When to replace round wounds

[r_bnks]

Relative to guitar strings? To Ferrari Testarossas?

In my world bass strings are expensive. I change them rarely. (But I play fingerstyle, never pick or slap which probably wears them out faster.)

Well virtually yes.
If I play the same bass every day 1 or 2hrs or so, then yes. I'm using Rotosounds which is about $20 a pack. I don't like rounds when they loose their top end.
In reality I have 14 basses strung up with fresh strings and I keep rotating them, so basically a string change every one and then.

But to me a fresh round is fresh for about two weeks unfortunately.
I heard it has to do something with the ph of sweat and it might be something because my gold bridges becomes worn out and silverish very fast.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

I always replace roundwounds as soon as I get a bass with them on it.

 

[JimmyM]

I’ve had the same set of rounds on my main bass for 5 years. I may change them once I get settled in enough in NC to start playing again. Before that, I changed them every 4 or 5 gigs, although my idea of changing them was to rotate two sets per bass and soak a set in denatured alcohol for a few days while the other set went on the bass. But I like the sound of dead strings a lot more for the things I’m doing these days. You can change them if you like, or leave them as well. In the end, we’re all going to die.

Have a good weekend!

 

[kevindahl]

When I was gigging 6 nights per week I changed them every night. Mind you they were exchanged with old strings that I soaked in methyl hydrate.

I like a bright tone that cuts on stage, others don't.

It would not hurt or be wrong to put on a new set, IMO. You will also have a backup in case you break a string.

To add it's always better to put on new strings for a setup and intonation check.

 

[stringthrough]

When they turn into flatwounds.

 

[Aussie Player]

I had been playing about 15 years before I ever changed a set of strings.
Didn't know you had to.

Have several basses with 3-6 year old strings, 3 I bought new up to 12 years ago still with original strings and the last set changed, going on 2 years ago.

Hate zing and don't comprehend treble coming from a bass instrument, so I don't worry too much about them if the tone for that specific instrument is maintained.

I do keep around 8-10 sets of strings on hand for that infrequent need though.

 

[Aussie Player]

Contrary to popular opinion, all strings wear and when worn, should be replaced. I’ve had more sound engineers in my life complaining about bassists and their well used and deeply loved strings, and zero complaints about bassists with new strings.

This is a good point but you have to remember that either you are hiring the engineer or he is hiring you.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

This is a good point but you have to remember that either you are hiring the engineer or he is hiring you.

Doesn’t matter. When I hire an engineer I expect a good product. The reason I’m paying him (or her) is because their expertise is greater than mine. In either case I’m not about to tell them how to do their job. JMO.

 

[BlueTalon]

With roundwound strings, you can get a visual reference for how worn they are by looking at the underside of them. Check and see how much they've been worn at the frets.

I typically change mine after about 3 months worth of playing.

 

[Acoop]

Good quality strings last a long time, if you wash your hands before you pick up your instrument and wipe them down often. ... Sweat is a real string killer. ... Cheap strings feel cheap and don't last long.

 

[Camarillo]

I don’t like fresh, zingy roundwounds. I keep them for some years on my basses. But 12 years it’s a little too much, maybe. I would change them.

 

[Drop1]

Doesn’t matter. When I hire an engineer I expect a good product. The reason I’m paying him (or her) is because their expertise is greater than mine. In either case I’m not about to tell them how to do their job. JMO.

As an engineer, dead strings can be annoying.
If you put brand new strings and aged strings through an analyzer, the new strings have content that the olds don't. Some older strings don't just get duller, they actually completely lose top end. As in gone gone. And once its gone, you can't put it back no matter how much eq you use. You can't boost something that isn't there...

 

[21DaHoagie12]

It's all preference, some basses sound good with out the zing of fresh roundwounds, and some really sound best with the crisp zing of fresh rounds. I'd say try out a fresh pair of strings and if its too zingy for you, only a matter of time before they mellow out.

 

[Pilgrim]

First post here, hopefully I don’t embarrass myself too much

So I picked up my bass for the first time a while and I’ve been practicing with it for a few weeks and taking up some lessons again. It really needs the action adjusted so I’m planning on taking it in for an overall setup/adjustment.

My question is should I replace the round wounds with new strings? I initially thought “definitely” but I’ve been hearing a lot about how “dead” older roundwounds can be appealing. And these are older! I played it a lot in 2012-2014 and only played intermittently until now and never changed the strings I’ve only heard before about flatwounds aging nicley, so I’m not sure if these are WAAAY over due or if they have character now. Thoughts? Please go easy on me…

Like many things in music, trust your ears. If it sounds good and it's pleasing to you, then who's to say it's not good??

I'm a flats player, so take that into account. I don't like new strings of any kind, rounds or flats - I like them to mellow and give them a couple of months or more to sound right for me. Since new strings only sound new for a while, and that differs according to the brand of strings and how often they're played, it's a bonus for me that I like them better as they age. I have flats 50 years old on one bass.

But that's me.

If you want to try new strings do it, but be careful in removing the old ones. If it turns out you like the old ones better, put them back on and save the new ones until you're ready to change.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

When you don’t like the way they sound anymore.

 

[MegaSwing]

When it takes an inordinate amount of effort to get the sound you want.

 

[Aussie Player]

As an engineer, dead strings can be annoying.
If you put brand new strings and aged strings through an analyzer, the new strings have content that the olds don't. Some older strings don't just get duller, they actually completely lose top end. As in gone gone. And once its gone, you can't put it back no matter how much eq you use. You can't boost something that isn't there...

All true but some bass players don't want it there. I was recording in EMI once with old strings, maybe 8-10 years and was offered studio work there, so its in the ears of the beholder.
Not everyone likes brite strings. I certainly don't.

 

[markanini]

I don't worry about changing strings up to about fourth months.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

Matter of preference. Most of my basses get a fresh set before every gig. Except for one which has really old stainless steel rounds and one with really old flatwounds. They all serve a purpose.
As you see, plenty like old strings. Plenty like kind of worn strings. Plenty like fresh and zingy strings.

 

[2thAche]

Looks like lots of replies already. For a bass you play alot, really it's every couple months or sooner depending on how much you play, where rounds will lose tone, especiallythe E string.

You won't realize how crappy those dead rounds sound unless you have other basses with fresher strings. It's pretty profound. And IMO old rounds don't sound like flatwounds, they sound dull and lack tone and you'd be better off with flats that dead rounds full of grime.

When I was young and poor I'd boil my Rotosounds to get more out of them. At $20+ per set these days, it sucks how fast rounds go dead, but it's a reality.