How often do you change your flats?

[JimmyM]

Like some Ol' Wiseman said....play them ol' flatwounds after eating greasy fried chicken and garlic bread and don't ever wash your hands before playing. That grease is part of the funk!

And the grease is part of the putrid rancid bacteria that'll make you sick and kill you

When I was using flats regularly, I could take them for a couple years, and even though I like dead flats, I didn't like them THAT dead. Now that I only use them occasionally, I could probably leave a set on indefinitely.

 

[old spice]

Dumb question, but how do you know if they need to be changed. Will they dull over time and lose some brightness, depending on usage, gunk, etc? Do they lose sustain? I ask because I have been using flats about 2-3 years and I have yet to recognize any degradation in the sound I want.

I think you have to change them when they no longer play in tune even after you've done an intonation.
Jamerson lost his gig for refusing to change strings when this happened.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I've had changed flats on one bass, and that's when they no longer would intimate properly. That was on my circa 1970 EB-1. I've never changed flats on any other bass, and I've had some of them for many years. I like the thump of old flats.

 

[The Bass Clef]

When one breaks.

 

[onosson]

Count me down also for "when one breaks". Also, when I get bored and want to try a different sound. But I have had sets on for 4-5 years at a time.

 

[Count Bassie]

When they break (never), or when a new sound is required.

 

[CatSquare]

Hopefully never.

 

[Jackie Clark]

I've had the same set of D'Addario Chromes on my Lakland P-bass since I changed to them in 2006...no need to change a solid set of flatwounds unless they break!! Waste of money

 

[bigtone23]

Flats are a capitalistic backfire.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

To paraphrase queen Elizabeth I (and with slight exaggeration "once a decade, whether they need it or no"

 

[theevilplankton]

Fender 9050 flats on my '74 4001.

These strings sound so good (actually took them off a bass I sold on) as I couldn't let them go!

I've no plans to change unless one breaks, or they lose what makes them great.

Always carry a spare set in case.

 

[azflyman]

When they break

What he said, I have a set of TI's about 3 years old.

 

[AshInAmsterdam]

I use Chromes also. 45-100 on one instrument, 50-105 on the other. Both have been on since January so 10 months or so, and I like the sound so they can stay on. Rounds I would have changed ever month at least, if I was only playing to myself at home.

 

[Shannon]

So the changeover to rounds ages ago were to trick us into buying strings we'd have to change frequently, and the flats were kept around but not shipped with basses so you would have to at least shell out for them once.

Diabolical...

 

[DaveAceofBass]

I practically fell I love with my 760FLs, but they are a little tight on my bass so I have a set of LTFs on order. When I find the right set I don't plan on changing them anymore or any time soon.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

I only change my flats when I change my professional outfit....unless it needs pumps then I go to those.

 

[jasper383]

Phil Chen's bass has flats that are 40+ years old on it.

I change flats after a few years because i get bored w the same strings on the same bass for too long. Otherwise they last for many years in general.

 

[brianrost]

Only when they break or will no longer tune properly. I have a set on one bass that I put on in 1978...38 years ago.

Of course, if I wanted a brighter sound I'd probably change them more often like I do with rounds.

 

[G On Bass]

I'll change from 1 brand of flats to another, but I never throw away a set and consider all of them ready for action. I have some that are well over 5+ years old.

 

[Sixgunn]

I changed my flats about 35 years ago..... to rounds