string replacement, how often?

[Quadcam79]

just curious if theres an average time before replacing strings?

[Bigsnake]

Depends on your strings and how much you play.

But you can start to hear a tone difference. The strings that came on my acoustic lasted about a month with me playing a little bit everyday. I noticed the E was starting to buzz and the tone was lacking. I put some new ones on there and it's got a great sound and no buzz anymore. These have been on there about 1 1/2 months and still sound decent (I got Elixirs).

I notice a major difference when I go from my guitar to a friend's guitar. He needs new strings on his acoustic badly as they have been there for about 6 months.

[Harley]

I change out strings on 2 guitars every Thursday evening so they're fresh for the weekend shows. One guitar in standard tuning and the second in dropped-D tuning.

[sheepster]

I change my strings whenever I break them. I don't notice much of a difference in tone myself. I've had one guitar for about 3 months now and the strings are unchanged. I play for about an hour every day, and they still sound fine to me.

I've also got a cheap strat. I've had it for about 2 years now. The strings go right through into the body, so I've been too scared to try changing them.

[Whiskey]

12 years here... on both guitars. I don't recommend doing this though. Still.. i have no problems and don't know why they last... I don't remember what they are. I think NASA made hem. The sound from them is great.

[sheepster]

12 years?! It must be alien technology!

I know of an acoustic guitar which had the same strings for 18 years, but that's only because it was never played...

[Zeppelin_Maniac]

On average I change strings every other week.

[Harley]

I just enjoy the liveliness of new strings and it's became part of my sound. Like many, I also prefer the sound of a good tube amp and it's ability to produce even harmonics. It would seem like simply a waste of money to upgrade amplification and effects equipment and then send the vibrations of dead strings into it.

On older strings you start seeing "V's" formed on every position where they are fretted. Your fingers are acting, in a way, like a mini steel forming press. This forming characteristic is a natural property of stainless steel and nickel and cannot be challenged(physics). If it wasn't present the strings wouldn't even have the ability to wind around the tuners or develop the needed break-angle at the saddle. These V's act like suppression points and reduce the vibration abilities of the string because the vibrations cannot travel evenly through the new angles. Archers realized this over 5,000 years ago and have implemented methods of suppressing a bow's string-vibration to create a "silencing" effect. These angles also increase the overall length of the string. This changes the tensile weight required the create each note..

Also, as you play, the strings will collect dirt and oils from your hands. This causes the strings to become dead and to vibrate unevenly along their length (also causing tuning & intonation problems). Dirt, oils and perspiration get into the windings and down inside to the core of the strings where it can cause corrosion of the core. And if you bend strings or play hard this will cause flat spots on the strings especially at the fret locations, shortening their life.

[Whiskey]

And the Leo Tolstoy award goes to...

[Harley]

And the Leo Tolstoy award goes to...
HeHe

Yeah...I came over from the Telecaster Discussion Page where all replies are as long-winded as mine above.:D Average age of posters is probably around 45. But the threads are usually educational and sometimes open up one's mind.

Hey, I've got nobody else around here to bore. You guys are just the innocent victims.

[Whiskey]

"We're sorry ... the user you are trying to reach has hung himself. Please check your interest level, and try your post again. This is a recording."

[Blewbyou]

Drum roll please

[Bigsnake]

I just enjoy the liveliness of new strings and it's became part of my sound. Like many, I also prefer the sound of a good tube amp and it's ability to produce even harmonics. It would seem like simply a waste of money to upgrade amplification and effects equipment and then send the vibrations of dead strings into it.

On older strings you start seeing "V's" formed on every position where they are fretted. Your fingers are acting, in a way, like a mini steel forming press. This forming characteristic is a natural property of stainless steel and nickel and cannot be challenged(physics). If it wasn't present the strings wouldn't even have the ability to wind around the tuners or develop the needed break-angle at the saddle. These V's act like suppression points and reduce the vibration abilities of the string because the vibrations cannot travel evenly through the new angles. Archers realized this over 5,000 years ago and have implemented methods of suppressing a bow's string-vibration to create a "silencing" effect. These angles also increase the overall length of the string. This changes the tensile weight required the create each note..

Also, as you play, the strings will collect dirt and oils from your hands. This causes the strings to become dead and to vibrate unevenly along their length (also causing tuning & intonation problems). Dirt, oils and perspiration get into the windings and down inside to the core of the strings where it can cause corrosion of the core. And if you bend strings or play hard this will cause flat spots on the strings especially at the fret locations, shortening their life.

I can also visibly see my strings start to pick up material from where the pic is constantly striking them.

[bcrich]

LOL. ya 12 years to me sounds a bit long too! They must rewind themselves every so often. I change mine about twice a year. Me like other can't really hear a difference in the sound but I do agree new strings do sound more intense.

[gtrplr]

try running your fingers down the higher strings index and thumb from bridge to neck if the string is not smooth or has excessive dirt change them It depends on how much you play;)

[SnotRocket]

I change my strings whenever I break them. I don't notice much of a difference in tone myself. I've had one guitar for about 3 months now and the strings are unchanged. I play for about an hour every day, and they still sound fine to me.

I've also got a cheap strat. I've had it for about 2 years now. The strings go right through into the body, so I've been too scared to try changing them.

I just changed my Strat's strings for the first time today. It's very easy. I thought I'd mess it up as well but it's incredibly easy. Just cut off the ends where they are bent and they should go straight through. If you look at the back of the guitar you can see where they come through.

[Marshalldude]

For a usual player i would recommend to change them at every 6 months . If you change them too often they sound metallic.