Phil Starr Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 I'm genuinely nervous. We are going into the recording studio next week and my strings (Dean Markley Blue Steels) date back to 2BC, two years before Covid. It's time for a new set, Blue Steels really last but I usually changed them once a year. The trouble is that this set have been sounding absolutely great for the past few months. I've been loving playing them, am I going to regret this? New strings always makes it feel like a new bass but they sound so good...... Does anyone else get this sort of anxiety? Anyone else get the 'it's working don't touch it thing? On the plus side my poor bass will get a proper clean, wish me well I'm going in 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mario_buoninfante Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 (edited) I'd say keep them if you like their current sound and are sure it fits with the band's sound. Maybe, if you have the possibility try a quick recording at home just because amp sound and recorded sound might be quite different. And I'd bring the new strings with me, just in case Edited January 17, 2023 by mario_buoninfante 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 (edited) Can you not start the session with the old strings and change if you need to? It's only a 5 or 10 minute job to change them. I am assuming you give them a good stretch when you fit a new set. Edited January 17, 2023 by Steve Browning 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 On the few times I’ve done some serious recording, I found that half worn strings seemed to be best for me. Not so dead that they gave intonation issues but not so brand new that they showed up my lack of technique with overly bright rattles and squeaks. 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted January 17, 2023 Author Share Posted January 17, 2023 I'm not quite replacing like with like so I'll need to do a set up and check intonation. I'll take a second bass along too Rationally we all know what new strings do so I'm presenting this as an irrational fear. The sound is going to be a bit brighter but the studio will do what it wants/needs to do. It's a lot simpler to take stuff out of the signal than to add it in. I'll clean up the old strings and keep them for a while just in case they are the golden strings but I'm not really a believer in magic. It's a case of 'holding on to nurse, for fear of finding something worse' of course. I'm just wondering if others share that feeling or alternatively how we all feel about old strings, and if there are any real benefits. Thanks for the suggestions though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 I use D’Addario EXL 170 strings , and leave them on until they start dulling off too much. I get around 20 gigs out of a set, and they’re never too far gone when I take them off. I do like the new set feel, and if finances allowed would change them more often. When I use a bass that hasn’t been played for a while, the old strings thing can be a drag, especially if I only need it for one gig and can’t justify a new set just for that. Tried coated strings and don’t really like the old string feel from the off. Nothing beats the feel and sound of a fresh set of EXLs for me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 I think because in general my desired tone is zingy with a bit of dirt, I don't have any anxiety about changing strings. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted January 17, 2023 Author Share Posted January 17, 2023 1 hour ago, casapete said: I use D’Addario EXL 170 strings , and leave them on until they start dulling off too much. I get around 20 gigs out of a set, and they’re never too far gone when I take them off. I do like the new set feel, and if finances allowed would change them more often. I started out with Rotosounds, hated the 'zing' when new but a week in they were perfect for me. I couldn't afford to keep replacing them once a month though. Tried everything and decided flats weren't for me and only stainless would do. I ran my own trial of Elixirs versus Blue Steels on two different basses, which I changed after a year. You could easily hear a difference with both sets of new strings but the improvement was similar for both so I concluded that there was no advantage in spending out on the Elixirs. Since they also sounded like old strings from the get go and I preferred the Blue Steels throughout they have been my go-to strings. The difference between new ones and year old ones is minimal. I've never used them for 4 years before though On the plus side if I do prefer the old ones it's going to save me a lot in the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 What is this “changing strings” you speak of 😁 1 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 20 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: What is this “changing strings” you speak of 😁 They gots too much disposable income these kids... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 We're going to record our demo this weekend so I thought I'd get some new strings. It looks like my usual DR Black Beauties are no longer available as the heavy 5 string set. They have quite a distinctive sound so I'm a bit nervous about trying something else and with my A# tuning, I'm not sure the .125 gauge will do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 I usually change strings after half a year, just the one and only D'addario 45-135. But if i feel sooner they are worn, i do it earlier. The recordings are serious stuff, so think seriasly to change for the new before rec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Interesting that DM Blue Steels last you so long @Phil Starr, given they do 50-105s I may well give them a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted January 18, 2023 Author Share Posted January 18, 2023 17 hours ago, Lozz196 said: Interesting that DM Blue Steels last you so long @Phil Starr, given they do 50-105s I may well give them a try. the 45-105's were reduced on Amazon three days ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisK1975 Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 It's great when you find 'your' strings. Personally for me it's Dunlop super bright nickels 45-105. Quite bright at first but they settle quickly, and then stay the same for ages. They're also lower tension than other 45-105's out there that I've tried, which was something I'd been looking for for a long time. Haven't done any proper recording for a while, but when I did I would usually put a fresh set on about a week before, and make sure to play a bit every night on them so they lose the initial over the top zing.. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 1 hour ago, LewisK1975 said: It's great when you find 'your' strings. Personally for me it's Dunlop super bright nickels 45-105. Quite bright at first but they settle quickly, and then stay the same for ages. They're also lower tension than other 45-105's out there that I've tried, which was something I'd been looking for for a long time. Haven't done any proper recording for a while, but when I did I would usually put a fresh set on about a week before, and make sure to play a bit every night on them so they lose the initial over the top zing.. I used to use Dunlop Super Brights SS 45-105 for years but then I rediscovered my old faves, LaBella SS 45-105. The Dunlops are amazing, but the LaBella strings are the perfect feel, tension and zing for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 On 17/01/2023 at 10:38, Phil Starr said: I'm genuinely nervous. We are going into the recording studio next week and my strings (Dean Markley Blue Steels) date back to 2BC, two years before Covid. It's time for a new set, Blue Steels really last but I usually changed them once a year. The trouble is that this set have been sounding absolutely great for the past few months. I've been loving playing them, am I going to regret this? New strings always makes it feel like a new bass but they sound so good...... Does anyone else get this sort of anxiety? Anyone else get the 'it's working don't touch it thing? On the plus side my poor bass will get a proper clean, wish me well I'm going in Better to change for new ones, but there could always be some nuances with string height, so if You are not afraid to do some possible settings with Your bass, go for new. In recording and mixing fresh strings are important. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 At least three of my Bass heros from different genres never (or very rarely) changed strings: Robbie Shakespeare, Bernard Edwards, James Jamerson. That's reason enough for me (and the fact I'm lazy!). 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 13 minutes ago, SumOne said: At least three of my Bass heros from different genres never (or very rarely) changed strings: Robbie Shakespeare, Bernard Edwards, James Jamerson. That's reason enough for me (and the fact I'm lazy!). I think this is the reason why every now & then I try flats yet again, in the vain hope that I`ll get on with them and never have to re-string again. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 'ere, these better be good, just ordered a set for £21 on Amazon! Hopefully be here sat for our gig in Somerset! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 New strings on a bass?! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted January 19, 2023 Author Share Posted January 19, 2023 19 hours ago, skidder652003 said: 'ere, these better be good, just ordered a set for £21 on Amazon! Hopefully be here sat for our gig in Somerset! They are singing this morning. I have spares here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 It depends on what kind of tone you want. If you're liking it how it already is then leave it. Perhaps it's the pre recording session anticipation/anxiety that's making you overthink things? We've all been there I'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 Conventional wisdom for me is to never make a significant change before a big gig. If it’s not broke… but, bring the new ones along as a plan B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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