Longest time without changing bass strings; share your experiences.

[heynorm]

While I don't get it into rotation very much anymore, but the Vox Cougar I got new in 1965 or 66 has its original flats that are still give some quite woody tones. I tried others along the way but slapped back on the originals many years ago.

 

[Chinchano]

I use Nickel rounds so I don't change them often. I like the tone when they mellow out on a jazz because you can still get some grit out of them with a small treble boost

 

[Jason Hollar]

1-2 years for Roto 77 flats - it's like what JRA said - depends on the overall condition - most often the intonation starts to go a little.

I also bounce between 40's & 45's depending on my gigs so after a year or two I'll have a guy set up my bass with a fresh set.

I play like 20-30 gigs a year on electric bass plus some lessons & sessions, so I'm not too harsh on my strings - could definitely get more years out of them if I quit farting around!

 

[Engle]

I'm pretty sure the rounds on my 67 EBO are 25+ years old. I haven't played it consistently over that time, but it does get played.

 

[BassAndReeds]

My Fodera Nickel Rounds still sound great. Maybe a 2 years now, but no need to change.

 

[Joebone]

Have had Sadowsky flats on a fretless for over 3 years, that probably has 500 hours of play over that time. Love the sound, and these are amazing strings. But find myself tuning a lot more often on my A and D strings and wondering if it's the tuners or if the strings are having trouble holding pitch - also noticing that it takes longer to center the pitch while tuning…

Otherwise, I'm pretty big on the sound of broken-in rounds, but if playing consistently (and I only gig 15-20 times a year, plus jams and rehearsals, and alternating with the fretless), I'm generally looking to change 'em out at 6-9 months.

 

[wraub]

The Chromes on my fretless have been there for 12 years or so.

 

[micguy]

I play on rounds, and..no way I can compete with the times quoted here. Even with multiple basses, the only one I keep strings on for more than half a year is the fretless - don't play that enough to go through strings very fast. And a shortscale. Don't play that too often, either.

 

[MoeTown1986]

This is a tricky question for me. My gigging basses' strings get changed like every 2 months for a majority of the year. They probably get changed out like every 3-4 weeks in the summer due to all the sweaty outdoor/beach gigs. I have a couple basses that hang on the wall and only get played once in a while at home. Those strings can last me a year or two. Then, my acoustic bass has elixir phosphor bronzes and my 51 RI has flats. Those never get changed.

 

[GuilhermeBMotta]

Just realized I voted wrong lol. Just remembered the flats on my first bass are there for almost 5 years, and they still sound good. That's why I haven't changed it, otherwise...

 

[ak56]

Changed the original flatwounds after 37 years on my '78 Musicmaster.

 

[Todd Haviland]

8 years. Hohner PJ Fretless. Christmas gift from my parents. The ONLY bass they ever bought for me. Had a gig out of town (touring heavily at the time). Finally changed my strings out. Roundwounds on a fretless. Mmmmmm. Played the gig. Sounded AMAZING!! Lots of compliments. Packing up at the end of the night and someone stole my bass out of the van...Never saw it again.

 

[Doner Designs]

I use flats but change every 1-2 yrs either to try something new or add back some brightness.

 

[bassbully]

I have a set of Chromes that are over 10 years old...they are Gold to me.

 

[Ritchie_Darling]

I have an old p-bass knockoff that has had the same strings since I got it in 1984.

 

[Mike Wilson]

I put 2 years but that's only because that's how long I've been playing. I can say that, in that time, I've only changed strings once over five basses: the strings on my acoustic died so I got new phosphor bronzes and replaced them. I don't know how old they were because I bought it used. However, I will keep the used strings and try the old soaking them in soapy water trick to see what happens. If it works, I'll have a nice backup set.

BTW: I know someone who swears by the soaking method and insists he's not bought strings...ever. He's been playing since the early 70s.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Wait... What?....Your supposed to change them?!
Just kidding...
Back in my punk rock days, when I was sawing on them with a pick, I'd change them as they broke. That, along with my skimpy finances meant buying the cheapest rounds I could find.
Now, my P has a set of " blue steel's" that are are about 10 years old. The strings on my Japanese ho-bags and funky wall hangers?... I have no idea.

 

[Biggbass]

My older brother put tape wounds on his Hofner in 1969 and when he gave it to me a few years later I never changed the strings. When I sold it in 1995 they were still on it and still sounded good. 26 years!

 

[silvertone]

J Bass with Chrome Rounds: owned this bass since 2000 and changed the strings once in '08.
Mod Q4 with Chrome Rounds: owned this bass since 2012 and changed the strings once in '15.
Mod Bassstar Fretless with Chrome Flats: owned this bass since '14 and never changed these since replacing rounds.
'54 Kay Upright - put on Pirastro Weich's after the bass was rebuilt in '15. Unlikely I'll change them for at least 5 years.

Other than my upright bass I am a dedicated user of D'Addario strings.
I replace my mandolin strings weekly and my Martin Dreads about every 3 months.

 

[Tom Howland]

1970 Fretless P-Bass. TI JF344 Flats. going on eight years. Still sound great.