-
Which do you prefer and why? How often and when do you change your strings?
Many players think they need to change their strings once a week because someone (usually that owns or works at a guitar store) says you should.
I prefer the sound of older strings that have been "played in" and never change them until I can't pop a clean harmonic on the high E string at the fifth fret anymore. I feel the older strings give a better jazz tone, at least for D'Addario 10-46 strings which I like because they are versatile and good for many types of music.
It's my understanding (please feel free to contribute anecdotes if you have them) that the older jazz guys from back in the day usually only changed a string when it broke because A.) they cost money and these guys played jazz, and B.) strings weren't always easy to find in rural America.
I believe that playing on old strings contributed a lot to the sound and tone of many of the great jazz guitarists we revere and somehow that knowledge has been lost over time.
Am I more or less correct or simply misguided?
What do you prefer personally and how often do you think Charlie Christian and Django Reinhart and similar iconic guitar greats changed their strings?
PS: (Yeah, I suspect Lenny Breau changed his strings often because he used so many harmonics and that simply would not be possible on old strings.)Last edited by Uncle Micky; 03-01-2015 at 11:40 AM. Reason: typos
-
02-27-2015 05:42 PM
-
It's all preference. I change strings once or twice a year(when I get a setup). But they are flatwounds and I hate the bright sound of new strings.
-
I like the feel and sound of new strings but I only change them every couple of months
-
6 months for me. When I change them I need one week to adapt.
It depends IMO on the type of strings. I never use flat wounds, I can't tell. But regular strings after 3 months they are completely rusted, I use pure nickel strings now (Pyramid) that last a bit longer, can make it 6 months with no problems, maybe more.
Depends on the person as well, some people's sweat wear out the strings really fast.
String impact in your sound a lot. I don't think Reinhardt or Christian ever thought about their sound, different times.
-
Back in my gigging days I changed string daily or before all important gigs. These days I go by sound, I use round wounds on most my guitars and usually rotate between two or three guitars so I'd say I change strings around every 4-5 weeks. Thankfully round wounds are still inexpensive compared to semi or flat wounds.
-
I use round wounds 13-54 or 56 and usually change the top 3 strings when I can feel some dents on the back of the wound G and the B and E feel a little corroded.
then when I feel the dents on the new G, I change the whole set.
-
I really love them after 3 days of use and then after a week or so... don't like them brand new (sound or feel) but can use them pretty old. I change the first two strings every week but the others (rounds) every 3 months or so.
-
My Gibson Acoustic gets a string change every 3 -4 weeks -- as soon as it starts sounding dull. My archtops & electrics with Elixirs or Thomastics go much longer. 6 months, maybe a year even
-
I think that it also depends on playing style, how much you play whether or not your hands perspire a lot. For me on my acoustics I change strings when 1) they just sound dull and don't quite "ring" like they used too and or 2) they don't seem to sound "in tune" no matter what I do.
on the other hand I don't love the sound of a brand new set either. They seem to want to aclimate as they do their final stretch thing over a day or so.
i use d'adario phosphor bronze J17??(.13-.56)
jonathan
-
I try to get 12 months from most of my strings. As long as they can be tuned I'll keep using them.
-
Very interesting responses. I use flat wound 12s and I try and get 6 months out of them. I have a lot of guitars so they last longer because I spread out the usage. I am liking chromes more and more because I think they last longer than the thomastik infields. I like the longer lasting brightness of the chromes on the acoustic arch tops. The chromes loose there brightness slowly and never sound dead.
-
12 MONTHS? YIKES!!! I can't imagine intonation staying true for that long, even for premium strings like TIs.
I use round wound strings on all of my guitars and the gauges range from 12-52, 11-48 and 10-46 depending on the guitar. I despise the bright sound of new strings, and I found that Curt Mangan strings sound wonderful right out of the package. How often I change then depends upon my playing but lately between many gigs and a newly intense practice schedule, I may change them as often as every two weeks.
I usually buy them a dozen sets at a time from Strings and Beyond. Their prices are very good and they ship to Canada for free.
-
Never had a real problem with 12 months and even more. It all depends on how many hours you play each guitar for. I have easily gone 2-3 years with some guitars without changing strings and they tune up and intonate fine -- even gone and played rehearsals and studio sessions without issue. I think I've broken 2 strings in 6 years and I have for most of that time used 8-38 and 9-42 gauge strings on all my guitars. I have only come over to heavier flats in the last four months, and my first set is still going strong after a lot of use. But if you play one guitar for 8-10 hours a day, day in and day out, it follows course that those strings are going to need to be changed more often. But either way I'm not going to keep them on if they don't tune up or intonate properly.
-
Really depends on time spent and individual body chemistry. I had a student once who had a "dog years" thing going with acid hands and rate of corrosion.
-
great thread & fun conversation! I haven't broken a string since the 90's (when I played grunge rock)
-
I never brake my .013 flats (usually TI). Usually the high E can't be intonated properly after some months. I like to buy seperate high E strings, so I can change that one when it goes bad. Then I can do at least 6 months with the rest, often longer. I gig, jam or rehearse at least once a week, often more. I too hate the sound of new strings.
-
Steve Cropper, the legendary guitarist on many soul and R&B recordings had a signature sound that I think has influenced many players. In the heyday of his recording years he never changed strings unless they broke. I think Steve's tone on all those classic recordings is truly a wondrous thing to behold and stands the test of time.
This is an odd equation, but sonically I would liken the sound of brand-new strings to "digital audio" and the tone of a broken-in set perhaps 1-3 months old (or older) to a warmer and more analog or "tube" sound.
Anyone know what Wes's preference was? His strings always sounded "older" and plain-in to me.
-
My strings get "dented" reallly quick one or two gigs. I usually play gigs that are 4-6 hours long 3-6 times a week. I try to change strings right before they feel really dead,dented and crusty. I like the sound of strings when the initial springiness is gone. I don't trust my luck with the dented unraveling wound strings. Between gigs and teaching I average 6 hours a day with a guitar in my hand. I use daddario strings cuz they are relatively inexpensive pretty consistent and available.
-
roundwound,,, 3 hours of playing every day,,,, replace them every month.
Flatwound ..3hours every day,,,, replace them every four month.
I like to have clean strings with the right attack. If i want smooth sound....i have the tone control
-
I play ti flat wound go 12s. I sneak in an hour a day. I change every few years. No rush. No issues with intonation, etc. I'm a light player.
-
We're supposed to change the strings?
When I was a hard working bar RnR'er it was once a month at the least. Sweat, finger floatsam/jetsam and heavy usage would just eat them up no matter how often I wiped them down. Sustain and tone would just start to die off on the light gauge round wounds of the day, by the end of the week. This was during the late 60's to early 80's and Ernie Balls were the string of choice. Used to buy them buy the pound with extra E and G strings. Had the local music shop on speed dial and almost had to add them as a dependent.
Now with playing being a self entertaining therapeutic exercise, and spread amongst a bevy of guitars, strings are replaced when they either break, or start to loose the tone quality I like. Hence, a purely subjective initiative. I notice the round wounds are lasting about 6 months. I've only had my flat wound fitted guitar for a few months and so far they seem to be doing just fine. Light on the touch and no bending means strings stay happy longer.
I believe I have Dard---- whatever that brand is, on all guitars at the moment. Flatwounds on the Jazz box are new to me and I'm still learning my around them.
-
Are you liking/enjoying the flat wound experience?I believe I have Dard---- whatever that brand is, on all guitars at the moment. Flatwounds on the Jazz box are new to me and I'm still learning my around them
-
Yes.
Originally Posted by Uncle Micky
I have always had rounders on my guitars as f.w.'s just did not sound right for the type of music being played. On my jazz box I've got flats and they sound perfect for the application. I went with 0.11's to get used to the feel and am quite happy with how they sound. May have a try at a heavier gauge the next time around for comparison.
-
I love old strings, especially on acoustic instruments.
-
When they get too old, dead sounding I'll change them. Or in the rare event that one breaks I'll usually change them all.
The sound of new stings is nice after a dead set but I like them broken in a little.
I use Fast-Fret to keep my strings clean and always wash my hands before playing so there's very little, if any, build up of grime.
D'Addario has been my go to brand for quite a while now, for all my guitars. Great quality and nice price.
Reply With Quote
“Shearing style”
Today, 05:26 PM in Comping, Chords & Chord Progressions