Roundwounds....how old do you go?

[bassbrad]

My strings last a long time, years usually, I have this bad habit of always having clean hands when I play my basses. Depending on the bass generally I keep them on until the harmonics stop sounding, some basses have older, more worn in [deader] sets than others. OTOH my fretless basses are actually the brightest because I play a lot of harmonics and false harmonics and really want those to speak.

 

[80jazz]

Put me down as someone who likes the zing.

My basses probably get their strings changed every 3-4 months.

 

[GwenOnBass]

In the "once a year" camp. Stopped listening for the fresh piano tone strings that die after one rehearsal decades ago

 

[r_bnks]

Every two-three weeks.

 

[SLO Surfer]

Admittedly I like my flats super broken-in (I've got one bass with 8 year old Labellas that sound perfect) but now it appears I'm totally into "dead" rounds these days too. It's funny, 'cause growing up I was all about changing my Rotos before every gig. I've got some DR Nickel Lo-Riders on a Jazzbass that have toured and been on that bass for...I'm not even sure how long, but it's been years. They sound just right--I'd be bummed if I had to change 'em! Anybody else in the dead rounds club?

I also used to change my rounds every month or so. Now it’s every 1-2 years or so.

 

[dave64o]

My guys like it clean and articulate, and typically playing with only one guitar (right now with some keyboards, as well, but not too heavily played), I think it needs to be. DR Nickel Lowriders is also what I use, but I tried a set of Ernie Ball Colbalt Flats, still new, but I easily got a tone they loved with those, as well.

Actually, I liked how the Cobalts and Slinkys sound at first, but they just die so fast for me and don't sound good to me when they do. I also remember the Cobalts feeling more flexible than I like (I think the Slinkys felt too flexible to me as well, but can't remember for sure). So they're just aren't a good fit for me. But I get that other people have their reasons for liking them, so I'm not bashing them.

I'm also OK with people not liking Lo Riders. Good that we have so many choices!

 

[Dincrest]

I change 'em once a year too.

That being said, a bass I recently got had some seriously dead D'Addario ProSteels on it that had to have been several years old... and they still sounded killer and the bass played well. The only issue was intonation.

 

[zubrycky]

I keep them as long as I can. I hate new strings.

 

[Raf Seibert]

At some point in the late ‘70s, Joe Osborne relocated from LA to Nashville. There was a story in the Nashville Banner that he had a problem - he needed to change the strings on his bass. I seems he had requested a P-bass from Fender, way back in the day, and Fender had taken it upon themselves to send him one of the newly introduced Jazz basses, instead. He liked it fine, but now, nearly twenty years later, no one could tell him what strings they had put on his guitar. The strings were worn, tattered, and green, and he was frustrated. I guess that’s the epitome of keeping them on too long.

 

[Camarillo]

DR Sunbeams on my Jazz for years...4 at least. Sounds great.

 

[GodsLove66]

I usually TRY to change my strings Annually. The longest I've gone so far is 5 years and counting on the set on my Epiphone Viola. I hardly ever touch it any more these days.

 

[thedovewarlord]

Once they are worn out and sound like a flat-wound, that's when I think you put them on.

 

[7dollarbologna]

I’ve got 6 sets of Roto 66 nickel that are at least 15 years old- I tried to sell them on the classified side but no takers

 

[pbass2]

I’ve got 6 sets of Roto 66 nickel that are at least 15 years old- I tried to sell them on the classified side but no takers

View attachment 4626399

Put them on Reverb - they'll sell as "vintage" Rotos!

 

[JW56789]

Now that I'm retired and they get fairly low hours on them in a more gentle fashion, quite a while.

Back in the 6-7 nights a week days, on GHS Boomers, 4-6 weeks.

 

[Leigh Semmens]

Change strings? Do people do that? I haven't changed strings on a Bass in over 40 years. I've changed Bass a few times though! Though I am seriously thinking I'd like to try flats or even coated strings on my Washburn. Just got to get brave enough to spend the money (which is in desperately short supply)

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Admittedly I like my flats super broken-in (I've got one bass with 8 year old Labellas that sound perfect) but now it appears I'm totally into "dead" rounds these days too. It's funny, 'cause growing up I was all about changing my Rotos before every gig. I've got some DR Nickel Lo-Riders on a Jazzbass that have toured and been on that bass for...I'm not even sure how long, but it's been years. They sound just right--I'd be bummed if I had to change 'em! Anybody else in the dead rounds club?

8 months to a year or so.

I change them when they die.

 

[farace]

The set of D’Addario XLs I had on my Dan Armstrong/Ampeg See Through were about 25 years old when they finally got too grody to the touch and I changed them. Then I kind of regretted it.

 

[Dr Zee]

On the average, every 10 years or so. I've never liked the sound of new rounds.

 

[Rib 13]

Im enjoying reading this thread

- Nice to see Im in good company with folks that like fresh new zing always
- Nobody has mentioned (including myself earlier) yet how body chemistry/pH can play a significant role in the string changing decision making process
- Some of the responses here makes me think some of you may need a tetanus shot before picking up your instruments again