How often do you change guitar strings?

[charlieparker]

I've left strings on my guitar for years at a time. I always feel inspired with a new set of strings. I'm wondering how often others change strings?

[jazzeroo]

1 & 2, every six months or so... should do more often.
3 wears through about every 5 weeks.
4 & 5 every couple months, also should do more often.
6...i dunno.

7 not often ($$)

others used to be a "new year gift" to myself, but have become untidy.

basically any of them when an intonation problem develops in different parts of the string.

i NEVER buy sets.

[AllanAllen]

I change them when I have to.

Typically a string breaks. I keep an extra set in my gig bag in case the break happens on a gig. I would just replace the broken one at the gig
and do the rest the next day.

[kris]

I have GHS flataound Pat Martino 16s strings on my Telecaster for over three years.
These strings are exquisite and indestructible.

[spencer096]

flats - 3-4x per year (dogals or TI)
classical - depends how much im practicing...if practicing heavy i'll get a month out of basses and maybe 6-8 weeks out of trebles.

[customxke]

My acoustic archtops wear monel and 80/20 bronze, and get new strings every couple of months or so.

My electrics get flats, and I don't remember how often they get changed. It's been a long time.

[wolflen]

For many years the string "ritual" has been:

wash hands before playing

wipe strings with micro towel after playing-wrap around string not just the top

deep clean (with rubbing alcohol) if/when needed

Ibanez superstrat just had first string change 14 months ! still rings true at 22 fret

When playing in a group..change every week.

[darkwaters]

Maybe once a year. The other day I noticed that the strings on my classical were looking kind of nasty, at least 4-6 were. I googled how to clean guitar strings and kept seeing isopropyl alcohol recommended, so I dampened a cloth with some and had a go. Worked great. You could see the dirt on the cloth and the strings actually looked shiny again. I’m now doing it regularly with all my guitars. I’m sure that I’ll still have to change strings, but it certainly looks like it will add to their longevity.

[deacon Mark]

Really depends on the guitar and the situation. One that gets played every day say for 2 hours I probably go 3-4 months. The general times is maybe every 6 months. I am not hard on strings and don't gig out these days to speak of. Many times, I change them just to try something different. If the string intonates ok, then basically there is not a whole lot wrong except the lose some edge. Then there is the case of my 2005 Super 400ces that has a set of Thomastik flatwounds on it that are 2 years old. The strings intonate fine, but they thud with a dud. I might change them today.

[wintermoon]

I have no timetable.
I use rounds and when the underside of the G gets indentations from the frets it gets changed along w the B and high E.
When that G needs changing the guitar gets a complete set change.
Rinse and repeat....

[sgosnell]

I change strings when the intonation gets wonky, or when I think they need changing, or when I want to try a different set. I have no timetable.

[Litterick]

Twice a year, I think. After about six months of playing twice a day, I feel the need to go to the Rotosound dealer. If they had not moved out of the CBD a couple of years ago, I would visit more often.

[Dave70]

I have a set of D'Addario EJ43s that I took off my main guitar after gigging with them for about 6 months. I put them on a old Tatay (tuned down a half-step).... man those strings have been on that guitar for at least 11 years haha! I keep it by the computer and play it most days for a little bit. The silver plating has worn off most of the bass strings and of course they're dead as can be, but I'm impressed on how long they've held up without fraying/breaking... now I'm not gonna change them until one breaks... how long will it be?? lolol

[Cunamara]

When I want to try something new, mostly. Once I have settled on a string set for a given guitar, strings will stay on it 6-12 months. If I only had one guitar, might be more often but I am rotating between 6 guitars pretty regularly. I don't like the new string sound (especially bronze wounds), which restrains me.

[GuyBoden]

Like many players, I change the plain treble strings when they loose their tone or don't tune well.

I keep them oiled using Fast Fret.

[CliffR]

I've had the same TI flats on my archtop since I received it a little over four years ago now. I pick and fret lightly, don't bend, don't sweat much, and I play 1-2 hours every day. Sounds fine to me, but I do feel a little guilty about not changing them.

[Greywolf]

I play D'addario flats on my H 575 and maybe once a year, I wipe it down after use and rarely gig it.

My Acoustics are good for a month tops, then the shimmer drops and they get swapped.