Grime doesn't really stick on flats the way they do on rounds, so keep that in mind when visualizing 13 year old TIs 
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What was the longest you went without changing strings?
- Thread starter Tupac
- Start date
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
The longest I went was 2 months, using a set of Epiphone nickels.
That was when I was playing at an amusement park, doing the same show six times a day, six days a week at a place that had AC, but still was usually muggy (we were, after all, on the lake). Only reason I switched them was because they wouldn't hold a tune. I was playing a funk/disco show, so having old, dead rounds was actually a benefit.
Had some flats on my '51 style P for about 12 years.
They'd still be on it but broke the D string.
They'd still be on it but broke the D string.
I looked at an old receipt for my 5-string Peavey Millennium AC BXP. Same strings since 2007. Never changed them.
Admittedly, I rarely practice on it and didn't do so for a few years, and maybe play it once a week for rehearsals and the occasional gig. Strings aren't grimy, dull, or rusty. I don't wipe them down either. Just lucky I guess.
Only time I would change strings is when I break them, which is rare. I play acoustic guitar the most, and changed those strings two years ago because I broke a string.
Admittedly, I rarely practice on it and didn't do so for a few years, and maybe play it once a week for rehearsals and the occasional gig. Strings aren't grimy, dull, or rusty. I don't wipe them down either. Just lucky I guess.
Only time I would change strings is when I break them, which is rare. I play acoustic guitar the most, and changed those strings two years ago because I broke a string.
I play mostly TI Jazz Flats and Rounds these days. My basses with the flats (Roscoe Beck 5 and Fender A/E Fretless) have had the same strings for at least 7 years now. My '65 Jazz with rounds is at about 7 years as well. My Turner Ren V fretless with Acousticores must be over 10 years. I'm rather particular about the sound of my strings, but don't worry about them until they lose the sound that I want or if they start to be difficult to intonate. Before switching to TIs, I used Roto Sound Swings for about 30 years. I could usually get 6-9 months out of a set.
I once went 14 years, not playing for the middle 12. I know you weren't counting that...but I convinced myself that it was all good, old strings. Then I played with other people again. It's not good. It worked/works when music wasn't big time produced with 24 tracks of noise and when guitarists stayed mostly on their higher strings. Dead strings don't really cut through in anything more than a little, quiet combo, no matter how much eq added. But use em if they work for you! No judgment from me.
I change rounds all the time, but the longest I've ever had a set on a bass I was actively playing is 14 months or so. They're a set of Chromes on my P Bass and they're just starting to mellow out now!
I have Roto 66s on my 4001 that were last changed in '93. GHS Halfies on my fretless about the same - '98 I think.
Those are the exceptions - if I break a string then I'll usually replace a whole set, but don't really like brand new strings - too unweildy. Put flats on my P about 6 years ago and thsoe aren't coming off anytime soon. The Jackson Concert & MM Sterling have Pro-Steels which break every so often, so they get changed every couple of years mebbe.
Those are the exceptions - if I break a string then I'll usually replace a whole set, but don't really like brand new strings - too unweildy. Put flats on my P about 6 years ago and thsoe aren't coming off anytime soon. The Jackson Concert & MM Sterling have Pro-Steels which break every so often, so they get changed every couple of years mebbe.
I never change flats until they break and I even keep them if I sell a bass strung with them. I still use 15 year old Chromes on my P from time to time. I am really a SS rounds guy though.
On a heavily played bass (my main gigging/rehearsing bass), I will generally change rounds every 4-6 weeks. I just changed out a set of Dunlop Super Bright Nickels after over 3 months though. New record for me for rounds. Could have left them on longer as they sounded great but needed that new SS twang for a recent gig.
So 3 months on my main bass would be the longest I have kept strings on a bass since a was a broke student.
On a heavily played bass (my main gigging/rehearsing bass), I will generally change rounds every 4-6 weeks. I just changed out a set of Dunlop Super Bright Nickels after over 3 months though. New record for me for rounds. Could have left them on longer as they sounded great but needed that new SS twang for a recent gig.
So 3 months on my main bass would be the longest I have kept strings on a bass since a was a broke student.
