Beating a Dead Horse - How Often Do You Change Strings?

[brookdalebill]

On my workhorse guitar, every three gigs.
I “kill” the wound strings.
On my acoustic, every month.
On my home/recreational guitars, about every couple of months.
My basses have flats, and tape wound strings, so, uh, every
year or so.
I love fresh, ringing strings.
Conversely, dead, un-tuneable strings bug me immeasurably.

 

[johmica]

I change them every time a new thread about string changing gets posted online.

So at least once a week!

 

[Refugee]

I change every couple months.
If I may suggest...change positions to cover the entire neck. Lots of miles, you'll where down just a few frets. Then you have to make bridge adjustments to avoid buzzing.

 

[Bob M]

I spread my playing around 10 guitars. I change strings quarterly. When I was playing out I would change strings weekly. I love new strings. I don’t buy them in bulk because I put different strings on my 6120 than I do on Teles.

 

[jman72]

When a string breaks, I replace it with a new one. Also when intonation seem to go off for no good reason. (Which happens occasionally, but very seldom) I also have a medium sized stable of guitars, and I rotate.

Also: I do not produce finger sweat. Nor do I eat Doritos, burgers, spare ribs or use hand lotion before playing the guitar.

And I hate the sound and feel of new strings.

So, in sum:

"Never".

My sentiment exactly. I hate the feel and sound of new strings and I don't have corrosive sweat, so I can go years between changing a full set of strings.

I have about 10 partial sets in my gig bag with only the high e string used.

 

[fjblair]

Months or years, but I don't gig and I own a bunch of guitars.

 

[memorex]

September 2020 was the last time I changed the strings on my 2 Teles. 2010 for my Squier Mini. I've never changed the factory strings on my 2 basses, or my 2 lap steels for that matter. But maybe I'll change them all this year, maybe not.

 

[Emster]

Standard strings last about 3 weeks for me, whether I play them or not. I live in Thailand: hot, humid & salt air near the beach. Strings will blow off the neck like a vampire exposed to daylight here after a few weeks even in a coffin, er, case. Elixirs can last 6-8 weeks, the best "extended life" strings I've come across.

 

[schmee]

I know that this topic has been discussed ad nauseam, but I'll give a little context for why I bring it up again.

I'm convalescing from a hip replacement, and the time off work has afforded me some serious practice time. I'm talking about probably five hours a day, seven days a week-kind of practice time.

I put new strings on my newest Tele just last week, but I feel like I'm already in need of a new set. I'm using D'addario round wound 10s with a wound 3rd. I'm practicing several Truefire lessons, and also learning a few songs, but for the most part, my practice has been isolated to two positions on the neck over the last week (the "A" position at the 5th fret and the "D" position at the 10th fret).

So, after 40 hours or so of practice, the strings have kinks in those positions, and they sound a little dead.

So I'm curious to hear from folks, especially gigging musicians who really put the hours in - how often do you change strings?

I would say yeah, you're due at 40 hours. Mine get changed about 2 gigs, so maybe 8 hours. (electric guitars)

 

[Red Ryder]

For me, when it sounds acoustically dull or starting to have tuning issues. I rarely change as I don't play much, except during long breaks (I'm a teacher). I would say I only charge 2 to 3 times a year. I don't gig anymore though, and I wipe after each use.

On "sounding dull"... I use Ernie Ball or String joy because they sound bright unplugged and stays that way longer. D'Addario turns dull quick on me.

I wipe after each use too. But what's that got to do with guitar strings?

 

[Tricone]

I use D'Addario ECG25 chrome flats on my archtop and D'Addario EFT13 on my resonator. I play each guitar (gigs/home) at minimum 2hrs every day. I keep the strings on till tuning them starts to slip. So, 3-4 months each.

 

[W.L.Weller]

I have about 10 partial sets in my gig bag with only the high e string used.

Consider buying individual string gauges in bulk, a package of twelve .010 (or your preferred high E) is cheaper that 10 sets of strings.

 

[thankyouguitar]

I know that this topic has been discussed ad nauseam, but I'll give a little context for why I bring it up again.

I'm convalescing from a hip replacement, and the time off work has afforded me some serious practice time. I'm talking about probably five hours a day, seven days a week-kind of practice time.

I put new strings on my newest Tele just last week, but I feel like I'm already in need of a new set. I'm using D'addario round wound 10s with a wound 3rd. I'm practicing several Truefire lessons, and also learning a few songs, but for the most part, my practice has been isolated to two positions on the neck over the last week (the "A" position at the 5th fret and the "D" position at the 10th fret).

So, after 40 hours or so of practice, the strings have kinks in those positions, and they sound a little dead.

So I'm curious to hear from folks, especially gigging musicians who really put the hours in - how often do you change strings?

Almost never. I have years on some sets of strings. The deadness is way more consistent than the zingyness and makes for a much more predictable and dependable tone.

 

[ucnick]

Before a gig I usually change strings, but the caveat is if the strings only have 1 to 2 hrs play time on them I will not change them. I always carry a spare guitar (+ amp, pedalboard, yadda yadda...).

Otherwise, if not gigging, I leave 'em on until they look worn and lose their brightness.

 

[Vibroluxer]

I only change mine when I break a string and I can't remember the last time I broke one. So...nope. Nada to string changing.

 

[trandy9850]

When I was playing out a lot I would change them after two gigs…they would be pretty dead after eight sets.

These days maybe monthly…or whenever I want to try a new string.

I just received a new set of Pyramid “hand polished” strings today….another member here mentioned them in a thread and I wanted to try some….so I’ll be busy changing strings today.

 

[jman72]

Consider buying individual string gauges in bulk, a package of twelve .010 (or your preferred high E) is cheaper that 10 sets of strings.

Yeah, I need to do this. I don't break strings very often, maybe once every couple of years of daily/weekly playing, so my collection of partial string sets has grown very gradually. But a bulk pack of e strings is the way I need to go.

 

[Fendereedo]

Once every months, or so. I'm a bedroom player, so don't necessarily hammer the strings so much.

 

[Red Ryder]

I change when the A and D string start to go dull and the winding is worn smooth and shiny. Sounds weird but the way I play does it. I've been using Ernie Ball slinky and super slinky for 35 years no reason to change.

 

[micpoc]

So at least once a week!

It never ends…