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Topic: New Strings! |
Niels Andrews
From:
Salinas, California, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2012 8:59 am |
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I guess it goes back to my childhood when I lived a long way from a music store, and had no money. But I like the feeling of having new strings on my guitar. I probably change strings too often. Which brings up the question how often do you change your strings?
For me new strings with a couple hours on them sound the best. I hate playing a guitar with old worn out strings. I am interested in your thoughts on this. |
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Chas. J. Wagner
From:
Denver, Colorado USA
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Niels Andrews
From:
Salinas, California, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2012 10:23 am
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| thanks |
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Dan Beller-McKenna
From:
Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2012 2:28 pm
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Wow, reading through those old threads makes me think I'm obsessive. I change mine about once a month if I have gigs, maybe 6 weeks if gigs are sparse. I don't have a problem with sweaty hands; I guess I just love the sound of new strings.
Dan |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 26 Mar 2012 2:09 am
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I don't have "sweaty hands" either. I try to change about once a month, in the winter (the active season here in Florida). The "Florida Humidity" does affect strings and probably causes some early deterioration.
When I was touring, I would change about every 8 to 10 shows. That eliminated any potential string breakage during a show.
I use George L's strings.
When we were touring with Tommy Cash (did that for 7 winters) our lead guitar player would change strings every 3 days "to maintain the twang". |
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Niels Andrews
From:
Salinas, California, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2012 4:14 am
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| I would agree that "brightness" is the first thing to go. I find it is always easier to dull notes than make them crisper. I have known blues musicians that concentrate in minors that think worn out thud is what they are after. I strive at having the option. |
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Tony Williamson
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2012 1:05 pm
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| Wow during the summer I change banjo and guitar strings once every week if I'm playing a lot. Needless to say I buy per dozen. |
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Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 26 Mar 2012 10:06 pm
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| I try to change strings on my main gigging steel about every month... |
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Pete Ethridge
From:
Mississippi, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2012 3:51 am Laugh if you want
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I change my string each time i get my light bill .In saying that every 28 to 34 day unless i break a 1,2,4,or 5 then ill put on a new set .thats just the way i do it
_________________
i use a ZUM SINGLE ON a double frame, no effects,and a nashville 400 that is it |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 27 Mar 2012 3:56 am
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| Change strings? How do you do that? |
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Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
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Posted 27 Mar 2012 5:26 am Cleartone
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I wonder how these are.
They're supposedly the newest hi-tech strings. Of course you'd have to make up own set since they don't prepackage any for pedal steel.
Cleartone info |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2012 5:54 am
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Jay, I'd be interested too. Try them and let us know!
I did try the Elixir strings and that was a bad idea.......The coating flaked off right away.
The Texas humidity is bad here too. Between that and the sweat or whatever funk comes from my hands, if I get 2 weeks out of a set I am doing good.
HOWEVER, if I remember to use a Blitz Cloth on the strings EVERY time I finish playing I can get double or more the life out of them. I think the Blitz Cloth takes just a little metal off the strings letting the funk go away and the new metal shine through.
I usually "put on" the blitz stuff and leave it there till the next time I use the guitar. Seems to work for me.
Thanks Bill Dearmore and Herby Stiener for turning me on to these things. They are great!
_________________
Emmons/Sho~Bud/Blanton, Fender/Peavey.
Telonics pedal |
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Sid Hudson
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2012 6:14 am
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| Justin Griffith wrote: |
Jay, I'd be interested too. Try them and let us know!
I did try the Elixir strings and that was a bad idea.......The coating flaked off right away.
The Texas humidity is bad here too. Between that and the sweat or whatever funk comes from my hands, if I get 2 weeks out of a set I am doing good.
HOWEVER, if I remember to use a Blitz Cloth on the strings EVERY time I finish playing I can get double or more the life out of them. I think the Blitz Cloth takes just a little metal off the strings letting the funk go away and the new metal shine through.
I usually "put on" the blitz stuff and leave it there till the next time I use the guitar. Seems to work for me.
Thanks Bill Dearmore and Herby Stiener for turning me on to these things. They are great! |
Justin,
Paul Franklin turned me on to the Blitz cloth back in the early 80s when we were playing together. I liked it ok until I discovered something I liked better.
Although I am not a big fan of their strings I am a huge fan of a product called "Fast Frets".
Comes in a little metal can. It is a stick with a cotton end on it that is treated with somekind of chemical.
I have used this product for 30 years now and have been unable to find anything that comes close.
There is a lot of chemical in this little thingy.
Clean your strings really good with this thing when you are ready to pack up.
Seems to radically increase the life of your strings no matter what the brand. Can be purchased at any music store.
You are correct; the two biggest enemy's of a string is 1. Humidity
2. PH level in your body.
Use caution when purchasing a string that has been setting on a store shelf for an extended period of time.
Strings that set on a shelf are setting there being exposed to the humidy of the environment unless they are sealed in plastic.
We all no what effect salt has on metal. ie; boats in salt water, road salt on cars etc...
If you have a high PH content in your body, this will have a huge effect on your string life. Try cleaning your strings at the end of ever music set when playing your gigs.
There is one more thing. The life of the string has more to do with the core of the string that the wrap.
If you are using a string with a weak core, this core gives up quicker than a string with a stout core.
Ever had a knife that would hold a sharp edge? The temper of the steel is weak.
Once the core of the string gets tired and gives up; its dead!
Sid Hudson
http://livesteelstrings.com/ |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2012 6:35 am
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Thanks Sid. I have seen the "Fast Fret" stuff in the music store. I was buying strings local and ran into the problems you describe. I started ordering strings from the forum or Frenchie's (in dry NM) and have had better luck. I am really liking the Frenchie's Steel Mill "Flat-wound" or whatever. They are nice and quiet, yet retain the "snap" of round wound strings.
Thanks again.
_________________
Emmons/Sho~Bud/Blanton, Fender/Peavey.
Telonics pedal |
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