I get about 2 gigs and a few rehearsals out of a set of strings, which is about a month. I like the sound of new steel strings when they lose that zing I replace them.
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Strings: Old or new?
- Thread starter Philbiker
- Start date
The strings on my Bongo5 are about 8 months old, the strings on my fl Jazz are 4 years old approx.
So i guess you could say I prefer older strings.
When they snap they are replaced
So i guess you could say I prefer older strings.
When they snap they are replaced
This is kinda embarassing.
The last set I bought was some Rotosound half round roundwounds.
I got them a few years before my daughter was born.
She's almost 16 now.
They sound fine.
If I wanted to sound like a piano I'd play one.
The last set I bought was some Rotosound half round roundwounds.
I got them a few years before my daughter was born.
She's almost 16 now.
They sound fine.
If I wanted to sound like a piano I'd play one.
I just realized I have never changed my strings on my American Hot Rod bass...I got it in 2001.
The G string on my upright (I played rockabilly slap bass poorly on it and it pretty much has sat for five six years with me playing it for 10-15 minutes whenever the urge hit) just broke out of the blue the other day. Those strings had been on since around 1989.
I like old stings.
The G string on my upright (I played rockabilly slap bass poorly on it and it pretty much has sat for five six years with me playing it for 10-15 minutes whenever the urge hit) just broke out of the blue the other day. Those strings had been on since around 1989.
I like old stings.
I just bought a set of DR Stainless Steel Hi-beams, they are about a week old. I play my bass for quite a while every single day, mianly with a pick. They have already began to lose their zing so i will probably get some more, or try a different brand of Stainless Steels. I like the fresh "piano ring" sound of fresh strings.
Does anybody have any recommendations?
Does anybody have any recommendations?
I use D'addarios Xl light's , they are very bright I change them when I get to go to guitar center ( every 3 months ) .
I normally keep strings on my bass for about 6 months.But it depends on the number of gigs in that 6 months.If they get really bad,a quick bath in boiling water'n'vinegar followed by a couple hours in the drying cupboard usually makes them good for another month or 2.By the way,whats the best way to keep them clean,on the bass ie without removing them?
i rust strings, even after wipeing all the time. i bought some le bellas and they are going strong more about a month now and sound now
It depends on which bass the strings are on. On my everyday "classic rock" bass with the EMG P that I use for every rehearsal and every gig and most of my personal playing (which all adds up to a pretty regular 12 hours per week) I use the Carvin re-branded LaBella stainless steels (10$ per set and I usally buy 4 or 5 sets at a time to save on shipping ) and I change them once every six weeks. On my shortscale "jazz and other stuff" bass with the EB0 pickup that I use maybe an hour or two per week I have flatwounds that I change once per year.
I always wash my hands before playing and I always clean the strings and fretboard with a fine, DRY cloth after playing. This is absolutely necessary for the longevity of the strings.
Playing the bass is important to me and I make sure that I make the time to keep the strings clean and change them when they lose their elasticity, and I make sure I budget the paltry $100 per year required to buy new strings regularly.
P.S.
Forget about solvents, alcohol, cleaners, sprays etc.. ...and screw boiling old, dead strings to try to eke a few more hours out of life out of them.
I always wash my hands before playing and I always clean the strings and fretboard with a fine, DRY cloth after playing. This is absolutely necessary for the longevity of the strings.
Playing the bass is important to me and I make sure that I make the time to keep the strings clean and change them when they lose their elasticity, and I make sure I budget the paltry $100 per year required to buy new strings regularly.
P.S.
Forget about solvents, alcohol, cleaners, sprays etc.. ...and screw boiling old, dead strings to try to eke a few more hours out of life out of them.
On my fretted, I've found I really prefer the sound of old strings when I'm playing by myself, but with the band I prefer "new" (at least a week old) string to cut through the mix. I change strings when I have trouble hearing the bass in the mix.
On my fretless, the flatwounds stay on forever.
-z.
On my fretless, the flatwounds stay on forever.
-z.
I like old strings....and 7 of my 8 basses are string with flats.
The oldest strings are on my '63 P. I put them on in about 1972 (perhaps - they may have been on it since 1967 or earlier) and although the bass was in storage for 20 years, they're still on it. They sound GREAT at 35+ years and going strong.
My 2000 MIM Jazz has the original factory roundwounds on it. I just bought an Epi EB-0 and haven't decided whether I'll change the rounds to flats or just let them age for a few years.
The other basses have strings ranging in age from six months to 4 years, depending on when I bought them and installed the flats. None will be changed unless they break.
To me, the first two or three months are just a period to live through and tolerate the sound while the strings settle in.
The oldest strings are on my '63 P. I put them on in about 1972 (perhaps - they may have been on it since 1967 or earlier) and although the bass was in storage for 20 years, they're still on it. They sound GREAT at 35+ years and going strong.
My 2000 MIM Jazz has the original factory roundwounds on it. I just bought an Epi EB-0 and haven't decided whether I'll change the rounds to flats or just let them age for a few years.
The other basses have strings ranging in age from six months to 4 years, depending on when I bought them and installed the flats. None will be changed unless they break.
To me, the first two or three months are just a period to live through and tolerate the sound while the strings settle in.
How are you guys breaking strings ***. I play very aggressive and I've had this pair of strings on at least a year. I love em and I can't notice any deterioration in my sound whatsoever.
I like mine brand spaking new. The day before a show I get them out of the box, put them on, tune them, play really easy on them for maybe an hour to let the strings stretch some and retain tuning, but after that it sits until show time. Every show I have to have brand new ones. After a week and a half to two weeks of harsh playing on them, time to change them.
I like fresh DR Sunbeams on all my Fender Jazz Basses.,I like well worn in D'addario XL Nickelwounds on a couple of my Fender P Basses ( I leave them on for about a year before I change them ),and GHS Precision Flatwounds on two of my Fender Precision Basses,change when needed. I like both new and old strings. Steve
