How often do you change your strings?

[jim_bass]

I broke an A string the other weekend about 4 bars into the first song. No spares and no backup bass. I had to remove the offending string mid song and keep playing without it. This lead me to my question - How often do you change your strings?

My first bass went for 10 years without a string change! Never broke one, stayed in tune fairly well, no problems. After deciding to change the string on a whim I then went through about 3 A strings in a couple of the months! I suppose I did wipe the strings down after each gig which seemed to keep them in good condition.

My current bass (a Squier CV jazz which I bought from this forum about 4 years ago) has done me proud for about 4 years without a string change until now?

I read an interview with Matt Freeman form Rancid who said that he avoided changing the strings on his 70's P bass as he didn't want to do anything to change it.

So I just put on a set of Fender nickel coats strings as they were only 12.99.

Any thoughts?

[stoker]

String change? I've had the same set of Roto flats on my Hoyer for the last 2 years.

[Lozz196]

For me it was always once I really had no life left in them - Rotosound Steel Rounds - usually about a year, year & a half. Am now using Rotosound Nickel Rounds, and on my main bass, had a set on there for 5 months now, which is nothing, but they seem to retain more of their original sound than the steels. Hopefully, the answer will be unless breakage, never.

[voxpop]

I love these threads...

I change mine every 4 months to keep that fresh zingy sound.
If I have flats I change them every 2 years.

[BigRedX]

If I could afford it and could find a reliable supplier of my preferred brand of stainless steel round wounds I'd change them at least once a month. As it is they stay anywhere between 3 and 6 months or when I break a string.

[bertbass]

At the most 3 months. If I don't, one will break.

[krysh]

wot new fashion is this, changing strings?
I always buy a new bass if a string breaks.

didn't happen for years though.

[PaulWarning]

Been playing in a band for 8 years now, and I've never broken a string, although I do change them from time to time, I'm down to about once a year now, that's with about 30 2 hour gigs and a band practice about every other week, last time I changed them (DR neons) I couldn't tell any difference, so the next change will probably be even longer, I play punk with a pick btw

[Low End Bee]

Every couple of months. Depending on when the 'zing' goes. I do have a very agricultural technique. Slightly angled plectrum bashing away near the bridge. D'Addario Pro Steels seem to be lasting longer than coated strings and other similar brands I've used. I've just put a nickel set of D'addarios on to see how they go.

[thodrik]

When gigging a lot, every three to six weeks. Just now every couple of months or the day before a recording.

[Adrenochrome]

When they break! Keep em clean and they can last for years and years.

[tonyquipment]

You have to change strings?

[uncle psychosis]

How often you play is just as important as how often you change strings!

I rarely change strings (once a year or so) but I don't play much more than an hour or two a week.

[Cat Burrito]

When I buy a new bass, I put flats on and leave it. I haven't bought a bass in over 3yrs so at least that and counting....


I restrung my upright bass last week as I wanted to put some rockabilly weedwackers on it. That was a workout in itself! Nobody would moan about restringing guitars or bass guitars ever again once you've done a double bass

[EssentialTension]

The only time I change strings is if I want to try a different kind of string.

Even then I keep the old strings and put them back on later or on another bass.

[Hobbayne]

I change my strings every 3 months whether they need changing or not. I use EB Super Slinkies which are quiet reasonably priced.

[edster]

Many years ago I changed strings every month to keep the "zing". Then I started using DR's which were twice the price of the Rotos I used at the time so I changed every 2 months. Now I never change them. If the bass gets set up then I'll put new strings on but other than that they're on til they break.

[edster]

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1371572449' post='2115708']
I change strings every gig. I hate "old " strings. I hear a difference after a few hours of playing . I use rounds , but find flats also " go off" after a short period of playing
[/quote]
I dread to ask what that costs you. I flinch at the price of decent strings. Probably why I now never change them, lol!

[3below]

Roto trubass on acoustic bass same set from new, that was in 1980 or thereabouts. I am serious, and they are still ok. TI flats on what was main bass, 7 yrs plus. Ti flats on current main player 3+ years. What is this string changing thing?

[ddawson2012]

On the P-bass, i'm lucky to get a month - mostly due to my caustic, toxic sweat. Music Man - my flats are now entering their 3 year. Who'da thunk my sweat would actually make them sound better - well, ,maybe funkier...

[SimonEdward]

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1371562439' post='2115547']
How often you play is just as important as how often you change strings!

I rarely change strings (once a year or so) but I don't play much more than an hour or two a week.
[/quote]

+1

[JTUK]

I change them when they go..which is anything from 2 weeks onwards...but 6 weeks max.
Since I gig two basses, they are set up the same so I can probably get more time out of them if I need to.
My current sets are Newtones and they come very clean out fo the pack..something I noticed that changed with my other regular brand, so these
will clean up ok..or have done so far.
I do think fatigue will kill the string after a while and the max re-cleans I've been able to get has been 5 changes.
This needs very careful restringing as you can get weak points. Also, you have to be careful how the strings settle into the bridge
as again, you can promote stress points.
Any strings that don't clean up well, get binned ( which is why I moved from DR ) as you can't have an unbalnaced set..and I never change just the one..always a set.
The packs cost about £30 per set per 5 st... and I have 3 sets of Newtones sitting around waiting to go on...so I have done well to
make the sets last. What with rotation and new orders, I generally don't have to buy more that 3-6 per year.

With the festival season coming up...I find strings can go off a bit quicker when outside...
I wouldn't say I am hard at all on strings and I keep them clean without being anal about it..
My second bass..which I practice on, has strings that need changing but my preamp/comp pedal keeps them
from being useless, but I will change the strings for the weekend and the next run of gigs.

[Truckstop]

I play at least two 2 hour sets a week plus about 6 hours worth of light playing (rehearsals/practice etc) in the week.

I change the strings (LaBella Stainless Steels if anyone cares) annually along with a truss rod tweak and any other work that might need doing. Normally in the spring time when the temperature starts to rise a little bit. I give the instrument a little clean with some polish, clean the fretboard with some lemon oil, spray the insides with some switch cleaner, oil any moving parts and generally take care of it!

I haven't broken a string for about 7 years and if I ever did I'd change the set straight away.

Truckstop

[Mog]

About every second or third gig. Fresh string Zing is a big part of my tone.

[Adrenochrome]

I should say that I rarely play my main gigging bass through the week - I play my e/acoustic at home and a beater at band practice. Might explain why the wear is shared out.