guitar strings

[maxxkagato]

If you guys are doing large projects where one or two guitars are getting a lot of use everyday, how often do you change strings?

Most of the stuff I've done in the past were quick and dirty back 'em out in a few days, but now I'm being asked to do larger EPs and full lengths. I think it is difficult to judge just by listening, since wear and tear everyday is gradual, though I'm sure some people have a maxim that strings are changed every x hours or every song or maybe every day.

Any insights?

[Strat+AC30]

If you have a good tuner (preferably a strobe tuner) you can see the strings drifting out of tune after a while. This, for me, is the biggest issue with old strings. I'm always surprised when I tune up after changing strings that have been on forever. Just so much easier to stay in tune!

So anyways...check out how well you stay tuned with a fresh pair, and when you notice a difference, change 'em out. It's not like strings are wicked expensive (especially compared to every other cost in recording), it's mostly just the hassle.

[Calvin]

I'm changing strings at least once a day if I'm playing a lot. I guess I probably change every few hours of playing if I'm tracking. For noodling around at home, the strings might stay on there for a while. I don't play out anymore (or at least, it's been a while), but when I did, I'd change strings every show (and by the end of the set, they'd be toast).

I'm with Strat+AC30 in that new strings are sooo much easier to tune up (once they've stretched out a bit and stabilized).

[lambro]

I like my strings to be broken in for a few weeks before I record optimally, but the impetus to record is a force I dont stop for restringing

I use Snake Oils

Rocks & Vintage sets for my strats

Basses gets DRs and Ken Smiths

[Calvin]

I like my strings to be broken in for a few weeks before I record optimally, but the impetus to record is a force I dont stop for restringing



Wow, I could never even think of recording with weeks old strings. I would hate every minute of it. Glad it works for you, though. Less expensive, that's for sure!

[Jasco]

I'll usually change strings everyday for recording, or about every three days (shows) for live playing.

[AxeSlash]

I think this depends a lot on:

a) what brand strings you are using (e.g. Ernie Balls last not very long and I'm told D'Addarios last ages), and
b) what size strings

The main thing I notice with strings starting to get knackered is that the intonation goes to pot. With a new set, all my guitars are pretty much spot on with intonation, but as soon as the strings get old it all goes to shit. And if there's one thing you DON'T wanna record it's a badly intonated guitar.

Also depends how often you clean the strings and how much crap generally gets onto the strings.

And probably on whether you're doing primarily clean or distorted stuff (often BRAND NEW strings are desirable for clean stuff, but I prefer slightly worn strings for heavily distorted stuff).



But then again, I've been known to leave a set of strings on for 6 months...

And I use Ernie Ball Power Slinkies, which go to shit pretty quickly (although not as quick as the thinner ones).


Another variable is the environment...if you've got lots of moisture in the air they can rust up pretty damn quick if you're not careful.

Oh and heaters do strange things to strings and guitar necks.

[Brendo]

naw... d'add go to shit pretty damn quickly. at least for my fingers.

[brack]

I like old strings for distorted stuff. I use ghs boomers, I haven't used anything else since 1990 lol. Everything else I've tried doesn't feel like the boomers. If they ever stop making them I guess I'll buy a whole crate like that Seinfeld episode where that chick buys all the diaphragms. I clean them every now and then, and I change them when the guitar's dirty and I have to take them off to clean the guitar, which usually happens about once a month on my main guitar.

I HATE the sound of fresh strings on distortion... I can hear the strings through the distortion. It sounds bouncy and artificial. I do like fresh strings on clean guitar.

When I read you guys reply that you change strings that often, I was like... ooh maybe I'm doing something wrong or something. But hell, I like the dark sound of used strings!

Nothing beats brand new strings on acoustic. I tried the elixirs, and they do last longer, but they force you to change them too, that wax stuff goes away and really screws up the strings when they get old.

[eagan]

What's the mystery? Change them when they need to be changed.

In other words, the all purpose universal rule: "it depends".


I've often had the habit of leaving a guitar sitting close by on a stand so it's always just a quick reach to pick it up and play. There is one friend of mine in particular who, when he would stop by, would just naturally sometimes pick up the guitar sitting on the stand and noodle idly while we sat and talked. After a while, though, I eventually asked him to please not do that anymore.

Not that I was particularly bugged about him touching my guitars or anything, but I realized that every time he was over and did this, just sitting there aimlessly plucking away for a little bit, afterwards I would find that the strings would be just fucking corroded and practically rotting off a day or two later. I don't know what the hell it is with him, but it was like he oozed some sort of corrosive acid from his fingers or something. He could just fiddle away casually for 15 minutes or something and the strings would just die.


JLE

[Baddo]

I have a friend who's PH is so off-the-charts that his guitar's floyd rose has faded it's color in the spot where his places his palm!

Me? new string's brightness, touch, glideness and feel last for a while.
When I was studying I would change sets once a month. Now, if I'm recording I'm sure to put on a new set and change them when they feel like they need to, or they start to sound different.

[knightsy]

The main thing I notice with strings starting to get knackered is that the intonation goes to pot. With a new set, all my guitars are pretty much spot on with intonation, but as soon as the strings get old it all goes to shit. And if there's one thing you DON'T wanna record it's a badly intonated guitar.

Also depends how often you clean the strings and how much crap generally gets onto the strings.


I've never seen this mentioned anywhere, but it occured to me a couple of years ago - well used strings build up gunk. This will change the mass of the string at all the various points of gunk. Which is why the note will change at say the 5th fret if you play that a lot, because there is a different mass there (and at every other point).

Am I stating the bleeding obvious?

[otek]

it was like he oozed some sort of corrosive acid from his fingers or something. He could just fiddle away casually for 15 minutes or something and the strings would just die.

Eagan brings up an important point: Body chemistry.

This, I believe, is also why different kinds of strings last longer with different people: differences in body chemistry affects strings differently.

I've recorded players who kill their strings inside of an afternoon, and some who's strings refuse to die.

I once recorded a bass player who claimed he was still using the strings from our last session, which had been over a year earlier. They still sounded almost like new. :icon_eek:


otek

[CaptainHook]

I have a friend who's PH is off-the-charts

I have that problem. :(
Strings are basically fucked after an hour or two of constant
playing. My amp has a mark when i put my hand when turning
the standby on and off.

I use 13's, and change for every show/day of recording.

But unlike the states, strings are quite expensive here.

A pack of 13's a few months ago was about $23NZD. :Cry:

[Brendo]

I've played friends guitars and i would swear that their strings were made of mold. Ew.

I kill strings within a couple of weeks or so.

[Normie]

One gig or about 8 hours, in the studio always a new set on each major session I mainly use EB 9's.

Fast Fret helps I'm told I don't like it myself

A friend of mine in the Nitro Blues band boils the little f@c£ers
each set many times he reckons it works well I always thought he was a bit carful with his cash :) Never tried it myself... :Coolio:

[eagan]

I've never had much problem with strings, I don't have the corrosive "strings die in my hands" touch, and I don't thrash the hell out of them (whether acoustic guitar, electric guitar, or bass).

For anybody who does rot the things right off just by having their paws on them for a while, there is one bit of care I could suggest. Keep a bottle of isopropyl alcohol and a clean rag handy. After a bit of playing, (whether it's break time at a bar gig, after a few takes in a studio, whatever), soak a bit of the rag with alcohol, wrap the wet part around each individual string between fingertips, and give each string a good swab, taking care to wrap completely around the string so you get all the funk underneath.

The idea is to get them wet enough with the alcohol to dissolve the funk and sweat and float it away, in solution, then soak that up with the rag, and the residual wetness of the alcohol simply evaporates.


JLE

[Cary Chilton]

I have a friend who's PH is so off-the-charts that his guitar's floyd rose has faded it's color in the spot where his places his palm!

Me? new string's brightness, touch, glideness and feel last for a while.
When I was studying I would change sets once a month. Now, if I'm recording I'm sure to put on a new set and change them when they feel like they need to, or they start to sound different.

Holy-acid-man ! That is fucking nutz! I am glad I don't have that problem. If I am playing lots of blues or high engery rock/metal I could go through strings -if I haven't broken them- within dayz. I am playing jazz stuff, they will last for 3-4 weeks!

[G. Hoffman]

I've never seen this mentioned anywhere, but it occured to me a couple of years ago - well used strings build up gunk. This will change the mass of the string at all the various points of gunk. Which is why the note will change at say the 5th fret if you play that a lot, because there is a different mass there (and at every other point).

Am I stating the bleeding obvious?



That's only part of the issue. The other thing that happens is that the strings get little divots in them where they contact the frets, which has a similar effect of changing the mass. The other things that happen are the strings oxidizing, which changes their flexibility, they can work harden (flexibility again), and then the players pH will react with the metal corroding the strings, which makes them less consistent from point to point, so they don't vibrate in a pure fashion.


Gabriel

[omikl]

I have well ver 30 guitars. I change 'em when they break :)

Ok, ok. The ones I play a lot get changed when they start to feel disgusting or are noticeably badly intonated. Or if I'm about to do a gig and I realise they've been on for more than a month or two...