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sclitheroe
Copper Member
Canada
29 Posts |
 Posted - 02/08/2010 : 03:44:16
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Just curious. I've settled more or less on monthly. I play about an hour a day 5-6 times a week.
Monthly seems like a decent balance between price and performance, for me at least.
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Radioheading
Silver Member
United Kingdom
494 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 04:28:13
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I restring my acoustic once every 2 weeks. My electrics... Idk, 1-2 months. Dont play them nearly as much so the strings last alot longer  |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 04:40:57
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| I just change mine whenever they start to feel or sound crappy, which can be anywhere from once every month or to once a year... |
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natthu
Gold Member
Australia
756 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 05:00:12
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Bass: Hardly ever change them, if they are starting to sound a bit yuck I boil them in water for 10 mins (gets rid of 95% of the gunk).
Fretless Bass (flatwound nylons): Never, unless I break one which is very rare.
Guitars: maybe twice per year or if I break a string, although my acoustic still has the factory strings on it (2 years)
I like a good thuddy guitar sound, so I'm quite reluctant to ever get new strings... they are just too bright for me. I'm thinking of trying flatwounds on my Tele next time I change them over...
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Ptak
Bronze Member
141 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 05:05:32
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| When one breaks its time to change. If one doesnt break they can rust up for all i care aha i like worn strings better. |
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jackderringer
Silver Member
USA
153 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 08:06:50
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quote:
Originally posted by natthu
Bass: Hardly ever change them, if they are starting to sound a bit yuck I boil them in water for 10 mins (gets rid of 95% of the gunk).
don't boil them! the only time i've ever broken a string is after boiling. what happens is that yes the dirt comes out, but water gets into the core of the string and it never evaporates.
try soaking in denatured alcohol for 24 hours. you can get it at a home improvement store and it costs $10-15 US for a gallon but it's a one time expense, you can keep using it over and over! |
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natthu
Gold Member
Australia
756 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 08:36:58
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quote:
Originally posted by jackderringer
don't boil them! the only time i've ever broken a string is after boiling. what happens is that yes the dirt comes out, but water gets into the core of the string and it never evaporates.
try soaking in denatured alcohol for 24 hours. you can get it at a home improvement store and it costs $10-15 US for a gallon but it's a one time expense, you can keep using it over and over!
That does sound like it would work better than boiling, however, it would require me to leave the house  .
String boiling is a rare spur of the moment 3-in-the-morning thing for me. Besides that actually sounds expensive... although to be fair I have absolutely no idea how much a gallon is (never used imperial measurements). I've also never had a problem from boiling strings. I'm not worried about breaking strings - it's only happened to me once while I was slapping (I've been playing for more than 15 years)...
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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 08:37:04
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| When the high e string starts to loose it luster. |
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hateandwar
Gold Member
Australia
524 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 09:00:34
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quote:
Originally posted by aaronharmon
When the high e string starts to loose it luster.
+1 to that
I pretty much change them when the sound horrid.
Up untill now, i was using GHS boomers, because they were kinda cheap and i thought they sounded okay, but i bought a set of Ernie ball regular slinkys and they are such an improvement. I will never buy GHS again. I always read about how much difference it makes and never thought anything of it..hah stupid me
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 11:39:45
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Whenever finances allow.
And always a few days before a paying, or really big gig.
The closet classics fall under the when finances allow rule. 
I have switched to a new brand of Italian made string called "Galli".
they are typically well known for there professional orchestral strings.
It was a decision initially forced on me by my aging "Guitar Tech".
And I have never looked back.
They are stunning on my Blackie Stat.
Previously I was a D'Addario user.
On my gigging Acoustics I have moved over to Elixer Nano-Webs.
Just ask Laurie, what a Maton Acoustic, strung with Elixers sounds & plays like. 
Regards Dr. Bob  |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 02/08/2010 11:42:32 |
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natthu
Gold Member
Australia
756 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 12:38:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
On my gigging Acoustics I have moved over to Elixer Nano-Webs.
Just ask Laurie, what a Maton Acoustic, strung with Elixers sounds & plays like.
Hey Dr Bob,
Have you got any soundclips? I've been wondering what I should put on my Maton the next time I need strings. Are Elixer strings expensive?
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JCDenton6
Bronze Member
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 12:45:45
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quote:
Originally posted by hateandwar
quote:
Originally posted by aaronharmon
When the high e string starts to loose it luster.
+1 to that
I pretty much change them when the sound horrid.
Up untill now, i was using GHS boomers, because they were kinda cheap and i thought they sounded okay, but i bought a set of Ernie ball regular slinkys and they are such an improvement. I will never buy GHS again. I always read about how much difference it makes and never thought anything of it..hah stupid me
Same here on Ernie Ball strings, I don't think I'll ever use another brand. And surprisingly, I've never broken an Ernie Ball sring yet
I usually change them every 5 months or so...I frequently use Kysers Dr. Srtingfellow lemon oil fretbord conditioner, it helps with string life and playability |
Edited by - JCDenton6 on 02/09/2010 01:11:13 |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 13:19:54
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30 hours of use or 30 days which ever come first.I have alot of guitars like alot of people here, so i buy strings in bulk and get a good price break when 1 buy a case.my electrics cost about 4.99 when you buy 1. but when i buy the case i get then for 3.25. I mean i will use them so its cheaper for me, to buy it like that. I have just found the strings for my acoustic that i like so i have to find a good price and how many i have to buy to get a good discount.
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Edited by - zerksies on 02/08/2010 16:53:45 |
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silvertone6120
Gold Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 15:24:43
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quote:
Originally posted by natthu
I like a good thuddy guitar sound, so I'm quite reluctant to ever get new strings... they are just too bright for me. I'm thinking of trying flatwounds on my Tele next time I change them over...
Then you need to try flats...they nail the "thuddy" sound(I say this in a good way) and flats last a long time, much longer than roundwounds(although the plains will obviously have to be replaced more often). |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 15:32:35
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quote:
Originally posted by natthu
quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
On my gigging Acoustics I have moved over to Elixer Nano-Webs.
Just ask Laurie, what a Maton Acoustic, strung with Elixers sounds & plays like.
Hey Dr Bob,
Have you got any soundclips? I've been wondering what I should put on my Maton the next time I need strings. Are Elixer strings expensive?
Hi nathu
No I don't have any decent clips, perhaps there are some on u-tube?
As a matter of interest.
All Maton's are now factory fitted with Elixers.
I belive my new Maton 808-CPG blew Laurie's sox off.
And if you don't belive me, he posted a pic here last December.
Laurie used to own a Maton, he told me felt sorry that he sold it, sometime before he left Oz.
The Elixer's are not cheap, but last for ages, they are not as prone to dirt & skin (ingress) accumulating in the windings, like on a normal string.
They sound stunning acoustically, as well as through the AP-4, AP-5 or AP-Mic as fitted to the 808.
My son buys them, & all his classical nylon stings,
from some place on the Web or some evilbay dealer.
They are at least a third cheaper than at a retail music store.
I'll ask him for the link, next time I see him.
If you are going to just go out & get a set, shop around a bit, prices vary a "lot" from dealer to dealer.
Regards Dr. Bob
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verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 15:53:43
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Elixirs are definitely the best acoustic coated string (coated with Gore-Tex, no less!). For the non-coated I like DR RARES.. I don't play nearly enough acoustic guitar, and I change them every 3 months or so.
For my electric, I probably change them every 2 months, but IMO that's a little on the outside of delivering really good tone. Again, I blame myself for not playing enough..  again, I use DR strings, the Hi-Beams (NPS) for my Blade and PureBlues (PN) for my old strat (to save the frets) - both are roundcore, and, despite a little product inconsistency (a by-product of a less automated stringmaking technique), they feel and sound the best to me. I would love to try the Galli strings mentioned by Dr. Bob..
to the OP - monthly sounds good to me - if you buy them in bulk you might be able to get a nicer price and then go tri-weekly instead.  
It's interesting to see the varying opinions on string brands.. I deal with it every day, I think the biggest difference is really just the contrast from the old, dead set you just took off your guitar.  |
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Topic |
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How often do you change your strings?
