Old strings require less tension??

[GianGian]

Hi all, this is my first thread here.
I've been playing for 6+ years, and just recently I got to really learn how a propely set up bass feels.
I used to play until my strings broke, and that's what happened yesterday. So I changed then.
But after the change nothing worked...the tension was to tight. Now after I remade all the adjustments (truss rod, bridge) it is ok, but does it really happen? Strings get sloppy over time? I mean when they are the proper tuning, I use always standard.
My problem now is to know when to change them, so I don't have to make all the adjustments every time I change them. I mean, when they sound muffled they get sloppy too? I can't feel it by myself since I play everyday.

 

[therex]

well i have noticed that old strings become flopier and sound death and dark
i change strings whenever they dont feel proper to me, like every 4 or 6 months

 

[ljazz]

Back when I had access to a tensile tester, I found older string don't really loose their tension, but do become less stiff. The force required to move the string laterally a 1/2 inch became less, while the tension required to reach a particular note remained unchanged. Imagine a paper clip... the more you bend it back and forth, the easier it is to bend it back and forth. But the amount of metal is still the same, so the tension required to reach a given tone would not change.

TI Jazz Flats are interesting to me, because they come very "loose" right out of the package, and then stiffen up..... I can't explain why, and wish I still had access to a force or tensile gauge to prove it. Maybe the finger crud/acid, stiffens up the silk wrap between the outer winding and core?

Ljazz

 

[SwamiRob]

I always seem to find older strings much stiffer if anything, which is odd, perhaps I don't keep them clean enough.

 

[62bass]

Back when I had access to a tensile tester, I found older string don't really loose their tension, but do become less stiff. The force required to move the string laterally a 1/2 inch became less, while the tension required to reach a particular note remained unchanged. Imagine a paper clip... the more you bend it back and forth, the easier it is to bend it back and forth. But the amount of metal is still the same, so the tension required to reach a given tone would not change.

TI Jazz Flats are interesting to me, because they come very "loose" right out of the package, and then stiffen up..... I can't explain why, and wish I still had access to a force or tensile gauge to prove it. Maybe the finger crud/acid, stiffens up the silk wrap between the outer winding and core?

Ljazz

Yes, I notice the same thing with TI flats. I've been using them on all my basses since they first came on the market. I recently replaced an 8 year old set with new JF344s on my P and they felt loose and rubbery at first. After almost 3 weeks of playing them in they've lost that loose feeling and feel stiffer and much more like the old set but with the warm but present sound I like from the T.I.s.

GianGian--did you replace your strings with exactly the same strings as the old ones?

 

[GianGian]

Yes, I notice the same thing with TI flats. I've been using them on all my basses since they first came on the market. I recently replaced an 8 year old set with new JF344s on my P and they felt loose and rubbery at first. After almost 3 weeks of playing them in they've lost that loose feeling and feel stiffer and much more like the old set but with the warm but present sound I like from the T.I.s.

GianGian--did you replace your strings with exactly the same strings as the old ones?

Yes, the exactly same model, brand and gauge.

 

[ashtray]

I have a theory of skin ph effects on strings. I know people who's hands will turn strings black over night if they don't wipe the strings down afterwards. One guy's strings actually were very rough, and "eaten" through.

I have the opposite effect on strings - they become smooth and fast to play on. Don't need to wipe them down - they don't turn "sticky" over night. (I can always tell when someone's played one of my basses!)

I bet this has some effect on the tightness/looseness of the strings too... but I too need some scientific proof!

 

[62bass]

Yes, the exactly same model, brand and gauge.

Then that's very strange to me. I've never had a problem like that when using the exact same strings. All I can suggest is that you do a really good setup on the bass. There concurrently may have been a drastic change in humidity which can throw wood out of whack a bit. Or you might have left the strings off too long before putting on new ones and the neck lost some of its relief, in which case it would return to where it was after a day at the most.

One thing of course is new strings keep going flat for a while as they stretch in. When they're flat the tension is naturally less and your action will be off.

Anyhow, I never go by time as to when to change strings. I change them when they sound like they've lost their life. With the Thomastics I use, that's many years. I know round wound guys who want their strings so bright they want to change them after every gig. They probably would if they could afford the luxury.

 

[GianGian]

Then that's very strange to me. I've never had a problem like that when using the exact same strings. All I can suggest is that you do a really good setup on the bass. There concurrently may have been a drastic change in humidity which can throw wood out of whack a bit. Or you might have left the strings off too long before putting on new ones and the neck lost some of its relief, in which case it would return to where it was after a day at the most.

One thing of course is new strings keep going flat for a while as they stretch in. When they're flat the tension is naturally less and your action will be off.

Anyhow, I never go by time as to when to change strings. I change them when they sound like they've lost their life. With the Thomastics I use, that's many years. I know round wound guys who want their strings so bright they want to change them after every gig. They probably would if they could afford the luxury.

I changed them one at time...and they were over a year old, 2 hours play everyday...maybe it was because they were so old.