Changing strings - How often

Will Houston · From: Tempe, Az

How often do you change strings?, I asked somebody recently and his answer surprised me. Except for broken ones, which are none of the lower strings, he hasn't changed the strings on his Mullen since he got it in 1988.He doesn't gig regularly but still seems like a long time.

Jody Cameron · From: Angleton, TX,, USA

Good post, Will, and one of my pet peeves. Strings are an important part of the tone equation, IMO.

I try to change mine weekly...maybe that's overkill, but I play a lot. So far this week, counting sessions and gigs, I've played well 31 hrs. on the current strings! I did not have time to change them from the week before, so this set is going on 2 or 3 weeks, and definately has more than that...WAY too long for me. I'll change them before I go back out next week.

I find that by changing them so often, I never break strings, and the guitar plays, tunes and sounds better. I never have to adjust the end plate tuners. I have a theory that over time, if strings are not changed, the guitar will get out of proper adjustment slightly because as the strings age, you periodically have to adjust the end plate tuners; after a while, this adjustment becomes significant relative to the original "baseline" characteristics of the string(s). Then when you finally DO change strings, you really have to "tweak it in" at the endplate.

I would at least change out the third string once a week, regardless.

JC

Oh yeah, as you might have guessed, I don't pay much for strings! Laughing

A. J. Schobert · From: Cincinnati, Ohio,

Some guys get there strings for free since they are endorsed, Me I'm not endorsed so I have to buy them, I change my strings on the e9th only when I bust a string, then I replace them all, it could be 2-3 weeks but I got my money out of 'em.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

As often as I can stand to do it, which isn't as often as I should. My attitude is - if I'm thinking I might possibly need to change them, I probably do need to change them. Even lightly played, they start sounding real bad after a month, and if I'm playing a lot, after a week or two. I need to start buying them bulk. Smile

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Because of my copedent, I can't buy sets of strings, so I am forced to buy in bulk. In a pinch I can buy several sets of guitar strings and discard unused gages, but it's a pain (and would be expensive if I didn't have a son working at Sam Ash Wink

).

I use nickel strings, which last far longer for me than stainless, and change them every 3-4 weeks. Any longer than that and weird intonation problems crop up. But I can't stand the sound of freshly-installed strings, which seem to need a couple hours playing to settle down tone-wise.

Sidebar - has anyone ever used any of the coated strings (like Elixer and others) on steel?
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Will Houston · From: Tempe, Az

My friends reasoning for not changing strings is he doesn't like the "bright" sound of new strings. Old strings have a mellow sound.

Bill Dobkins · From: Rolla Missouri, USA

As long they sound good, leave em alone.

Tommy Young · From: Ethelsville Alabama

AS for me they are truely a major part of the TONE equation and it does take a short while to really get a string to settle and stretch in as i call it but as for how long between changes of them matters how much u play them and length of time they are stretched because on my guitars even if it is in the case of a guitar for over 4 to 6 weeks they begin to sound funny to me i guess it is in the ears and i personally hate to have one break on me, so if they sound not to sparkly off they go for me TOMMY

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

I read an article where Paul Franklin stated he changes every week. That's from a pro. Jimmy Day told me that over a period of time, the part that lays over the roller gets a little flat spot and it's hard to keep them in tune.
Any geetar pickers out there know of a brand string where the extend-life type of strings have a shorter wrapping near the ball? I was given a guitar string made for the wammy handle guitar - extend life type, and it last twice as long as the regular string. I bought an Ernie Ball brand and the extra wrapping laid on top of the roller and that don't make for a good sound. When I called the factory about shortening the wrappings - it would cost them to much to make that adjustment. Any suggestions out there in geetar land?

Allan Thompson · From: Scotland.

I remember a guitar player telling me he changed his strings every two years whether they need it or not !!!!!!

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

I change the 3rd. 4th, 5th. and 6th every week and a complete new set every 4th week. A dead string will not sustain the pitch and will sound flat, and will not stay in tune. My playing schedule is not as hectic as Jody Cameron's, but I find everything he said is true. Especially if I have a session coming up, I make sure I change out the entire set. Jody

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

i have had my Mullen for a year, never changed strings & i still have to tone down the brights
_________________
proud parent of a sailor

Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!

Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick

James Sission · From: Sugar Land,Texas USA

I only gig a couple of times per month, so I only change mine about once a month. I can always tell when I change them that the old ones had slowly lost tone and because of the slow change, I never noticed it....James

Joe Savage · From: St. Paul, MN

7-10 days for E9, 4-5 times a year on C6.

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

Well, for all this, after hearing David Wright (also a pro) tell a bunch of us last year in Phoenix that he changes strings when they break, what's a fellow to do?

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Since I've gone to stainless steel wound strings I'm good for about 9 months on a set. When I put new ones on, they are way too bright for me. The older ones do tune a little bit different, but it's a slow change and easily corrected for in the course of everyday tuning. Before stainless, my wound strings went dead in a few weeks. There's no right and wrong here, just user preference and some differences in how hard we are on our strings based on our environment, usage patterns, and things like had sweat/acidity.

Greg

Damien Odell · From: Springwood, New South Wales, Australia

I change mine every 2-3 weeks. I can't stand any longer than that - they get that dark colour and lose all their brightness, and the bar doesn't slide as easily on them. Also - after that time I start to worry at gigs that I'm gonna bust a string.
If I only changed a string that broke - I would have a great sounding high G# and maybe a B, then all the others would sound dull.
I like mine always sounding bright, and newer strings are easy to tune - and they stay in tune.
I cannot comprehend someone having the same set of strings on any guitar since 1988....man, I would love to get hold of some of his cleaning fluid.
Damien

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

I change mine every 2/3 years even if they don't need it .

Miguel e Smith · From: Phoenix, AZ

Once a week...I'm not endorsed.
_________________
Mike S.
"Mike & T's House Of Steel" (band)
www.houseofsteelband.com

Pat Carlson · From: Sutton, Nebraska, R.I.P.

When the tuner says you are right on, and yet it sounds poor. Sad

Always B/4 a gig.
At least once a month Smile

Whatever comes first!
_________________
The Lone Prairie Steeler Pat

John Macy · From: Rockport TX/Denver CO

I'm a once a weeker, too. If work is light, I'll change all the unwounds 1 week and the whole set the next...
_________________
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

I have been keeping track for over a year now. i just jot down the date when I do change.
It is abot every 3 weeks.
I play SU12 universal. I really like the crisp lower string sound. When the little strings are hard to keep tuned...that is my first clue. I play/practice everyday with few exceptions. Opening day deer season, State Fair of Texas, weddings and funerals.

Travis Toy · From: Nashville, TN, USA

I get about 3 shows on an average set. The trouble that I run into out on the road is that when my steel isn't set up, it's on a semi truck driving somewhere. Sometimes it'll just sit in a parking lot for a couple days and bake...or freeze. Those type of climate and temperature changes are pretty hard on strings, and make them wanna oxidize and rust quicker than they would if I was just playing around town. All that said...before I got them for free, I changed them when they broke. Lol. By the way, if you've got the original strings on your instrument, and you still have to tone down the "brights"...well...those are some bad ass strings my man. You could sell those on ebay and make a fortune.

-Travis

Cameron Parsons · From: Angleton, Texas

I, too, live by the "change'em-once-a-week" axiom. I don't even check to see if they still sound good before I change them. I consider changing strings to be part of my operating cost, so I don't worry about the money. I buy D'Addario strings in bulk, so E9 strings come out to be about $6 per set. I think that strings are just as essential to good tone as amp, pickups, cables, processors, or any other item. When I first started, I just changed them when they broke. Over the years, I have learned that once a week is truly the key to happiness. I can also honestly say that I NEVER break strings. Very Happy

Jim Walker · From: Headland, AL

I change my strings right at 40 hours of touch time (about every 2 weeks). I like the tone of SIT Nickel strings on my Rains the best. Very rarely break one.

JW
_________________
Show Pro D10, Session 400

Forum Index > Steel Players	Goto page 1, 2 Next	Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic