[horn82y]

D'addario lights, i changed them about two and a half months ago. sounded amazing when i changed them, but now i can definatly tell that they are old, and oddly enough i can feel it to. how often do you all change your guitar strings and why if it is relatively soon after you laast change?

thanks

[mclina]

I go about 2-3 months, and also use D'addario lights. There is usually a noticable drop off in sound after that two month point. I am just a casual player, who goofs around an hour or less a day.

[horn82y]

i play alot to, like around two to three hours a day. so i guess i am going to have to change them more often

I go about 2-3 months, and also use D'addario lights. There is usually a noticable drop off in sound after that two month point. I am just a casual player, who goofs around an hour or less a day.

yea i really notice the change i am actually kinda dissapointed

[MakoMako]

I've been told that most strings begin to decay after about 40 hours of play time. I'm not positive if this is true, but this is what I was told. I personally change my strings every month or so.

[dadfad]

Gigging: Every four to six playing hours.

Home use, etc: Every thirty to forty playing hours which is usually around a month (less often on guitars I rarely play).

Just depends on your requirements for the guitar at that time.

[horn82y]

Gigging: Every four to six playing hours.

Home use, etc: Every thirty to forty playing hours which is usually around a month (less often on guitars I rarely play).

Just depends on your requirements for the guitar at that time.

i was waiting for your reply. and thanks for doing it. Thats really good to know.
anyway, i guess i have to change my strings really quick, thanks

[dadfad]

Thanks. A general very loose rule is also that the heavier the strings, the slightly less often you need to change them. If you have multiple guitars, or a pretty "set" use for your guitar, change accordingly. I have guitars with three month old (even older) strings on them. But I don't play them often and so not all that many playing hours (although it still might exceed the 30-40 hours I usually use as a "rule"). But my tone requirements for them at that time (usually just working on a specific tune where that guitar is the "right" one for it) is pretty low. I'm just messing around by myself arranging or something. If I was to use it for a gig, or even just in front of others like at a workshop or get-together or something, I'd have new (or much newer) strings on it. I believe in your guitar sounding its best when you need that, but at the same time don't like to waste strings (or more importantly, time) changing them when it's not required for that kind of use.

[Schneibster]

The short version of dadfad's reply: when I notice they sound not-so-good and I get up the gumption to do it, or before just about every public appearance.

[horn82y]

yea, well i play a weekly basis at church, but it isnt a huge deal, the other guitarist doesnt change her strings enless one breaks, and then she only changes that individual string.... grrr.....

[dadfad]

The short version of dadfad's reply: when I notice they sound not-so-good and I get up the gumption to do it, or before just about every public appearance.

Pretty much! Except... hearing your own guitar day after day as the strings slowly and incrementally lose their tone sometimes makes you unaware of just how much it has degraded. That's why you need some degree of "changing-rules" to adhere to generally, even if you think they still sound just fine. It's like watching your hair grow! You don't really notice it as it's happening ever so slowly and incrementally, but it's happening just the same. And that's how it is with the tone degradation. You don't really notice to what extent it has taken place. Until you put on a set of new strings.

[ninjato]

yea, well i play a weekly basis at church, but it isnt a huge deal, the other guitarist doesnt change her strings enless one breaks, and then she only changes that individual string.... grrr.....

Isn't that the most annoying thing? I do't even see the point of changing one string unless your gigging and a string snaps.

Maybe you need to introduce her to WEBSTRINGS:

http://www.webstrings.com

at that price, she can afford to change string without having to wait till they break.

[horn82y]

yea, it is frustrating, but its her choice at what her guitar sounds like, but i know mine sounds better and thats all that matters.

the funny thing though is the only reason she doesnt change all her strings is it takes to long...i mean really a whole half hour at the most, unless you deep clean your guitar

[ninjato]

yea, it is frustrating, but its her choice at what her guitar sounds like, but i know mine sounds better and thats all that matters.

the funny thing though is the only reason she doesnt change all her strings is it takes to long...i mean really a whole half hour at the most, unless you deep clean your guitar

Does she realize that her guitar can sound a whole lot better? 1/2 hour to change strings? Damm...it takes me that long to do my 12 string but 6 string...20 minutes tops unless deep cleaning like you said.

[horn82y]

yea, i know, i kinda told her that. I just changed my strings about and hour ago, and it sounds so much better now... its amazing the difference you can hear, but i do wich i had different strings to change to, i want to get those bronze phosfhurs bluegrass ones dadfad always talks about

[Irenic Retral]

i play alot to, like around two to three hours a day. so i guess i am going to have to change them more often

I go about 2-3 months, and also use D'addario lights. There is usually a noticable drop off in sound after that two month point. I am just a casual player, who goofs around an hour or less a day.

yea i really notice the change i am actually kinda dissapointed

It starts decaying after it's made. That's not the problem, the problem is when the decay is significant enough for you to hear it, the point when your guitar sounds like crap.

[ninjato]

It starts decaying after it's made. That's not the problem, the problem is when the decay is significant enough for you to hear it, the point when your guitar sounds like crap.

How?

[billy16]

Every 30-40 hours? My strings have been on for more than 3 months and I play 4-8 hours a day. Guess I'm a little overdue, but I can't afford new strings and I'm not gigging. They're staying on until they break. Weird thing is they're dirtiest over the 17-20 frets. I don't play up there all that much.

[lolmerule]

i only change mine when they break and thats been a while prolly should change but meh ive got other things to do like damn homework

[horn82y]

i know, homework blows ass

[rayvon87]

I change them when I feel that they need changing, they need changing right now, but I don't have any yet, maybe tomorrow. They just don't feel as smooth or sound as good. I got this 'Finger Ease' spray which helps though. It also helps with the fingers, the callouses don't go all white and peel and snag. Good stuff, I'd reccommend it.