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Topic: Is it time for new strings? |
Tommy Boswell
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2020 1:22 pm |
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How do you know when it's time for a new set of strings? I'm hearing a harsh 3rd string "zing" when I get loud. Will new strings fix that?
At first I thought it was a speaker I am trying out, but then I heard the same zingy sound with other speakers and amps.
Or, could that be a changer finger problem? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2020 1:47 pm
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I'd start with new strings.
It can't hurt. 
Erv |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 20 Feb 2020 1:59 pm
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New strings, and some finger polish, i clean my fingers every string change...Simichrome no sanding.
_________________
A.K.A Chappy. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 20 Feb 2020 2:01 pm
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I find that if I am questioning if it is time to change strings, then it IS time to change strings. When tone and tuning stability suffers, it's definitely time.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 20 Feb 2020 4:38 pm
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That "zing" is a sign that the string is work-hardening and starting to fatigue at the ends. It's most likely to become apparent on the light strings that move a lot - 3,4,& 5. Change it before it pops!
And as others have hinted, why not change them all?
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 20 Feb 2020 5:47 pm
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| Larry Bressington wrote: |
| i clean my fingers every string change |
I hope you wash your hands more often than that!
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2020 9:28 pm
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I believe your strings have outlived their good days.
Where the string crosses the changer finger the flexing of the string, When raising or lowering, Will work harden that small section. Once the string work hardens it will not flex and stay in contact with the finger. Then The Buzz. To check just, Take a piece of paper and check if it will slide between the String and Finger if it does and the string quits buzzing that is the problem.
With the schedule I play and practice at home, I have to change strings every month or less. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 21 Feb 2020 2:10 am
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if we are regular working players , we should know when the last time we changed strings was, it should be written. Like maybe inside the Seat Lid !
12 weeks is about right for me for the entire set, 2 to 3 weeks on a 3rd and 5th.
IF we start chasing tone more than normal, we are overdue.
$4000 instrument , $10 for strings . I always wondered why some of us are going for the worlds record on how long strings are on our Steels !
The primary reason to change strings regularly is to NEVER reach the point of buzzing or tone changes. Its the ONE thing we can do to keep our instruments consistent from show to show.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2020 8:25 am
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As far as cleaning the stings, this is what I use quite regularly. 
Erv
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Curt Trisko
From:
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2020 9:12 am
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| I find that if I am questioning if it is time to change strings, then it IS time to change strings. When tone and tuning stability suffers, it's definitely time. |
That has been my experience as well. Also when the changes start routinely going out of tune compared to their 'open' positions. I can't speak to your 'zing' problem, but I have a hunch that the different string gauges fatigue at different rates and that the wound strings fatigue differently than the plain strings - meaning that the tone/volume balance between the different strings will get out of whack the longer you go.
Throwing on a fresh set of strings when they're needed and then playing again after they're tuned up is one of the best things an ear can hear. |
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Audie Shields
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2020 2:49 pm
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| That buzz sound usually means the string is about to break. Good strings adds so much to sound and sustain. I change my plain strings every three days and the wound strings once a week with the exception of the C6 bass strings. I will use those two weeks. It is an expense, but it will really help the Steel sound it’s best. |
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Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2020 3:22 pm
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| Same as Erv. I use Fast Fret after every gig. I change my strings once a year. I play outside shows so it is totally necessary to clean them after the show. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2020 8:47 am
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Kevin,
Yes, and besides cleaning the strings the bar will slide easier over the strings.
Erv |
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Allan Haley
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 22 Feb 2020 12:44 pm
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| Change the strings, restart the computer, apologize to my wife, take a nap- the solutions to 90% of my problems |
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Brandon Mills
From:
Victoria, TX. USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2020 1:13 pm
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Yeah, like most others have indicated, unless you feel like you just changed ‘em, they are due to be changed.
With that said, I realized once that I had gone a complete year of infrequent gigging before changing my strings. What a difference that was in tone and tuning! |
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Fred Rogan
From:
Birmingham, AL USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2020 6:53 pm
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Granted it may sound a little OCD, but for years I have been keeping an index card on each instrument I own, 2 steels and 10 or so six strings. On each instrument's index card I list the instrument name, serial number, when I got it, how much I paid. Then I keep a record of each time I change strings, oil fretboards, do a set-up, etc.
If I sell the instrument, I enter when I sold it, how much and to whom. The cards on instruments I sell go in a separate place so I only have "active" instrument cards together.
Sounds like a pain but I keep the cards close by and it has come in really handy a number of times for different reasons.
Edit: Forgot to say that one of the reasons I do this is so I don't change strings too much or too little. Sound degradation can be subtle on an instrument you play frequently and I sometimes actually check the date I last changed strings on an instrument cause I surely can't remember!
_________________
Show Pro SD10 guitars
Milkman Amps |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 23 Feb 2020 12:37 am
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well, this thread reminded me it was time ,I changed both sets a day or so back, I keep track ( date) inside the Steel seat. It was about 3 months since the last change which is about right. But 3 + 5 are maybe every 3 or 4 weeks. Overkill ? Probably but it's $2 on a regular working Steel. I have not broke a string on a gig in probably 10 years !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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