some back ground on this, i got my bass at a pawnshop and these strings came wit it so i dont know how old they are or how wore out they are, plus these are my first flatwounds (i love them). i know flatwounds last for a long time so how can i tell if they are shot?
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how can you tell if strings need replaced
- Thread starter 60's Bluesman
- Start date
if they won't hold tune, flats or no, they have to go.
also, rust and excessive corrosion are good indicators. A rusy or corroded string is probably not performing, or is about to break.
after that, there are guys who run the same flats for 25 years. there's no reason to change if you love it. More guys change rounds more often, because of their high end content disappearing as they wear.
also, rust and excessive corrosion are good indicators. A rusy or corroded string is probably not performing, or is about to break.
after that, there are guys who run the same flats for 25 years. there's no reason to change if you love it. More guys change rounds more often, because of their high end content disappearing as they wear.
Last year in BP magazine, Phil Chen claimed his '62 P- bass had the same LaBella flats on it for 45 years: http://www.bassplayer.com/article/phil-chen-masterclass/jul-09/97409
That's getting your money's worth out of a set of strings....
That's getting your money's worth out of a set of strings....
would it be a good idea to put my own my primary bass and maybe put the old ones on my back up bass?
If you like the tone, play the strings till they go bad and keep the extra set till something needs replaced.
If you don't like the tone, replace them, but there's no reason to switch sets on two basses just cause you have a set of strings lying around.
If you don't like the tone, replace them, but there's no reason to switch sets on two basses just cause you have a set of strings lying around.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
how can you tell if strings need replaced
With round wounds they sound bad.
With flats replace them when they break.
With round wounds they sound bad.
With flats replace them when they break.
well my back up bass has rounds on it and i really dont play anything that requires rounds, there pertty new so maybe i take em off put them old flats on it and put some new flats on my primary and keep the rounds around as a spare
Unless they won't hold tune or they break, they are good to go. Don't replace them if you like the sound.
The flats on my '63 P have been on it since at least 1972.
The flats on my '63 P have been on it since at least 1972.
My strings go in stages like this
New- Super Zingy sound(don't really like this)
Broken in- Nice deep thump, great clarity and the bass just talks to you and makes you want to play better
Dead- Sounds very hollow especially on the B and E strings
New- Super Zingy sound(don't really like this)
Broken in- Nice deep thump, great clarity and the bass just talks to you and makes you want to play better
Dead- Sounds very hollow especially on the B and E strings
