The cheapest way to better tone… |
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The cheapest way to better tone… |
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May 22 2014, 05:08 PM |
...is to change your strings! Still many students come to me with old rusty strings. Even I notice that some student's guitars can't stay on tune right and the main reason is having old strings.
I have a short tour with my band this weekend so I've already changed strings on my Gibson. Did you change yours recently? Btw while you are at it, clean your fretboard with a cloth and your instrument will feel like new. Do you know of any other “quick fixes” to improve your setup? -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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May 22 2014, 05:33 PM |
are those the strings that you use exclusively (light top, heavy bottom)? I'm trying these ones and I must say that I'm very happy by now. I used standard 010 gauge but these new ones are much more stable for playing hard. Also, we are using E flat tuning with my band so this gauge fits better. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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May 23 2014, 06:07 PM |
I change my strings fairly frequently so I don't get a string break on stage.
-------------------- My SoundCloud
Gear Tyler Burning Water 2K Burny RLG90 with BK Emeralds Fender US Tele with BK Piledrivers Epiphone 335 with Suhr Thornbuckers PRS SE Custom 24-08 Ax8 Fessenden SD10 PSG Quilter TT15 |
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May 23 2014, 07:57 PM |
Cleaning your strings after a practice/work session helps a bit
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May 23 2014, 08:14 PM |
I change my strings fairly frequently so I don't get a string break on stage. This is another good reason, have you ever broke string on stage? It happened to me twice. I was using my floyd rose Ibanez so I had to change guitar in the middle of the song. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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May 23 2014, 10:04 PM |
It is amazing how this aspect gets overlooked so often. I remember playing a really cheap jazz bass copy on stage and getting approached all the time by fellow musicians asking me how do I get that tone? Thinking now about it - I was regularly changing my strings at that time (usually once in 1 or 2 months), this is relatively frequent for bass. Even though that bass was a cheap one, it sounded really good as it always had brand new strings on. After some time I have discovered "Fast fret" strings conditioner/cleaner - it saved me so much cash on bass strings. I found a trick that if I apply it but NOT wipe it off immediately rather leave it overnight, that the chemistry will eat all the dirt over night and I would get "new strings sound" in the morning (at least to some extent).
You guitarists have it easy - bass strings are so much more expensive If only changing the strings process was not so complicated/boring... -------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net
Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now! |
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May 23 2014, 10:38 PM |
Great point!! Just giving them a good wipe with a cloth can extend their life and keep them sounding better
Cleaning your strings after a practice/work session helps a bit
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May 23 2014, 11:12 PM
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I am the worst , since I stopped playing live,I change strings when they break
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May 24 2014, 04:53 PM |
For me, a broken G or D string signifies that I've gone too long w/o a string change. Or if I see a 'kink' (slight bend) in any string. That will affect tuning really badly. Depending on what type of music I'm playing on what guitar I may not change strings for years. I've never changed the strings on my baritone and I bought in the 90s - I don't bend on it. Many classical guitarists keep the treble strings on for a long time and only change the bass (wound) strings.
*Related to another thread ... If you pick up a guitar in a shop and it tunes up easily and sounds good - even with old strings and a crappy setup - that's a GOOD guitar. This post has been edited by klasaine: May 24 2014, 04:54 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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May 24 2014, 06:20 PM |
...is to change your strings! Still many students come to me with old rusty strings. Even I notice that some student's guitars can't stay on tune right and the main reason is having old strings. I have a short tour with my band this weekend so I've already changed strings on my Gibson. Did you change yours recently? Btw while you are at it, clean your fretboard with a cloth and your instrument will feel like new. Do you know of any other “quick fixes” to improve your setup? Good Thread; Gabriel! Sometimes I have students who never change their strings for YEARS!!! I'm perplexed sometimes because they have really expensive instruments but don't wanna spend only a few bucks for a set of strings. If I'm telling them that I change my string almost every 2nd/3rd day. they don't believe it, haha But for me it's really important to have a fresh sound, specially for the open harmonics. Other wise they won't come out really well( Remember my Jeff Beck lesson where I point it out how important this is!) And I hate it when the strings feel so sticky from sweaty hands. That's the reason why I don't like to play on instruments of other people as well, ..........you never know where they had their hands before..... Beside this I change my strings before every gig & rehearsal too, of course. This post has been edited by Guido Bungenstock: May 24 2014, 06:22 PM |
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May 24 2014, 07:34 PM |
I also like the natural wood finish of my music man guitars. They just have that perfect profile for me and feels totally comfortably.
BTW I just checked out the new D'Addario NYXL Stringss and it's like they're saying: STRUM HARDER • BEND FURTHER • STAY IN TUNE BETTER Wow, what an improvement, they just sound incredible good, punchier and lots of sustain........!!! After playing these D'Addario EXL120 for many years, I won't return! Try them out!!! This post has been edited by Guido Bungenstock: May 24 2014, 07:35 PM |
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