Flatwound strings lifespan

[whiskey02]

Hey all,

How often do you replace your flatwounds? I know I wait too long, I just want to get an idea of "average" if such a thing exists. Thanks.

[dmorash]

I wait too long too. I have changed them before and noticed very little difference. Last time I probably had them on for over a year. The guitar sounded noticeably better to me when I changed them. So I guess a year is too long for me

[mambosun]

Originally Posted by whiskey02

Hey all,

How often do you replace your flatwounds? I know I wait too long, I just want to get an idea of "average" if such a thing exists. Thanks.

Well, unlikely roundwounds they don't really change in tone (ie brightness) with age; I guess, the only valid reason I see to change your flatwound strings, if they become rusty or if they loose intonation.

[pghguitar]

i had a set that lasted almost 18 months (chromes), however they started sounding bad after 1 yr. the 5th string eventually broke on its own (not while i was playing that string oddly enough) which force me to change them. I probably will not do that again, however.

[Vihar]

Do you guys change the top two strings earlier though?

[mongrel]

Originally Posted by Vihar

Do you guys change the top two strings earlier though?

Only if one breaks and its almost always the first string. I have TI Swing 13's on an EPI Joe Pass that I put on in late 2007 or early 2008. I play that guitar a couple hours every week, don't wipe the strings down after playing, and the guitar sits out on a stand. Still sound mellow. I've had a set of .012 Chromes on my Tele-Clone for about three years. That one sits out too and gets played an hour or two per week. The worst flats I've had over the years both tone and longevity wise have been DHS and Fender. Save your money and don't go there.

[Retroman1969]

I have Chromes, .12s, on my main guitar... practice every day, and they've been on for over six months so far. I haven't seen any need to change them yet because they're still bright, shiny, hold tune and intonation well, and sound great.
I've never gotten near that longevity out of most typical sets of roundwounds.

[SamBooka]

Originally Posted by mambosun

Well, unlikely roundwounds they don't really change in tone (ie brightness) with age; I guess, the only valid reason I see to change your flatwound strings, if they become rusty or if they loose intonation.

Bingo..

[FatJeff]

I change after about 6 months.

[woyvel]

When I put two guitars next to each other and the strings on one are noticeably darker (dirty from sweat and grime). That's usually around 6 months or less for me.

I still don't get why more people don't use them in lighter gauges. They're "just for jazz players". Finding them locally in anything other than a set of .012 Chromes is nearly impossible.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Originally Posted by Vihar

Do you guys change the top two strings earlier though?

I do. They get rusty first.

[stevedenver]

i wait as long a i can-about a year if i can-the issue being intonation issues or breakage-as noted the sound barely changes-but boy i do notice the difference once i change after tha long-when new they do have more bounce and ring-this is probably why i love and can afford TI flats-a set or two a year isnt too bad

its gotten to the point that only with my martin d do i really hear the difference with fresh strings phsophor bronze for me -and these i change at least monthly

on my electrics and archtop-it just not quite as obvious with flats or even with nickle rounds or steel rounds

and the truth is because good flats are expensive, i just wait longer
it really doesnt seem to interefere with playing music
on my mando i use the flats because it actually stays in tune much much better than with bronzes-that alone is worth the lesser volume and punch
and ive got a few guitars and i just dont have the time to manage certain things the way i once did

[Kojo27]

Didn't some string company make a set called "Pat Metheny Deadwounds" - a long time ago? They supposedly sounded absolutely dead. No bright anything.

I play strictly acoustic, and flats just can't pull the sound out of a spruce topped, all-wooden guitar, imo. I use D'Addario Flat Tops, which are phosphor bronze strings, polished smooth, so they retain the loudness of bronze, and give the woody mellowness you need, but they aren't squeaky. Great strings - not cheap, though.

[wizard3739]

I currently use a hybrid set of Sadowsky flatwounds (14 - 56). Hybid means putting a 14 and a 17 to replace the 12 and 16 that come with the set. These strings usually last me 5-6 months. I usually play on average 2-3 hours/day but I have a very light touch, don't sweat much and do only a little bending. My only reason for changing is the bass strings seem to get a little dull after 5-6 months.

wiz

[pierre richard]

I just changed mine...014 Tomastic....on my 1977 Ibanez 2355 (175)..

after 8 or 10 years..I can't remember...but two students I had for five years are gone now for at least 4..and I had them on before they started...

Only reason I changed them..other than worn out...is intonation problems from the open tuning to the 12th fret harmonics...moving the bridge closer to the nut helped somewhat but changing the strings did it..

time on the instrument..pierre

[Gramps]

Some players have more corrosive hands than others and will need to change strings more often. I have a friend who I won't let play my guitars because the neck and strings feel crusty after he plays them. Nice guy and good player but...........

[woyvel]

Originally Posted by Gramps

I have a friend who I won't let play my guitars because the neck and strings feel crusty after he plays them. Nice guy and good player but...........

...he suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder. Most musicians have issues of some sort.

I sweat a lot. I keep my guitars out all the time because I play them often. That combination leads to dirt and corrosion, so they don't last as long as they might for some folks.

One thing I've done is use something I heard bassist Stanley Clarke does: clean the strings (while on the guitar) with some cologne. It takes some of the grime off and revitalizes them. If you're wondering if I've ever had any fingerboard issues as a result, the answer is no. The neck, frets and ebony fingerboard on the 30-year-old Gibson I recently parted with was in fantastic shape.