Roundwounds....how old do you go?

[LowActionHero]

I have a bass that has the 'factory' strings on it, 27 years old?

My main bass got new strings when I bought it 4 years ago. I don't plan on changing them unless they break (hasn't happened yet) or if one gets noticeably deader than the rest (hasn't happened yet)

 

[dalahorse]

- Nobody has mentioned (including myself earlier) yet how body chemistry/pH can play a significant role in the string changing decision making process

You have a good point there. My skin is extremely dry - not oily at all. And I don't sweat while playing. The strings get a good wipe down (as well as the rest of the instrument) when playing time is over. There's nothing I can do about metal fatigue. But I can mostly avoid and correct for build-up. Plus I like to keep my stuff as clean and new as possible. I'm not into "mojo" on my instruments.

 

[4StringDave]

Before the smoking ban came into effect in Scotland, I changed strings every 2-3 weeks (about 8-10 gigs) as they were completely dead, tacky to touch from the tar, and sounded horrible. Now, with smoke-free venues, I don't change strings often at all as I prefer them to sound worn in and don't like zing at all.

 

[Peterson]

When My RotoSounds Start To Sound Dead ...I Run Them Through Boiling Hot Water (Not The Ends ) And It Brings Them Back To Life..Just Like New Again

 

[GIBrat51]

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?

Well... to me, "dead" strings means they're really, actually DEAD - as in, won't stay in tune for more than a few minutes, and/or won't intonate at all any more. However... yes, I know what most folks mean by "dead"...
So, to answer the question; yeah, I suppose you could say I'm in the club, too - or have been, anyway. For starters, I've never been a round wound fan. I learned to play bass 50+ years ago on a Rick 4001 with it's factory flats, and, with few exceptions, I've played flats ever since. But, in the early 2000's, when I was buying basses left and right, I used EB Hybrid Slinkys as my "Baseline" strings, to see in which direction I wanted to go with that particular bass. Several sets got swapped from bass to bass over a those years - and some got left on a bass for a couple of years. The ones that got swapped around, usually broke at the tuner end, long before they actually died. The ones that stayed on a bass? They all got replaced with flats, eventually, but... none of those actually died, either. I'm fortunate, in that my hands hardly ever sweat, and my body chemistry is very neutral. If I keep them clean, I can get several years out of every kind of round wound I've ever used. For instance; the short scale Boomers that came on one of my Kramer Dukes were well used when I got the thing, and I played (and liked) them for at least 8 years before they got replaced - with DR Legends. Which, on that particular bass, IMO sound very much like the Boomers. But, they weren't really dead, when they came off. My Warmoth Mini-P wore DR Sunbeams for the first 2 years of it's life. I really liked the sound of them, but not the sensation of running my fingers up and down a wood rasp. Who knows how long they'd have lasted, if not for that. I like the GHS Precision Flats it wears now, a whole bunch more...
The only rounds I've actually used to death are the Rickenbacker Light Nickel Rounds that my '73 4001 used to wear. I bought several sets of them when they were discontinued, and played every set of them 'till they wouldn't play no mo'. It wears very low tension flats now; neck problems...
Currently, I only have one playable bass with rounds on it; short scale TI Jazz Rounds on my '94 Gretsch Broadkaster. Out of all the strings I've tried (and I tried a lot of strings), they're the only ones that make it sound like a bass guitar, instead of either a hollow body guitar, or a hippo fart in deep mud. They took a while to break in, but I like how they sound (well, they could be a hair less bright, but beggars can't be choosers); how they feel; and with luck, they'll stay how they are now, for a long, long time...

 

[2strings2frets]

When I first learned to play, I changed strings frequently 30 to 90 days. Mostly experimentally looking for the “sound” and not sure what it was. Since then I’ve gone through phases using rounds, flats and different metals and makers on different basses. Lately settled on half rounds on my main players and plan on leaving them on for a few years. All is subject to change as hopefully gigs pick up again and new opportunities present themselves.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I am both cheap and stubborn, but if I can't keep them in tune or they start to sound uneven then it's time.
Chances are I get curious about some different string before that happens.

 

[basslicks]

I like my strings to be about as dead as this thread was before I bumped it - not super dead, but not really lively and fresh either!

I became a RotoSound Swing Bass SS convert. These things just do not die. At least the set on my MIA P refuse to truly die. Don't get me wrong, they are far from being bright and fresh (a good thing IMO), but they also don't sound nearly as dead as other strings I've used and they seem to have settled here permanently because I've had these on my bass since 2018! I don't know if it's just the nature of stainless steel strings because most nickels I've used in the past are too dead for me within a year. These still have plenty of attack and loads of sustain.

My preferred tone is when standard rounds are about 60% dead. I'm not a fan of bright fresh strings personally, but when most strings become too dead then they lose a ton of attack and sustain. These Rotos have settled on that ~60% dead thing that I like and don't seem to budge. About every three months or so I do a full bass cleaning and I'll give them a good wipe down, but I don't boil or soak strings in alcohol or any of that, they just keep chugging.

What's kinda funny is that when I first bought these strings I didn't like them at all. Fresh out of the package they were crazy harsh to my ears and I nearly swapped them out to never look back, but they started losing that edge pretty quickly and after a couple months I was really vibing with them!

Best $20 I've ever spent!

 

[Ggaa]

I kept a set of 5 string Labella Super Steps for maybe 7 years. Sounded and strobed fine, I switched because they were a pita to set up, e and b especially with the exposed core. Lots of sustain, but they were pretty noisy and full of harmonics(you learn a lot about muting with them). Doing Fatties and Low Riders now, clock's still ticking with those.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

II became a RotoSound Swing Bass SS convert. These things just do not die..... My preferred tone is when standard rounds are about 60% dead.... These Rotos have settled on that ~60% dead thing that I like and don't seem to budge

Nice coincidence this - I just read this, and then when the Stingray EQ thread on Basses subforum sent me listening to various demos, I realised that the difference I really like is down to one the basses being strung with 6 month old set of Swing Bass!