What's your "time to change strings" signal?

Nathan Delacretaz · Post by **Nathan Delacretaz** » 16 Jan 2004 9:28 am

Aside from breakage, what "time to change strings" signals do you guys look for?

I'm lucky enough to be playing 4 nights a week this winter, so my string wear is going up considerably...I've played 7 of the last 10 days on this set and I've noticed that my tuning is not as stable...but it could be temperature change, etc...

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 16 Jan 2004 9:38 am

Real professionals change them almost daily from what I've read here on the Forum.
I usually wait until they break OR, until the crud on them restricts the spacing between the strings. It works for me. It also gives a mellow tone, don't you think?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 16 Jan 2004 9:43 am

When I was working on-stage under lights, I changed 3&5 every six hours....and the rest of them monthly.

Now that I just play at home....I change 'em when they break!

www.genejones.com

Lloyd Karenke · Post by **Lloyd Karenke** » 16 Jan 2004 9:46 am

Cool Ray! A wire brush will take some of that crud off...I use my outdoor grill brush...soft copper.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 16 Jan 2004 10:15 am

High G# starts ringing, or strings sound out of tune a lot even though the meter says they're not.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 16 Jan 2004 11:21 am

What b0b said, and in addition, when sitting nearly level the bar will "find" the 3rd 5th or 7the frets and stop rolling when let go.

Believe it or not about 4 nights of HARD playing can get this to happen. That's one of the reasons my Bullseye bar is getting more and more use. It's obvious lessening of the drag on the strings makes for less string wear, I'm sure.

I believe there is an area of "acceptability" that is a funny occurance. To me, like on a practice guitar, or instance where you are playing "lowball" weekends ( We all have them), that after the initial two weekends, when you can notice a 'deadening' somehow they seem to "come back to life", and you can play low stress weekends for months. The longest set I can remember was about 6 months of weekends, but they were getting pretty dead. Also on my guitar, I demand less 'live sound' out of my C6 neck, and change them at about three times the interval of my E9ths. About three times less use too.

Theres certainly nothing wrong with buffing them up with a polish cloth. That'll brighten them up too on the plains, and I suppose cleans the crap out of the wound strings.

There's something to be said for lubing them too, but be aware that you don't want to "load up" the inner windings of your wound strings. That deadens them fast. Ask any bass player.

EJL

Nathan Delacretaz · Post by **Nathan Delacretaz** » 16 Jan 2004 11:36 am

Thanks, guys - I follow the "hissing" 3rd string theory usually. Just been so busy trying to learn tunes that I've lost track of my strings. it occurred to me that I've never worked the guitar or the strings quite this hard!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Jan 2004 11:56 am

I use a product called Fret Fast on my strings. I rub this on the strings and then wipe them off with the enclosed cloth. It removes the gunk from the strings, and makes the bar slide over them easier. It might be my imagination, but I think it makes them sound brighter also. Try it you'll like it!
Erv

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 16 Jan 2004 12:53 pm

I like using Fast Fret, too.

Another trick I learned years ago is to watch for the flat spots that can show up on the wound strings. With a good light source overhead, you can grip a wound string and twist it a little bit. The light will reflect off the flat surface of the string. That's a good indication it's been on the guitar long enough.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Gino Iorfida · Post by **Gino Iorfida** » 16 Jan 2004 2:07 pm

Whenever I notice that I have to start touching the endplate tuning more frequently (genrally, when I put a set of strings on, and adjust the endplate tuning, things stay that way for a LONG time... when I notice more than one stirng being out every time I sit down, I change the strings out). On average, I may go 5 or 6 gigs and an equal number of practices before I change them ALL, and I'll change out just the 3rd, 4th and 5th string after a couple gigs and practicexs as preventative maintenance.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 16 Jan 2004 3:03 pm

Where can I buy this product?[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 16 January 2004 at 07:15 PM.]

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 16 Jan 2004 3:39 pm

Eric, I think you're playing in G and E way too often!

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 16 Jan 2004 3:53 pm

When the crust from the strings reaches the top of the pedal rack, its time for new! bob[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 16 January 2004 at 03:54 PM.]

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 16 Jan 2004 5:48 pm

Erv, I also use Fast Fret. It does make older strings sound brighter and also the bar
glides over the strings much smoother. You can get it at any music store.

Wayne Baker · Post by **Wayne Baker** » 16 Jan 2004 6:19 pm

I change my strings no later than every Wednesday.

Wayne Baker

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 16 Jan 2004 11:02 pm

I change the 3rd string before every gig. The others get changed after a month or two when I end up with a free afternoon. I guess that free afternoon is my signal. [This message was edited by David Doggett on 16 January 2004 at 11:03 PM.]

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 17 Jan 2004 11:35 am

I change when the possibility of contracting tetanus becomes real.

Nathan Delacretaz · Post by **Nathan Delacretaz** » 17 Jan 2004 12:17 pm

Thanks for the tips and the humorous responses. I have decided to call it even and change them every other full moon.

Whip Lashaway · Post by **Whip Lashaway** » 17 Jan 2004 7:00 pm

I can tell that things are going south with my strings when I start to miss chimes. As the strings begin to wear chimming gets increasingly more difficult. I can hit a chime on new strings without even looking, but, when the strings are at the end of there life span you have to be dead on with no error. I usually change the first 6 strings and every other time I change the bottom 6. I also use FastFret. It will keep your strings feeling like new right up till they die. Hope that helps.
Whip

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Whip Lashaway
Sierra E9/B6 12 string
Sierra E9/B6 14 string
78' Emmons D10 P/P

David Deratany · Post by **David Deratany** » 18 Jan 2004 4:53 am

For guitar my preference has always been FingerEase over FastFret, but I use it only for ease of playing.

Has anyone tried FingerEase on their steel?

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 18 Jan 2004 7:32 am

If you play alot ,you will change your strings alot or they will change themselves automaticly at that sacred moment when its your turn to shine!

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 18 Jan 2004 9:53 am

If you remove the strings that were on your guitar when it came from the manufacturer, it is no longer original; and the resale value to collectors will decrease by two thirds.

Rick

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 18 Jan 2004 11:14 am

rust

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Lawrence Lupkin · Post by **Lawrence Lupkin** » 19 Jan 2004 7:33 am

You mean you are supposed to change them?

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 19 Jan 2004 6:25 pm

I played some gigs with Johhny Gimble in the late 70's and he told me that he tried changing the low string on his electric mandolin once and luckily he saved the one he put on it in 1958! I don't believe he was ever able to find one that sounded as good as the one he put on in '58, so he just kept using it.

I have heard that some steel players develop a fondness for a "broken in" low string and only will change it if it breaks. My guess is that it's a matter of liking the thudish sound.