How often do you change your flat-wounds?

[Gravy4001]

Nice. I gotta say I'm really enjoying the flat life and not having to change strings so often. Once I realized that, I set out to make my sound around flats and dial in a bit of sizzle on the amp, they fit in great with modern rock music.

 

[Red_Merkin]

Change.... flats? People do that?

 

[JimmyM]

Red Merkin...LOL! Not at your post, though...

I'll tell you, when I was into flats, I was all prepared to never change them, and then after about 8 years on this one bass, I decided that while I'm not looking for a lot of sustain, I'm looking for a little more than they gave me. So I changed them.

 

[Mr.Fingers]

When one breaks, I change the entire set, but since I'm using LaBella 0.052's, I guess they'll outlive me and my offsprings!

 

[sharkbait130]

Somebody else can change mine after I croak

 

[hdracer]

I change them when I sell the bass.
I always throw a cheap set of rounds on a bass when I sell it.
If the take offs fit the bass I am replacing the one I sell the flats go on that one.

 

[totallyfrozen]

I just changed the strings on both my basses within the last couple of weeks. So I just makes 2 years between strong changes on flats.

 

[scotts42]

5 gigs or 3 weeks max.

 

[Dos Inus]

Never!

 

[seanm]

I change them when I sell the bass.
I always throw a cheap set of rounds on a bass when I sell it.
If the take offs fit the bass I am replacing the one I sell the flats go on that one.

When I sold one of my 5 strings basses, they had flats. I sold them through a consignment store and they phoned and asked if they could put rounds on them to make it an easier sell

I have only been playing flats since 2004, so I don't know how long my flats will last Except for my main bass, I only change flats when I want to try something different.

 

[Fenwick]

Normal rounds I kill in less than a month, probably some of that acid sweat I hear about. Elixirs will last me roughly 6 months, playing between 30minutes-4hrs a day.

 

[experimental bassist]

I got at least seven years out of my TI's on my Precision. Only took them off because I went to rounds, but I kept the set and will put those same ones back on should I need flatwounds again.

Have four or five years now on the Chromes I put on my ABG.

I wouldn't change flats unless they break, and I can't remember the last time I've broken a bass string.

Incidentally, now that I run XLs on my Precision (rounds) I change them every 6 to 8 weeks.

 

[G On Bass]

Unless they break, or I temporarily put rounds on a bass, I never change them. One of my sets of Chromes is 5+ years old and are still puppies as far as I'm concerned. I had to replace 1 string 1 time that broke.

I never sell/ship a bass with flats on it. I keeps 'em all....

 

[jumbodbassman]

when they break or i sell the bass. not before.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Never unless they break or become impossible to intonate.

 

[Linnin]

After going through 4 or 5 different sets trying to find the right sound, I've settled on ghs precision flats for my sg. They're staying on there till one breaks

+1 Same here. I have them on my '76 Fender Precision and I love them. Very focused tone and great purcussive attack.

 

[Commreman]

I've had the same set of Chromes on my MIA jazz for the last 4+ years. I clean them when I have the frets dressed/fretboard reconditioned every year. These strings are broken in, feel and sound great. I love these things! I can't see changing them unless one breaks.

I have a VM Jaguar (passive p/j setup) and I just put a set of the new Fender 9050 flats on that bass. So far, I really like the Fenders as well. I had a set of TI's on that bass that really didn't float my boat. I think it is because my ears and touch are so accustomed to the Chromes on my other bass.

 

[Vibhas Patil]

I read somewhere that Lee Sklar has had the same set of flats on his Precision bass for more than 3 decades!! Holy God!! And I think most people who use flats usually don't change strings unless they break.

 

[Mastermold]

I read somewhere that Lee Sklar has had the same set of flats on his Precision bass for more than 3 decades!! Holy God!! And I think most people who use flats usually don't change strings unless they break.

That's pretty much it. They can last practically forever.

 

[gary m]

Only when they break...which for me hasn't happened yet.