How do you know when strings are shot; how many gigs?

Rich Upright · Post by **Rich Upright** » 20 Oct 2016 2:03 pm

Nothing like a "new strings" gig, but I wish they would last longer. I clean my strings with Dunlop 65 string cleaner & conditioner before AND after every gig, wipe them down after every couple of songs, and I find I still only get about 8 gigs per set. I use GHS Pedal Guitar Boomers, 'cause they're available locally (I never buy online) I get 4 gigs on my Telecaster if I'm lucky. Was wondering how many gigs y'all get from a new set, and how do you know when they need changing? With me, I find that the output volume from each string is uneven when they start to go, I start making mistakes trying to compensate for it,and it gets harder to play in tune. Sometimes, I can add more treble or mids & make 'em last another gig. When they're really bad, I can't do certain subtle or complicated & difficult things & am always using my "go to" bag of licks, or playing more C6 type stuff, since the strings on my rear neck seem to last much longer. It seems sometimes that time plays more of a factor than how much I play, IOW how long the strings have been on the guitar.

So--How many gigs do y'all get on a set, and how do you know when they need changing?

Greg Lambert · Post by **Greg Lambert** » 20 Oct 2016 4:50 pm

I use SIT premimum and they seem to last about 2 months - about 9 gigs on the E9th and a lot longer on the C6th.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 20 Oct 2016 5:08 pm

As soon as I need to tune a string, or tune a change, my strings are toast.

Joseph Napolitano · Post by **Joseph Napolitano** » 20 Oct 2016 6:18 pm

After about 5 or 6 gigs I start worrying about breaking the 3rd or 5th. At that point I may change just 3 and 5, and go a few more gigs, or I'll change the whole set. On my practice rig at home I'll leave them on longer, basically until I can't tune them anymore, but I rarely break one. I just hate breaking one on a gig. I love the sound of new strings.

James Holland · Post by **James Holland** » 21 Oct 2016 2:02 am

When I can't get a good triad, I know its time to change strings, or when I can't tune it. You're string life sounds average, or better than average imo. Dragging metal picks and a steel bar across strings has to be as destructive or worse than fret contact on a six-string. Also, there's some techniques to age your strings at installation that pro-long corrosion resistance.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 21 Oct 2016 2:26 am

When I was doing road gigs, here in Florida, I changed strings every 10 shows. It wasn't that the strings were "dead" but just to avoid any string breakage on a show. Now, I change about once a month.

I use George L's "Nashville gauges". SS wound.

The lead guitar player, when we were touring, changed the strings on his Strat every 2 to 4 shows.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 21 Oct 2016 7:11 am

when I was on the road I would wipe strings off with Fast Fret every night, and change them when they break...I never had any complaints from anyone...

maybe once or twice a year I would change the whole set...

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 21 Oct 2016 8:03 am

I've been using the stainless LSS for three years now. This year, I've got 40 gigs on them. The two years before I got over 50 gigs for both years on new sets each year. I wipe them down after each set with a clean microfiber cloth and after the gig with a jewelers cloth. They've always held their tuning and are still very resilient. So far, no string breakage!
But, strings can break at any time, even upon installation. I guess I've been lucky!

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 21 Oct 2016 8:14 am

Hey Rich, a manager at a Guitar Center showed me these. I grabbed a couple of boxes of them...Interesting alloy...Nickel-Iron..Seemed to oxidize slower than most...Might try a set...Mick

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 21 Oct 2016 8:24 am

When they start to sound funky, I start procrastinating. That's after about 6 weeks. I usually change them about 2 weeks after that. I play or rehearse maybe twice a week, on average. I always change strings before a recording session.

I usually use GHS Boomers. I currently have GHS Cryogenic Sub-Zero Boomers on the guitar. They sound real good, but I don't know if they'll actually last longer. October is hard on strings because I have an outdoor 4-hour gig every week (at a pumpkin patch) and weather takes its toll.

BTW, the "Americana Nickel-Iron" strings that Mickey mentioned (above) are "GHS Cryogenic Progressive Wound". Sets for E9th and C6th are available in The Steel Guitar Forum Store.

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 21 Oct 2016 10:38 am

There ya Go!....Have you tried them Bob??

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 21 Oct 2016 11:23 am

Mickey, I have those on my Legrande since last Febuary, haven't broken any and played about 30 gigs. They still sound good, but intonation up the neck is getting funky. I just ordered two each E9+C6.

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 21 Oct 2016 1:59 pm

Funny you should mention that... I noticed this too...
I'm not sure what the problem is but I've had to be much more precise
with my bar placement

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 21 Oct 2016 4:18 pm

Mickey Adams wrote:There ya Go!....Have you tried them Bob??

That nickel-iron alloy is a bit bright for my taste. It falls between nickel and stainless. Personal preference - I just prefer the mellower sound of nickel wound strings (e.g. GHS Boomers).

George Seymour · Post by **George Seymour** » 22 Oct 2016 2:27 am

Mickey Adams wrote:Hey Rich, a manager at a Guitar Center showed me these. I grabbed a couple of boxes of them...Interesting alloy...Nickel-Iron..Seemed to oxidize slower than most...Might try a set...Mick

I've been using these for about a year now, GHS make a good string, also each individual string is sealed in a airtight package and agin sealed in the main airtight package. Good sounding too, air exposure will eventually tarnish the plain strings, we've all seen it with strings that sit too long in our pac seat, or at least that's my experience.

Rich Upright · Post by **Rich Upright** » 24 Oct 2016 5:31 pm

Thanks,Mickey, for the suggestion about the GHS strings. I will check my local Guitar Center & see if they have 'em. If not, my local music store orders 'em for me 5-10 packs at a time, & I buy out the whole rack. Prolly good until Spring right now.

From most of your responses, I guess 8 gigs per set is about average. They seem to last a little longer on my Mullen than the Emmons, or actually the intonation seems better on that guitar. This weekend's gigs will be a "new strings" gig on the Emmons & Strat.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 25 Oct 2016 5:48 pm

There aren't significant differences between most brands of strings as there are only a few actual manifacturers (and even fewer that n=make their own wire used for winding) - the big differences are in type (nickel wrap, nickel plated, stanlss steel).

I get about 8 hours maximum out of nickel wrap (plain strings are consistent at 8 hous if I keep them clean); 6 or so with nickel plated steel, and no more than 2-3 hours out of stainless (which I can't stand tonewise nayway - too harsh).

String cleaning solutions do nothing but leave residue on the strings that collects dirt, killong them mor quickly (ever wonder why they're sold by string companies?).

Wipe them clean with a dry hand-towel or cotton cloth, and keep the steel covered when not playing.

Lap steel string last a little longer bcause there's less metal fatigue, but on pedal steel ay guitar I've heard with month (or older) stings sounds dead.

And FWIW on 6-string, mandolin, banjo and other fretted instruments with metal strings 4 hours is about max except for costed strings - which I don't use as I don't care for the tonal compromise.

I usually am changing strings on one or two guitars at least 5 days/week.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 26 Oct 2016 8:01 am

If I lived close to the ocean, I'd be changing strings more often too. But no way I'd change them every 8 hours of use, unless I was constantly recording. It just doesn't make that much difference in live gigs and rehearsals.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Oct 2016 12:06 pm

How long they last varies, usually according to the humidity and temperature. I've had sets go dead in 3 or 4 days, and I've had a few sets last for many months (long enough for them to get visible flats on the top, from the bar). Sweat ruins strings pretty fast, so when the humidity was high or I was sweating a lot, I'd have to change more often. Wipe them off after every few songs, and they'll last a lot longer. I'm not a fan of spraying strings with "string treatments" because they can build up in the windings, but a little spray silicone on your rag will help the plains stay lively and bright.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 28 Oct 2016 10:42 am

I don't like to break a string on a gig so i change them after about 24 or so playing hours.
I also find that while I may touch up the open strings all the time, if i start to have to tune the nylons more than a little it's time to change them ..

Sustain and intonation start to go away if i don't

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 28 Oct 2016 4:21 pm

On my U-12, I will change the first 6 plain strings when I hear the crispness start to diminish. The next time I change 10 strings and the next time all 12. Works for me