Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: fire Aug 23 2007, 02:49 AM

Hi...
How long do you play with a set of strings usually?
I'm a "change-the-strings-every-10-days" player
That's getting quite expenisve but - I'm simply discontent with bad sounds.
Post your habitudes...

Tobi

Posted by: SDMF75 Aug 23 2007, 02:56 AM

www.webstrings.com

Really good strings and cheap 2.99 a pack and as low as 2.49 per. Did I mention that they were cheap ?

I change usually about once a month.

Posted by: shredmandan Aug 23 2007, 03:05 AM

I voted up to 3 weeks because depending on make sometimes i can stand them that long.If i have it my way though i like them changed every 2 weeks regardless of maker but hey that can get expensive.

Posted by: Owen Aug 23 2007, 03:12 AM

A year?

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Aug 23 2007, 03:19 AM

QUOTE (Owen @ Aug 22 2007, 10:12 PM)

A year?

Posted by: JVM Aug 23 2007, 03:24 AM

I usually change once a month or a little longer.

Posted by: SEANCD2005 Aug 23 2007, 03:35 AM

I use my strings till they break on me, I use some stuff called planet waves string cleaner i use it every few weeks and it brings some life back into the strings

Posted by: Pavel Aug 23 2007, 04:12 AM

My last around 3 months...than i change them if i can't stand any more of detuned octaves!

Posted by: benhowell Aug 23 2007, 04:13 AM

My strings seem to only last me a week or two at most-maybe i have a hard touch!

Thats d'ddario.

I prefer using Thomastik-Infeld strings,they have GREAT tone and literally last 10 times as long!

I use the powerbrights, and the great thing is they are only £2.00 more expensive than ddarios.

Once you use them you probably wont want to go back!

-Ben

Posted by: MickeM Aug 23 2007, 04:17 AM

Changing strings is so boring so it can be months in between, rather than following a scedule I do it when I feel like it.

Posted by: Robin Aug 23 2007, 04:17 AM

I use them untill they break. I'm not always changing everything if only 1 breaks though.
I break atleast one string every 2nd week.

I use Elixir, and they NEVER EVER get dirty or rusty. I tried GHS not long ago, they snapped after a couple of days, and they were already really dirty, it was not comfortable to play with those.

Posted by: Pavel Aug 23 2007, 05:49 AM

Ben: that's strange....i use D'Addario's and i love them! Long lasting, nice tone... i guess it all depends on a person!

Posted by: benhowell Aug 23 2007, 06:12 AM

How strange Pavel!

I agree, alot of people love d'adarios-I like them when they last for me!

I guess its down to touch, humidity, temperature, etc all those kinds of things too!

-Ben

Posted by: Pavel Aug 23 2007, 06:20 AM

Yeah exactly! Even piano strings can behave different depending on the air conditions in the room so i guess guitar is much more sensitive because of having a very sensitive neck and stuff!

Posted by: Hardtail Aug 23 2007, 07:12 AM

AH! This is the main reason I use Elixirs over other brands. Because of the coatings they maintain their quality sound until they start becoming brittle and need changed. They last me about 3 Months but I wipe them every night when I'm done playing.

Also, I use Martin SP+ on my acoustic because they have the same coating as the Elixirs but a little nicer sound for acoustic IMO.

Hardtail

Posted by: The Uncreator Aug 23 2007, 07:21 AM

I use all of them for 2 weeks mostly, sometimes 3, after 2 weeks, they are dirty and used beyond cleaning, and i they only cost me $5 for a brand new pack so its no problem really.

Posted by: DeepRoots Aug 23 2007, 07:28 AM

I use mine till i'm clumsy enough to break them. I find they stay fine if i keep them clean- I recommend "The Swipe"

http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/ViewProduct.aspx?productId=403

They're pretty cheap and VERY VERY effective and easy to use.
I use it every other day (because i'm terribly lazy....) and buy a new one every other month.
Makes my strings last and i don't get any stringy bits wrapped around the strings once im done cleaning (as you do with conventional dusters etc..)

Posted by: kevin-riff-after-riff Aug 23 2007, 09:42 PM

usually (thick to thin) 1, 3, 4 lasts bout 2 months the others snap like every other day.... well every 3 weeks or so

Posted by: muris Aug 23 2007, 09:45 PM

Two weeks,maybe a bit longer...

Posted by: Jerry Arcidiacono Aug 24 2007, 12:16 AM

Normally, 3 - 4 weeks.

Posted by: Pentatonic Gathering Aug 25 2007, 12:04 AM

I used D´Addario before and they went rusty very fast. Maybe its cauze I life 5mins from the beach?
But now I use Ernie Ball, I change them every 2 to 3 months, depending when I can find them. (Music stored here dont really stock them.)
It really pisses me off when its like playing on metal, speacially on my Elec/Acoustic...

Posted by: Smikey2006 Aug 25 2007, 12:15 AM

I have a new favorite strings but i dunno what they are the stock strings that came on my Schecter are absolutly amazing and ive had them for about 2 months absolutly no problems they still sound great.. so ive gotta go back to the store and ask what they are! But on the rest of my guitars i use Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky and they last quiet a while but i switch them every 2 weeks just to keep them from stretching too much.

Posted by: Pentatonic Gathering Aug 25 2007, 12:30 AM

I used D´Addario before and they went rusty very fast. Maybe its cauze I life 5mins from the beach?
But now I use Ernie Ball, I change them every 2 to 3 months, depending when I can find them. (Music stored here dont really stock them.)
It really pisses me off when its like playing on metal, speacially on my Elec/Acoustic...

Posted by: muris Aug 25 2007, 12:39 AM

QUOTE (Pentatonic Gathering @ Aug 25 2007, 01:30 AM)

Posted by: Rock Aug 25 2007, 02:50 AM

QUOTE (Smikey2006 @ Aug 25 2007, 12:15 AM)

I have a new favorite strings but i dunno what they are the stock strings that came on my Schecter are absolutly amazing and ive had them for about 2 months absolutly no problems they still sound great.. so ive gotta go back to the store and ask what they are! But on the rest of my guitars i use Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky and they last quiet a while but i switch them every 2 weeks just to keep them from stretching too much.

Posted by: The Spartan Aug 25 2007, 08:33 AM

every 1-2 weeks....I have sweaty hands so my strings don't last that long

Posted by: CrashOops Aug 26 2007, 01:42 AM

about every 2 to 3 weeks depending on frequency of playing. I wipe my strings down every night after done playing aswell. Keeps them nice and clean
not sure why I change the strings that often. it just feels right

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Aug 26 2007, 03:00 AM

Once a month, but it depends, if haven't any show I change them in 2 month or longer...

Of course, if I have a show I change strings a week before

Posted by: Ryan Aug 27 2007, 01:58 AM

i dont think i have ever had a pair of strings last longer than a month . But then again buy cheap ones, and thats becasue i break them to easily!!!

ONe time I broke the strings the same day just put them on not even like 5 mins. That really pissed me off!! Is there some kind of reason for that??

Posted by: Gustavo Aug 27 2007, 05:36 AM

till the 1st string crack or 1 month XD

i swet a lot my hands :S

so my strings get very gritty

i use d'addario 00.9

Posted by: SLASH91 Aug 27 2007, 08:46 AM

I dont change them till they start sounding bad or they crack.
So, that could be anywhere from 1-3 months.

Posted by: spdalton Aug 27 2007, 07:04 PM

I use plain of ernie ball slinky strings. I wouldn't normally change them unless a string broke.

I'm lazy

Posted by: Smells Oct 31 2007, 11:57 PM

Yup, Ernie Ball Super Slinky`s here.

anything from 2-4 weeks depending on how much I`ve been playing, must confess that sometimes if I`m feeling lazy and the strings are a bit tired on one guitar then I just play one of my other guitars for a while

Posted by: ClifordACDC Nov 1 2007, 12:08 AM

i just looked on the schecter website and it said they use ghs 10-46 on there guitars.

Posted by: Fabian Schulz Nov 1 2007, 12:13 AM

i use elixir strings .10 - 0.46. they never get rusty, so i play them till one of the strings rips off.

Posted by: Tomotoms Dec 13 2007, 02:21 PM

I change mine every other month.

My strings never break in that time - am I not hitting them hard enough or are you all using thinner gauges?

I use Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (10-13-17-26-36-46).

Posted by: Pavel Dec 13 2007, 03:02 PM

I should change my stings right away but i just don't WANT to spend an hour with that

Posted by: David.C.Bond Dec 13 2007, 03:05 PM

Never more than a week, usually a few days.
Like to keep em fresh

Posted by: Guitarman700 Dec 13 2007, 05:06 PM

You can change the strings?!?!?!

Posted by: golfrocker Dec 13 2007, 05:40 PM

I try to change mine every 4 weeks or so. I had been playing Ernie Ball .11 and just switched to .10, so I'll see how much of a difference that makes.

Posted by: Skewlbuzz Dec 14 2007, 04:31 PM

Had my last (and first) set of strings on for over 1½ year

My guitar sounds much better with new ones on though hehe

Posted by: Bogdan Dec 14 2007, 05:52 PM

Since I discovered fast fret for cleaning my strings , I change strings on about every 3 months sometimes even more..Wait for one to crack and than change all of them..Of course when I have important gig / recording session I change them for that occasion..

Posted by: KloCkWorXx Dec 26 2007, 10:14 PM

since floyd rose are a bitch sometime i leave em on till i fear tetnus haha..

Posted by: Sabbz Dec 28 2007, 04:43 AM

QUOTE (Bogdan @ Dec 14 2007, 11:52 AM)

Posted by: Mr T Dec 28 2007, 10:56 AM

A set of strings lasts me about 5-6 weeks. Or sometimes until one cracks, but that doesn't happen alot.

Posted by: BarrMan Jan 26 2008, 10:54 AM

I change every half a year or when they start getting rust on them.

Every week? That's insane... Every 2 weeks? Insane... 3 weeks? ahh.. more reasonable.. but still insane...
I'd say 2-3 months is a good time period.

After one week the strings are not even at their best quality because they keep being untuned very often. After 2 weeks the strings are great and are still new.

And if you're careful with them and keep your guitar at a safe place, your strings will last for about 3-4 months easily.

- Imri

Posted by: Nighthawk Jan 26 2008, 11:12 AM

I guess it just makes sense if you add how many hours you played on these strings. If you change strings after two weeks in which you played 15 hours a day a string change could be a good advice. But if you strike some powerchords an hour per week you can also change after a couple of months.
Even though I play a lot I am also not the big string changer since the most time I practise some techniques in which it is not that important to have new sounding strings on your guitar.

Posted by: skulptor Jan 26 2008, 10:41 PM

I have 9 guitars and play some more than others so I change em every 20-25 hours of playing.
I use Gibson Bright Wires or Humbuckers on my LP, SG and Jackson ..10's. and I use pure nickles on my Fenders (takes the edge of the highs and gives a little warmer tone) also 10's.

Posted by: Muris Jan 27 2008, 10:01 AM

I just got 6 sets of Elixir's,2 Nanoweb and 4 Polyweb,
gonna see if they will change my routine

Posted by: Ttask Jan 27 2008, 10:48 AM

I changed my strings for the first time yesterday, more than one year after I bought my guitar. I didn't even know people were usually changing their strings couple of weeks or so. But I set up 9-42 RPS Ernie Balls and I really dislike the feeling (its too thin for me, and I really don't have much sustain), so I think I will change again very soon for a thicker set

Posted by: visi0n Jan 27 2008, 12:21 PM

i change my strings when they crack, mostly the high e is the first one that snaps .. but i didnt changed it now for a half year i think ...

Posted by: kevin-riff-after-riff Jan 27 2008, 07:41 PM

this is interesting, coz there is a big bent bit on my G string (26 gauge) and it doesnt seemmto look like its gonna snap, its been like tha for a few days now and i cant remember exactly when it got dented, its behind the nut lol i think i'll just leave it htere until it snaps