How often do you change strings?

John Burton · From: Manassas, Va

I'm kinda' ashamed that I've had my StageOne since January and just changed strings for the first time yesterday.
Except for when I broke a third string and replaced that one, a month ago, all the other strings where original.

So that's five months of an hour or more a day average. (sometimes 2 hours a day)

Sounds better then ever, BTW, with the new strings.

So..how long do most here go before a new set of strings?

Jeff Valentine · From: Colorado Springs, USA

With a normal amount of playing I change them every two weeks or so. I'll always use fresh strings before a recording session or big gig.

-Jeff

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Maybe every year or two, playing 2-3 gigs a week on a particular guitar. Yeah, I know that seems like an egregious scheme, but it takes a long time to get new strings to stay in tune, and I don't want to work any harder than I have to, and it works for me. YMMV, and I'm sure some of you think it would. The strings have been on this guitar for at least a year.
Colorado
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Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

After BBQ season.

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

I'll change the 3rd string once if it breaks. After that, if I break a 4th or 5th string I'll change the whole set. I only play at home but I'll play for a couple of hours a day sometimes, so I've been averaging about 4-6 months on strings.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Sometimes I'll have an important gig to do and I say to myself when I wake up tomorrow the first thing that I'll do is change my strings...Then I start watching T.V. and that's as far as I get. Crying or Very sad

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Jonathan Cullifer · From: Gallatin, TN

Every month or so or whenever I can't afford to break one. Knock on wood, I have not broken a string at all in nearly three years, and I have not broken one on a gig in possibly five years or more.

Wayne Franco · From: silverdale, WA. USA

I try to change strings about once a month with normal use.

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

When I was really out there pickin',( up to 4 nites a week, and a session or 2) I changed the 3rd and 5th every week and the 4th every 2 weeks and a new set every 6 weeks. Did not have a day job, so I had lots of time for the changes. Since I have been using Frenchy's Silent Series strings, and not playing a lot, I don't change strings quite so often.Jody.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Jody,I like the way your thinking! Winking

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Billy Murdoch · From: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.

On My Zum which I take out gigging I usually change after 12 gigs which equates to about 40 hours playing.
On My other Zum which is set up at home I run for months,at the moment I have had strings on since last December,that must be about 80 hours.
I use Cobra Coils.
Billy

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

About 3 or 4 weeks. (I have been keeping notes on this for about seven years now). In 84 weeks, I have replaced the strings 21 times.

I keep little stickers "under the hood" to help me remember.

If my guitar starts to get kinda "pitchy" or, won't stay in tune after a song or two, I know what to do: Replace the strings.
I have never been sorry that I replaced strings.

If I am in a time crunch, I will replace the plain strings first, then replace the wound strings later.

Carson Leighton · From: N.B. Canada

Some people change their strings more often than others for various reasons..The humidity has a huge effect on the life of strings on any instrument..Perspiration of the hands can destroy them pretty fast too..I've seen beads of water on the pick-up from people who's hands that sweat bad..I don't have that problem,,so my strings last a little longer..When your strings get bad,,your intonation will be bad too..You will notice this more in the upper register at first,,but after awhile you will find the strings won't chord properly anywhere on the neck...For me,,I can get by about for about 6 months or so,,depending on what I'm doing..I don't like the sound of brand new strings..I like them better after about a week or so,,after they develop some "soul"... Have a good one....Carson

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

We're supposed to change them?
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Bill Lowe · From: Connecticut

I usually just buy another guitar and hope it comes with new strings already on it.

Anders Eriksson · From: Mora, Dalecarlia, Sweden

Paul Franklin's thoughts on Steel and Strings
http://www.b0b.com/infoedu/steelstr.htm

// Anders
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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

If I am playing out on Steel,( 2 nights ) 3 and 5 get changed every week, the entire set maybe every 4 to 8 weeks, not longer.

Telecaster, every week.

t
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Mickey Adams · From: Bandera Texas

Bout 3-4 weeks here too..I likes em twangy.. Oh Well

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Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

When I was touring usually once a week. Otherwise with "weekend" picking I try to do it once a month. If I'm recording I like new or nearly new strings.

It's not so much the strings are dead, it's to hopefully minimize (eliminate) any string breakage on stage from string "fatigue".

When we were touring with Tommy Cash, our lead guitar picker would change strings every other day on his Strat to maintain the twang "bite".

Don Sulesky · From: Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH

On my 3rd string I will change it after about 12 hours before it breaks. I change the whole set about every 3 months.
Now on my C6th I hardly ever change them because I am not a C6th player, but only tinkle with it to have some fun.
Even on a gig I may play just a simple run on it now and then or use the bass strings for some bass boom/chuck rhtythms.
Don

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

For any guitar that gets played regularly at least every other day or so, I change strings every month.

Clete

David Wright · From: Pilot Point ,Tx USA.

I have spent years on studying ,"When" to change strings, and after 40 years , I will let "YOU ALL" in on my findings!!! up untill now, it's the best kept secert in the Steel Guitar world... Whoa!

When it breaks, I change it!!!... Winking

Please don't send me 10000's of email thanking me for this invaluable info.. Laughing

Steel Friends, remember it's 40 years of intense research Idea

Ryan Barwin · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Every 4 weeks. I very rarely break strings and I've never broken any at a gig.
I don't usually change both necks at the same time...I'll do one neck, then the other one 2 weeks later.
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Jack Ritter · From: Enid, Oklahoma, USA

E9 about 4 times a year and c6 2 a year . Played the last set e9 Jags 4 months and still sounded fine and never broke a string. I play out every week except for tornadoes and try to practice regularly. Jack
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Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

When they get so dull I can't take it any more Very Happy

VERY,VERY, seldom break one on my MSA Classic, Ir I do break one on a gig,just play around it untill break time. The world is not going to come to a stand still if you break a string in the middle of a song.Just fake it [that's easy] until break time. Laughing

YOU BETCHA.DYK?BC.
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