String Question

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String Question

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Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

String Question

Hi All,

This mite be a stupid question....

So, i changed strings like 2 months ago. I use D'Addario pro arte normal tension

The string color especially the low strings are already fade out....I practice alot and i have notice the strings don't sound as good...Kind of like they lost there brightness and loudness...

i guess the means it is now time to change them? Does it mean this when color of your strings where you ras and play has warned out....That it is time to change.

Thanks,
Kalo
I

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 29 2020 16:43:15

mt1007

Posts: 162
Joined: Jan. 19 2011

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

Kalo,

When string color fades or seems worn you could change strings. Me personally I never can get my strings to change color they just wear out badly over frets. I think the color change has to do with how acidic your natural hand oils can be. I really love the sound of worn out strings, they have that really nice warm sound.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 29 2020 17:57:01

Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

Thanks for the response mt1007..

Maybe I am just hitting them way to hard as well which could change string colors as well.

I will keep them on a little longer....I wish I could play with heavy tension, but I just can't...I will maybe try different strings as well in normal tension...

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 29 2020 18:07:30

Ricardo

Posts: 14802
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kaloguitarist

Thanks for the response mt1007..

Maybe I am just hitting them way to hard as well which could change string colors as well.

I will keep them on a little longer....I wish I could play with heavy tension, but I just can't...I will maybe try different strings as well in normal tension...

Kalo

The PH in your fingers changes over time. When I was young I would kill strings same night if I had a gig. Normal play would kill strings in two weeks. I’ve gone through lots of strings... brand doesn’t really matter. As I got older I noticed they last longer and longer. The reason I realized age has to do with it...I lent my guitar to a young guy in my band just to play one song. Strings where dead immediately

. Ever since I wouldn’t let him touch my guitar unless the strings where old already. For me now, basses can last a couple months.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 30 2020 15:35:00

etta

Posts: 342
Joined: Jan. 20 2010

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

Buy more guitars and alternate them, and strings will last longer. NOW SERIOUSLY, the best thing you can do after playing is wipe each individual string from the bridge to the nut with a soft cloth. Normal playing will cause wear but cleaning strings after playing will make them last longer.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 30 2020 16:03:03

Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

The PH in your fingers changes over time. When I was young I would kill strings same night if I had a gig. Normal play would kill strings in two weeks. I’ve gone through lots of strings... brand doesn’t really matter. As I got older I noticed they last longer and longer. The reason I realized age has to do with it...I lent my guitar to a young guy in my band just to play one song. Strings where dead immediately . Ever since I wouldn’t let him touch my guitar unless the strings where old already. For me now, basses can last a couple months.

Ricardo, that is interesting to know.. I think I tend to play heavy...I have noticed the strings are dead after lots of practice and only having them for two months...

Also, I followed your foro advise about glue and they do help my nails...I am thinking maybe the heaviness of my rhythmic playing and the glue I wear on my nails might have something to do as well....

quote:

Buy more guitars and alternate them, and strings will last longer. NOW SERIOUSLY, the best thing you can do after playing is wipe each individual string from the bridge to the nut with a soft cloth. Normal playing will cause wear but cleaning strings after playing will make them last longer.

Hahaha, Etta....Buying another guitar might solve the problem...LOL Good advise there, I will wipe the strings down after playing and see if that helps....

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 30 2020 16:48:18

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: String Question (in reply to Ricardo)

When we were starving students and used Leonidas strings from Mexico, we had a way of extending their life. When they got dull we took them off and soaked them in warm soapy water for a few hours, then soaked them in clean water to get the soap off. Hung them up to dry, then put them back on. They were great for a few days.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 30 2020 17:32:39

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

i changed strings like 2 months ago. I use D'Addario pro arte normal tension

TWO MONTHS?!

Some people change strings every two weeks!

I think you are making your strings last a long time already.

If they are tarnished, worn and/or starting to feel stiff and hard to play after a month or so it's time to change them.

In my experience D'Addario are about the longest lasting string brand (but I prefer sound and feel of other makes of strings).

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2020 14:04:55

Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

TWO MONTHS?!

Some people change strings every two weeks!

I think you are making your strings last a long time already.

If they are tarnished, worn and/or starting to feel stiff and hard to play after a month or so it's time to change them.

In my experience D'Addario are about the longest lasting string brand (but I prefer sound and feel of other makes of strings).

Hey Mark,

Yeah, I am going to have to change them...They are sounding dull...Over the weekend I relented trying to keep them for as long as possible...But, I am going to change them out this week...

Thanks to All who have contribute to my post...

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 2 2020 17:25:07

rombsix

Posts: 7808
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

I change my strings once every year or two because I am extremely careful with my playing and I just don't play a lot anymore. My touch on the guitar is very light. Also, I hate changing strings, so I avoid it like the plague until I really get fed up with the strings sounding like ****, so only THEN do I change them. The advantage of doing so is that you rediscover your love for guitar once every couple of years. It's great!

You can also take off the strings and reverse them, so the part that was over the frets now becomes over the top / sound hole, etc.

You can also de-tune the guitar ALL the way down overnight then tune it back up the next morning and the strings will come back to life for a couple more days.

_____________________________

Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 2 2020 17:46:13

Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

change my strings once every year or two because I am extremely careful with my playing and I just don't play a lot anymore. My touch on the guitar is very light.

Wow, once every year or two??? I wonder if my hand is heavy while i play...I think it mite be the glue i am wearing on my nails. I don't keep them long they are short, but, the job, I am doing, I had to wear protection cause they were breaking like crazy.

quote:

You can also take off the strings and reverse them, so the part that was over the frets now becomes over the top / sound hole, etc.

You can also de-tune the guitar ALL the way down overnight then tune it back up the next morning and the strings will come back to life for a couple more days.

The video is very interesting on how to clean and re-use...i will change them out for the time being....And, detune when I am not playing

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 2 2020 19:16:55

JasonM

Posts: 2055
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

Not sure if I would de tune and tune up the bass strings too much. It might shorten the life because of the repeated stretching on the strings.

Things I’ve done in the past are to wipe the bass strings with one of those silver tarnish removing cloths. Sometimes music stores will sell them for this purpose. Might be good if you have sweaty hands. Also, instead of flipping the strings around you can unwind them and let out a little slack, and re tune.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 3 2020 15:14:23

Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

RE: String Question (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

ot sure if I would de tune and tune up the bass strings too much. It might shorten the life because of the repeated stretching on the strings.

Things I’ve done in the past are to wipe the bass strings with one of those silver tarnish removing cloths. Sometimes music stores will sell them for this purpose. Might be good if you have sweaty hands. Also, instead of flipping the strings around you can unwind them and let out a little slack, and re tune.

Hey Jason M.

I will look into tarnish removing cloths... i am even thinking of buying the D'addario normal tension with G composite and see how I like those....

Thanks,
Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 3 2020 16:58:15