Time to change my strings?

[Bach5G]

I mentioned elsewhere that I’ve been re-inspired after attending a week-long jazz camp. I decided to get my jazz box out of its case.

It occurred to me that the last time I put new strings on it - LaBella tape wounds, .012s I think - was before the pandemic. Like at least 5 years ago.

Sound ok. Maybe a bit hard to tune.

Not in any hurry to change them.

[nyc chaz]

Nylon tapes will last a long time but after 5 years you should at least change the steel b and e strings to get a better sound.

[AllanAllen]

If they hold tune, they're fine. Best to start off again by focusing on joy from playing instead of joy from clicking "buy now"

[entresz]

It's surprising how long some strings last.

The Thomastik Jazz Swings on my Les Paul Recording are at least 2 years old. I use Elixir high E and B strings, they are longer lasting than the TI plain strings and seem to have a tiny bit more tension despite being the same gauge. The strings still sound great and intonate properly.

It's when I start getting little dents on the strings from the frets (usually on the wound G) I replace them.

[rpjazzguitar]

Check intonation. If they don't intonate properly, it's time to change them. Of course, that assumes that the guitar is set up properly.

[Bluedawg]

For jazz tones I tend to prefer the sound of older strings and leave them on there until they have trouble staying in tune.

Also, when I lived back east in a humid environment the strings would eventually rust if I left them too long.

But where I live now it can get below 10% humidity outside and rust is not an issue

My 175 still has a set of Gibson Sonomatics I put on it about 20 years ago and they still sound good ... to me.

Unfortunately, I don't know of anyone making anything like the Gibson Sonomatics these days. They were great strings.

[AllanAllen]

But where I live now it can get below 10% humidity outside and rust is not an issue

It's been +75% humidity with highs in the upper 80s for the last few days... 10% humidity sounds like a dream.

[pauln]

In addition to loss of tuning stability, loss of intonation, and appearance of fret notches, there is the general long term string tone loss typically compensated with a little turn up of the tone knob. Your tones reaching the full up rotation may serve as another indicator. This may be the first long term indicator for a guitar not played very often.

[Bluedawg]

It's been +75% humidity with highs in the upper 80s for the last few days... 10% humidity sounds like a dream.

It feels great if you are sensitive to humidity. I grew up in the Memphis area and I hate humidity.

We're currently in our rainy season so the humidity seems high to us ... even though it's only about 26% on the weather websites. Maybe up to 50% when it's actually raining.


On the other hand, when it's 10% humidity your knuckles crack and your skin dries out. Dermatologists make a lot of money around here during the dry season.

[pingu]

My 175 still has a set of Gibson Sonomatics I put on it about 20 years ago and they still sound good ... to me.

Unfortunately, I don't know of anyone making anything like the Gibson Sonomatics these days. They were great strings.

Thats incredible !
I thought a couple of years was good