How often do you change your strings?

[BassHouston]

3 to 4 weeks since I like to keep a bright sound

 

[Polfuste]

every 6 to 9 months too.

 

[gregmon79]

I have been changing brands a lot lately but I seem to be really liking most anything DR makes. Especially Low Riders. In the last 6 months I have probably changed my strings on average about once every couple of weeks. That is just because I have been trying to settle on one brand. And I think I have found that brand with DR. So it'll probably only be about once every couple of or a few of months between sets now. I dont like dirty and used stings. I like them to have that zing most the time that only a new string can get you. I boil them on occasion as well to try and breathe new life into them. But that doesnt always help.

 

[JIO]

Exactly. The deader the better. Fatter fundamental.

That being said, I never understood how in the world does one manage to break a bass guitar string? In my 22 years of playing various styles in various venues and many outdoor gigs in cold or hot, dry or humid conditions, I've never ever broken a single string. And I'm not one to play too softly, either! I guess you have to chop through them with a super heavy metal plectrum... But then again, you're gonna sound like crap! Can someone please explain to me the secret to breaking bass strings while playing?

+1 - I don't doubt it happening but it is curious...

 

[gregmon79]

I use to be infamous for breaking the E string. I used to play very aggressively. I still do at times but not like I used to. I use to use a pretty underpowered amp, was my only choice back then, for practice with my old band and gigging. I was constantly trying to be heard. So I always played as hard as I possibly could.

 

[Koji_Sunioj]

I've only broke a string once, but that's when I was really young and the band I was in kept burying my sound, so I had to strum really damn hard and those strings/bass was very old and neglected.

I change my strings probably once every few months, I like the dead thump but when it the strings start to feel like they have no traction, I throw them away.

 

[theduke1]

I always would change.my strings every 6 months but have installed LaBella nylon tape flats and they last forever. All 5 of my basses have them.

 

[Rip Topaz]

At one point, probably at least ten years ago, I changed my strings after every gig.

Lately I've been finding it hard to say goodbye to strings. Mostly since I started using flats some of the time, but even now I'm having a hard time convincing myself to change the rounds on one of my basses.

Now if its a set of flats, its a real problem. I'll sit and simmer for a week or two before biting the bullet and changing them. Weird.

 

[dougjwray]

There should have been another category in the poll: "It depends."
Roundwounds: maybe 3-4 times a year, if I'm playing a lot.
Flatwounds: never (one particular set has logged 17 years).