Guitar strings: How often

How often should you change your guitar strings?

And is it necessary to have new strings when recording? 'Cause my brother's gf (who's in charge of the rec studio) once said that it's better to use new strings during recording because older strings tend to go off key easily.

Well, okay but I'm just too lazy to change strings! Honestly, I find it time consuming and if I could get away with not changing strings ever I would.

 

I change mine about every six months. That's stretching it a bit, though. Depending on how fast they wear out (which depends on how they're cared for, and how oily your hands are), you might change them every 3 or 4 months, or once a year, or anything in between. It also depends, obviously, on how often you play.

As far as using new strings for recording, I think that's debatable. Brand new strings go out of tune easily too, until they've been broken in. They sound very bright, in my opinion too much so, until they've been played for awhile. I think that recording with strings that have been on there a couple of weeks would be best, for me anyway. They start to sound natural at about that time, in my experience.

 

^LOL huh? pic please.. You really must not like the toneality of a new strings..
The harmonics and vibration ratio, is set for a sting without damage.
On a new instrument guitar stings will wear without being played at all. Most good music dealer keep the tone down a bit to prevent warping of guitar necks duiring temp changes. and unneeded string stretch, But new stings will definitely improve the quality of sound, As wound string become loose, could injure you. lol, But the frets will also cut the string and you now have a major tone change. No, you cant see it without a oscilloscope. But you can hear it if you listen close enough.
Playing constanty, Id change full sets every time before a new proformance. At home once a week/ more often during humid months. But also care for your stings is the best thing you can do to save money and keep em clean. Underneithh the string heavy dirt, skin, sweat builds up, Wiping down the strings with a solvent and light oil will help alot.
Im a oldhead so I improvise on cleaning solvent, currently using what Ive had on hand for years. Airconditoner compressor oil. Great for fine motor parts..
Change your stings one at a time to prevent neck shift..if your anal about curving the neck. imo. some curve is good.
get yourself a string winder. and a pair of wire cutters, or a guitar thats easy to fix while still live. Open backs..ect. nothing with Locknuts.. thats a gimmick and Ive never seen it being usefull. :cheers2:

 

I usually change mine when they break .......
Sometimes I can get two years out of them
Really though, new strings for recording is a good idea.
There is some debate whether the wound strings should be
cut or looped but I wouldnt worry about that. Just try to
have about 6-7 winds around the tree and the string going into
the nut from the bottom of the windings so they wont rattle
going thru the nut. You can pull on them very gently a few
times before you tune and that helps with the initial stretching.

 

Lubricating all of the contact points of a string's travel may be one of the most important elements in ensuring tuning stability during tremolo use and in reducing string breakage.

The main cause of string breakage is moisture collection at the point of contact on the bridge saddle. This can be attributed to the moisture and acidity that transfers from your hands, or it can be a direct effect of humidity in the air. Another factor is metal-to-metal friction and fatigue. Metal components react to each other over time because of their differences and help break down string integrity. A stronger metal will always attack a softer metal (this is why a stainless-steel string will wear a groove or burr in a vintage-style saddle). You'll also find that different string brands break at different points of tension because of the metal makeup and string manufacturing techniques.

 

I hate playing with new strings, I like how they feel about a month into being used.

 

Thank you.

 

You arnt earning money with those licks Ill tell you what, If your shreading some hard core playing on that guitar with some weak rusty srtings.. :cheers2: then good for you.
.
Honesty do you really think that a Major artist plays on crap each and every night?
I dont see you getting a job as a rodie and restinging guitars each and everynight..
Yeah ok if you pick up that Fender Squire once a month anyways, But do any of you have any disipine in anything else besides doing drugs?
Not that Im Picking on you directly. But Jesus Christ.. Not everyone is only strumming on the thing once a week. Theres no way a string could SUSTAIN and vibrate at the correct pitch for a Ear tuned into sound. Humans have advances in listening to crap and have studied the science of wavelenght to a T. While a set may feel good after after being broke in.. Months on 2 step bending and hard Tremolo? NOT..
But this inst a argument. I suppose, I just as well as many Players I know take the instrument more seriously.
How often do you change a valve seal in a trumpet?

 

I change my guitar strings about once a month on my main guitar, and every couple of months on the ones I don't play as often. That's the limit for good tone (for me, anyway). I don't find that older strings go more out of tune, but they begin to sound dead. I want a clear, bright chimy Fender sound and I think that's impossible without relatively new strings. I change strings on the lap steel probably twice a month. If I'm doing serious recording, I'll change the strings a couple days before. I don't usually change the strings before a gig.

 

Excuse me? What the fuck is this? Because I don't dig the sound of brand new guitar strings, I have no discipline in anything besides doing drugs, and I don't take the instrument seriously? What bullshit. I'd like to know just who the hell you think you are.

 

calm down guys.


(new strings are heaven though)

 

i break strings all the time so i like to change all the strings when i break one. so once every few weeks.

 

Really.......To each his own.
I was actually a guitar roadie for an up-and-coming new wave
band in the 80's. I strung guitars, wrenched on them and soldered
stuff. On my personal guitars, I change strings on my guitars whenever......
Months go by. Who cares. Playing a 100 watt half stack no one would
ever know, anyway.
Also, I have a Squire Tele that gets the hell knocked out if it and it
sounds great. A guitar is only as good as the person playing it.
Im sure Keith Richards would sound just as great playing that cheepo
Tele with old strings as he would a '59 Les Paul with new strings.
A beat up old typewriter can write a great story, too

 

No it can't. You need Mac OS 1.4.9 or higher to write a good story.

 

Thank goodness Im rollin' X.4.11 !

Makes my posts teh kool !

 

Cant you see the avatar, Not only do you have bad ears you have bad eyes too?
Didnt mean to personally attack you. YOU><> If everyone acts all passive, on everything they do. Which includes how you take criticism.
Making like everything in the music business is a big joke, thats why it is the way it is. Then Dont care to listen to good music, By anyone whos is DEADicated to making music the correct way.
I can give you a link where I attack Slash and other money grabbing guitar players, Who could give a fuckless about the sound and only care about the pay check and the dope it brings in.
Thats who I am dood..
If you dont like a serious musician making fun of you then go listen to ?Britney Spears and STFU!!

 

I don't appreciate condescending assholes who think they have the final say on a subject attacking me for lack of dedication, and for being a drug abuser of all things. That's completely uncalled for. And I personally know plenty of very serious, talented and dedicated musicians who do not subscribe to your doctrine regarding strings. There are all different ideas about that kind of thing. Do what you like -- but don't attack people who like it a different way.

 

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Nobody said you were a drug abuser. If I did then Im sooo soo Sorry. Geeze, Have some fucking passion for something, but If you defend rusty strings so be it, that much whatever.
I hope you at least put good tires on your car when your others go bald and have no traction and lack the performance required for safe travel.
Wipe down tops and undernieth strings to prolong life, Or Buy strings by the bulk and you will not have to worry about being lazy and having to run out to walmart and get stings for that dusty guitar that you only play once a year..

 

Arent real punx not 'sposed to care about anything ?
Do real punx buy errr, steal only the E and A strings or
do they restring all six these days ?

 

I change the strings on my guitar once a year or something, but then I'm not playing a lot of guitar because I'm playing bass most of the time. I could care less if I'm "dedicated" or not since I'm playing for my own enjoyment only. But others seem to like it..