When do you know its time to change your strings

[Petey]

Back in the 80s bright Rotosound strings that were slapped and sounded pingy was one way to go. Times changes and bass tones moved on - the flat re-emerged and became more popular and the brightness wasn't always/if at all,  needed depending on your style of music and what you played - so when do you know its time to change your strings?

[Bobthedog]

Typically when the open E and B (5 string player here) goes muddy / “out of focus” for me, although I must confess I did not change the strings on my Roscoe all through lockdown and it was played pretty much every day.

 

Just restrung the Roscoe / MTD and Dingwall and do not like new strings but give them some time and I am a happy chappy.

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[AndyTravis]

Usually when the “click” turns to a “thunk”

 

I’ve got 5 new sets arriving tomorrow.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I change them to flats when I first buy a bass, and if I sell a bass I put the original set back on so I can use the flats on something else.

[Newfoundfreedom]

You can change strings? 

 

I love this forum. 

 

I'm always learning new things. 

[lownote]

With flats, when you get a telegram from the Queen

[police squad]

I change only if I break one. Then I change the whole set

[Cliff Edge]

When there’s enough money in the bank to buy a new set. 

[Happy Jack]

Just use worn-out strings as an excuse the p/x the bass against a new one.

 

[gjones]

A couple of years ago I bought a Jazz with the most dead round wound strings on it I've ever heard. The guy I bought it from played with a pick and he must have beaten the fekk out of the strings. 

 

I have to admit I really loved the sound.

 

I rarely change the strings on my bass once they're fitted but I've never got to the level of 'totally fekked', as those strings were.

Edited July 29, 2021 by gjones

[zbd1960]

Fortunately, it's mostly only the top A string on cello that has to be changed with any regularity - they're about £45. Last one lasted 3 years. Glad the C string doesn't need changing too often as they're about £120 each

[Downunderwonder]

I am no slapper. If I really need some zing I can ping the G or D off the fret board. I bought a new set a couple of years ago and will get around to fitting them one day.

[ped]

With Elixir rounds it’s hard to know but generally after a year or so I think ‘surely they’re dead by now’ and change them, to realise they were fine!

 

Flats - when they start to lose stable tuning or they break!

[Skybone]

Only use SS rounds, so it's generally when either the top end becomes less pronounced on the D & G strings, or when there's noticable wear. These usually happen around the same time, depending on how much use they've had (obviously, over the last year and a half, they didn't get as much use as they would normally get).

[Stub Mandrel]

Err... when they sound crap?

 

🙂

 

I was going to say 'when you notice they are smooth and flat' but I now have a bass strung with flats and it's OK 🙂

[shoulderpet]

Honestly if I am using rounds and they are not a special coated type or an alloy 52 type or any other type that is known to be long lasting I change them once a month.

 

I know some people would think that is excessive but the way I see it is £20 a month is not a huge amount of money and especially not for the amount of enjoyment I get from playing, I love that aggressive grindy tone you get from a new or newish set of strings

 

Flats on the other hand, the older the better.

[pete.young]

Every 5 years, whether they need it or not!

[TheGreek]

I normally change the strings when I get a bass - the amount of times I've acquired a bass and it feels like it was used for gardening....

 

They need to be clean and grime free as does the fretboard. If they're not something needs cleaning.

[yourfurryfiend]

The trouble I have with strings is the slow decline, like the Boiling Frog analogy. It can be hard to notice if you don't have a EQ/effects reference. Am I the only one to get slightly neurotic about it? 🤣

That's a reason I go for Elixirs! 

[Stub Mandrel]

I didn't change my g-string for over a year, and now I have dhobi itch.

[chris_b]

I've had the same set of NYXL's on my Jazz bass for the last 2 years and there's still life in them. I might change them at the end of the year, we'll see.

[Doddy]

I change them when they don't do what I want anymore. I've got a Precision with 15+ year old LaBella flats, and that sounds proper old school. My F Bass has had a set of LaBella Super Steps on for a few months, and they are still sounding pretty bright. On the other hand, I've got another Precision that has had Ernie Balls on for 3 gigs, and is already sounding a bit deader than I like.  I don't particularly enjoy restringing, but I'd rather do it regularly than use those horrible coated strings.

 

[CameronJ]

I only change my strings when I start thinking to myself, “my bass doesn’t sound the way it used to” or, more likely, if I simply fancy a complete change of brand/string type.

I’ve just realised that in 10+ years of playing I have never replaced my strings with a fresh set of the same strings I already had on! I seem to always use it as an opportunity to try something new. I guess, being a mostly casual player, I don’t have the pressures of gigs or recording sessions etc holding me to any standard of tonal consistency…so I’m just enjoying the journey through the world of strings at present. 

[robot_pelican_chin]

That would be when my fingers start to 'stick' to the strings around the pickup area 😂.

 

Way back when, before corona when I played function music every day, a set of nickelwounds would last about 3 months of nightly use before playing anything quickly is basically impossible.. and that was with daily string cleaning!! When I have the money I try and change every month.