actually a real thing - I put new rounds on my bass last night, exact same brand and gauge, and the tension feels different, almost as if the action is a little higher. They've had more than 24 hrs to settle, I checked the neck relief - no change. The string height - maybe the smallest amount of change, something like 1 or 2/64ths on the E and generally the action feels a little higher. The intonation of the E is out by a small amount as well. Is this just the strings settling in, or maybe very small differences during manufacture resulting in small differences in tension between sets? Or do rounds actually loosen up a little over time? I had the previous set on there for 4 months so they had a lot of play time.

 

[Vinny_G]

It's certain that the strings lose their integrity over time, due to the wear and fatigue of the metal. Will this result in more or less tension, I can't say because I never keep my strings for very long. But what I do know is that I can feel the slightest difference in action or truss rod adjustments, so it's not impossible that this is also your case. Now I will let the physicists of this forum give their opinion, because it's not my specialty.

 

[Geri O]

To me, it does seem like the strings loose their stiffness (not tension) over time. In my case, it feel like they lose stiffness in 3-4 weeks. By then, most strings I use have lost their zing, so I'm replacing them anyway.

I certainly perceive a difference between the old strings I remove and the new strings that go right on.

The only strings I seem to hav e used that kept the new stiffness for quite a while are the D'Addario NYXLs. I bought one set of those strings and fell in love with their tone and their feel. That set lasted me 6 weeks, the longest I think I've ever kept a set of strings on a bass. However, the next set had dead B and E strings right out of the package and the D string broke immediately as I turned it up to pitch. D'Addario did send replacement D strings, but after yet another set (for a total of 2) with those dead strings right out of the pack, I gave up on them and went back to good ol' D'Addario EXL170s. Always good for 3-4 weeks. And the new set still feels stiffer than the old set....

 

[project_c]

To me, it does seem like the strings loose their stiffness (not tension) over time. In my case, it feel like they lose stiffness in 3-4 weeks. By then, most strings I use have lost their zing, so I'm replacing them anyway.

I certainly perceive a difference between the old strings I remove and the new strings that go right on.

The only strings I seem to hav e used that kept the new stiffness for quite a while are the D'Addario NYXLs. I bought one set of those strings and fell in love with their tone and their feel. That set lasted me 6 weeks, the longest I think I've ever kept a set of strings on a bass. However, the next set had dead B and E strings right out of the package and the D string broke immediately as I turned it up to pitch. D'Addario did send replacement D strings, but after yet another set (for a total of 2) with those dead strings right out of the pack, I gave up on them and went back to good ol' D'Addario EXL170s. Always good for 3-4 weeks. And the new set still feels stiffer than the old set....

Sounds like you got unlucky with the NYXL's, I like them a lot too, I have them on one of my jazz basses and both with those and HiBeams there is usually no change in tension / stiffness, even though I leave them on there for months, sometimes even years. So I've not come across this before. Feels strange to have to do a set-up when the new strings are exactly the same as the old ones..

 

[Vinny_G]

Feels strange to have to do a set-up when the new strings are exactly the same as the old ones..

Wood moves with changes in temperature and humidity. The screws also move due to vibrations. Small adjustments once in a while are to be expected.

 

[gigetto]

Old and played strings became harder and loose in tune easily. Stiffness, loudness and others are signal of old strings to replace.

 

[saltydude]

They seem to degrade but doesn't tension and maintaining the proper "in-tune key" synonymous?

 

[gigetto]

Tension depends of kind of string, in tune depends from tuners, neck weather and oldities of the string.

 

[FranF]

I'm thinking it's a "batch" of strings just the tiniest bit out of tolerance.

 

[gigetto]

Common strings are good not differences between batches

 

[ixlramp]

Tension is determined by string mass, so it will not reduce over time. However, 'stiffness' and 'how it feels' (which are different to 'tension') probably can reduce over time.