how often do you change the strings?

[nitram]

When I start charting hours/string set/guitar take my guitar away and shoot me. That sounds too much like running a nuclear power plant. What about your ears?

[RussellHawaii]

I change ‘em when there is visible discoloration, or rough spots I can feel. Those things cause me to change them before I notice any actual sound difference. Uncoated strings feel fresh for a month and good enough for up to two months, depending on play time.

[Guitars44me]

When the sound is not up to par, it is time for new strings.

Let your ears (and your fingers) be the judges

When gigging, you might want to change them a little more often, to avoid a broken string on stage

Paul

[douglasfan1]

I heard a rumor claiming that if you playing too frequent everyday, there is no difference no matter what strings you used, coated or uncoated. The life of whatever strings will be the same, is that true?

[Zissou Intern]

Originally Posted by Dash_Starkiller

I use Martin retros sooo… not often haha. Plus I like the old sound.

Same for me. It can be 3-4 months with a set of Monels, and then I usually just change them out of restlessness. When I use D'Add J17's or J19's, I get about 3 weeks to a month out of them.

[Glob]

When I feel like it

[JKA]

There's a story that George Harrison, after owning his Gretsch for many years was having trouble with its tuning so decided to have a guitar tech take a look at it.

"When was the last time you changed your strings George" he asked. "Change strings?"

[EZYPIKINS]

When I was gigging hard. Approx. 14-16 hours per week.

I changed every week.

Another guitarist I used to play with, would change after every gig.

Now retired, don't change near as much.

Maybe every couple months.

Or if one breaks, I'll change the set.

Broke one on the (Taylor Killer) the other day. Put it away and grabbed the OM-28

Still need to change.

[ish5]

My last string change came when the Monels sounded so bad I wanted to sell the guitar. I was seriously questioning my original love for the instrument. I'll probably get on a schedule of every 2-3 months to keep it from happening like that again.

[Joe Beamish]

I play maybe 90 minutes a day on average and change strings every 4-8 weeks. I’ve been using John Pearse 80/20s for a few years.

There’s always one moment when I realize the strings need changed. Even though I play the same amount of time there is still a variation in how soon they need swapped out.

[phydaux]

I use phosphor bronze strings. I change them when I can see my finger marks in the bronze.

[Goat Mick]

My "stay at home" guitars all wear Elixer strings and I only need to change those about once a year. My gigging guitars get a lot more work and they get new strings after two gigs. Any longer than that and I'll break one mid show. My skin chemistry is pretty brutal on strings so I will kill a set of uncoated strings in about two weeks regardless of play time or gigs.

[ish5]

Originally Posted by Zissou Intern

Same for me. It can be 3-4 months with a set of Monels, and then I usually just change them out of restlessness. When I use D'Add J17's or J19's, I get about 3 weeks to a month out of them.

I've read that these last awhile, but my last set went dead in two months or so. I mean really dead. Sounds like that is an anomaly?

[mr. beaumont]

I'm one of those "likes the sound of old strings" guys, so if I keep them clean, I really start liking strings a few weeks in and continue liking them for 3-4 months...

The only guitars I currently gig are electrics with flatwounds, so those can go even longer--again, provided I keep them clean...if it's a sweaty gig and I forget a wipedown, that high E and B are toast, but the flatwound basses last forever, 6 months to a year!

As soon as I notice any tuning issues or intonation issues due to age, I change them...I'm often astonished as to how different the new strings sound...

[birdsong]

I'm lucky to get an hour of play every other day. With 10 guitars to rotate, I do not have to change strings very often......... I try to, once/year, on most of them. I try........ I really try........ I have many new packs of strings just waiting........ (coated, uncoated; PB's, 80/20's, Monels, the nylons.......).

If I ever find the time to play more, I'll find time to change strings more often.