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How Fast Do You Go Through Strings?

C

ckitz

Jun 7, 2010
115
2
Right Behind You
#1
How long do your strings last you? I've just broke my second pair in a year. In reality, I just broke one string, but I buy a whole new pair every time I break one string. That way, if any others break, I just use an old one that isn't broken.

The pair I broke two minutes ago was my first ribbonwound pair, and my dad (I'm 15) gets angry when I have to buy a new pair. (He's really... erm... frugal.) Anyway, I'd like to know if strings last that long, or is it me playing too hard, or cheap strings, or a combination.
 
#2
Bass strings should not break. Have a tech look at your bass to see if there is a problem. My G string used to break near the bridge until a tech looked at it, discovered a "burr" in the metal of that saddle, and filed it down for me.

Since then I have not broken a string in 20 years.
 
#3
Ok... so now for a response that actually addresses the OP's question:

DR is a very strong and reliable brand. You should not have any trouble with those breaking.

2 broken strings in a year doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with your setup. You could be playing too hard. I, personally, have never broken any strings while playing, but I've had a friend break a string on my bass while playing it with a pick. Try some DR strings and maybe play with a lighter touch
 
#4
Check your bridge saddles , someties they have a rough " point " that can eat through windings , some 1200 and patience to polish up that area can rectify that . Try not to prewind the strings on the post when installing , if you do leave the bridge end loose to relax and find its own natural seating area before tensioning . Dont take the strings off too many times between changes , when you refit them they can sit in a different saddle area using a new part of the winding and weakening it , string slots in the bridge tailpiece sorts lot of that , I wish ALL bridges had slots ! [ makes for a lightning fast string change mid gig as well as I found out once , when I was a lot younger and couldnt afford new srtrings on a regular basis it was on / off / boil / on / off / boil ! ]
I always ALWAYS wipe my strings with IPA after any gig/practice with a lint free cloth [ T-Shirt material works best ] and make sure my hands are clean as before using , getting crap between the windings will dull them in no time , depending on how many gigs I do I can have my strings piano string bright for months before they start going dull . Fret dents are unavoidable , particularly if youre a slapper , that will eventually weaken and deaden them as well .

Oh and GroovinOnFunk is right about not laying into them too much . go easy !
 
#5
Sorry for not "actually addressing the OP's question" ;)

My answer to the question "How Fast Do You Go Through Strings?" is that I've had the same set of strings for over 5 years. I play a combination of fingerstyle, pick, and slap in an aggressive hard rock band. I used to break strings a lot until I fixed the setup problem with my bass; since then I've gone through 3 or 4 sets of strings in the last 20 years. Hope that helps. :)
 
#10
I've never broken a bass string while playing in more than 30 years. I over-wound a string by accident once, but that's not the same.

In general, I change my strings about once every three months. If I am playing a whole lot, I've changed strings after a month. It all depends on how nice they continue to sound. Old strings get stiff and bland sounding. I don't like it.
 
#11
Pilgrim said:
I have never broken a bass string. The strings on my '63 P ere installed about 1972. Most of my strings have been on at least 5 years, some longer...the rounds on my 2000 MIM Jazz are factory originals, 12 years old.
Click to expand...


12 YEARS OLD ???? , Geez , there must be stuff growin` stuff on them lol .
Funny thing is ive never understood a lot of guys spending megabucks on clear sounding top of the line amps/cabs .......then plugging in a bass that has strings that sound like fencewire :)
 
#12
I have gone 5-10 years on strings before one breaks from wear. On a fretted bass I now look at the underside of the strings because wear on the strings over the frets can make the string(s) cut into the fret(s). I had a couple of frets eaten up by worn strings so now I am more careful about checking for string wear.

Peace,
S
 
#13
Any time I've broken a string it's been due to an issue with the instrument itself. I'd recommend having a tech take a look at the bass.

As to replacing strings, I sweat a lot so I replace the strings on my main bass that gets played for probably 80% of my gig time every 3-4 rock gigs. I really, really like the sound of new strings.

I do this as a hobby that pays for itself so the money isn't a big deal to me.
 
#15
I go through Ernie Balls in a matter of minutes. Most other brands will last any number of days, weeks, or months.
DR have lasted me a few weeks really nicely, the nickel lo'riders just not what I was going for. GHS Bass Boomers, the low B was dead in a matter of days while the rest of the strings lasted for a while. D'addario nickels didn't last too long for me either. Need to try some of their prosteels. Circle K have been the best so far for me.
 
#19
I have been playing since 1966 a broke 1 string in all that time and it was from a new set a faulty string. I change strings twice a year when I playing in a band. But now I don't play out much in bars. I do theater, and church, a gig once and a while, so yearly works for me.
 
#20
i have several basses and use different guitars for different gigs, but i replace the strings on all of them about every 6 months. I like the way new strings sound. It seems like they lose the lowest lows and highest highs after a while.
 

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