Renewing strings

[Dragontooth]

Just how often do you folks change strings. I have a new Martin (3 Mos. old) and was just wondering if I'm getting the maximum out of the instrument. It's played at least an hour a day and still sounds fine. I've got a set of Elixers (light) and am a little hesitant to change from the Med. that came on the instrument. I don't want to diminish the beautiful sound .

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Well if it still sounds fine than don't change them until they sound crappy and wont tune/intonate properly. That's always been my rule. I've also been known to boil the wound strings in hot water to get a couple days more life out of them

[guitarist21]

If you like how the mediums sound, how come you're switching to lights?

 

Also check out this thread:

 

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1795044&highlight=how+often+do+you+change+strings

 

And this one:

 

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1775068&highlight=how+often+do+you+change+strings

 

Ellen

[totamus]

You will find the volume and depth of tone are diminished by going to lights. It will play easier, but there really is a difference in tone. The Elixer lights are also famous for the G string breaking.

 

At 3 months, you should be due for a change...

 

Congrats on the MArtin!!

[WaveRay]

I think if you have a question about it, you should change the strings. If you don't hear a difference after changing them, they probably didn't need changing. Chances are though, that after 3 months of everyday playing, they could use to be changed. I change my strings more often than it seems a lot of others do. I just like the sound of new strings, I don't mind the process and the costs don't hurt me. Also, I use Martin SP's which are known to not last long.

Change them, play the guitar and judge for yourself. You'll fall into a routine soon enough.

[JerseyGuy]

Taste, budget, all sorts of things influence this decision. I got a Martin a few months ago and the sound with new strings is so transcendant, I don't use Elixirs or other "long life" strings, and change the strings about every three weeks or so. I want that great, great sound. I do use Elixirs on some of my others, and I like them and they do really last (so do the Daddario EXPs), but nothin' but the best for my new Martin. Besides, once you start changing this often, it almost becomes second nature and isn't much of a chore anymore. I knew I was hooked when I found myself daydreaming one day about rushing home and putting new Martin PBs on it. Game over. Stick with mediums if you can, there really is a difference. Good luck.

[MattSkibaIsGOD]

Every 6 weeks. Or as soon as they sound/feel yucky. Sometimes sooner if I don't like the strings I chose.

[babablowfish]

I use Martin Phosphor Bronze SP Mediums - I bought a case before Freeman did his string test and I haven't run out of them yet. I have found that you can extend the life of your strings by:

1. washing your hands before playing

2. wiping the strings down after playing

3. using GHS Fast Fret

[totamus]

Hey Baba - Does that fast fret ever cause your strings to get "gummy"? I tried to use it but the the strings got so sticky I couldn't play. I alway wondered if it was my individual chemistry reacting with the fast fret or if was just the fast fret.

 

I use the spray on "finger ease" now.

[Samilyn]

My vote goes to Martin SP bronze. I don't like Elixir either.

 

Probably best to stick with the mediums if that's what came on your git. If you switch to lights, a setup or minor adjustments might be in order.

 

My body chemistry and high number of playing hours dictate a string change every 2-3 weeks or so. But that's just me.

 

Let your ears and budget make your decision.

[babablowfish]

 

Hey Baba - Does that fast fret ever cause your strings to get "gummy"? I tried to use it but the the strings got so sticky I couldn't play. I alway wondered if it was my individual chemistry reacting with the fast fret or if was just the fast fret. I use the spray on "finger ease" now.

 

 

I don't know if this is your problem, but it is important if you use Fastfret to wipe the strings down thoroughly after use. As I understand it, Fastfret is basically mineral oil (perhaps with a special blend of rare herbs and spices?) When Irubiton my strings I then wipeit off with a soft cotton cloth which becomes black from all the corrosion I am removing. I would imagine that if you don't wipe it down throroughly it would get gummy pretty quickly.

[Dragontooth]

One more question regarding restringing - I've read that you should only replace one string at at time because it is better for the neck. Today I picked up a book on guitar maintenance which directs the removal of all strings at once (then clean and condition the fingerboard with lemon oil). Maybe it's a minor item but I want to be sure to do things the correct way. Thanks for all the responses!

[Freeman Keller]

First question - I tend to go about 3 months with coated strings, maybe a bit longer on a couple of guitars. At 25 bucks a set for the twelve strings I don't like changing them very often (I just bought five sets, there will be a brief frenzy of restringing and lots of tuning.....)

 

Second question - I remove them all and do a nice little cleanup. On resonators, the mandolin and anything with a floating bridge leave a couple on so things don't shift.

 

I'm one of the people who do not use lemon oil after reading Martin's caution that it can damage nitro finishes (only my Taylor is not nitro and Taylor says lemon oil is fine for their fretboards). Opinions vary a lot on this and I'm sure some others will chime in.

[DeepEnd]

 

. . . I've read that you should only replace one string at at time because it is better for the neck. Today I picked up a book on guitar maintenance which directs the removal of all strings at once (then clean and condition the fingerboard with lemon oil). . . .

 

I usually replace one string at a time but you should probably take them all of occasionally (more often if your guitar is in an especially dry environment) and run 0000 steel wool over the fingerboard and frets followed by some type of oil. I use gun stock oil, which is primarily linseed oil, but others use different products like mineral oil, lemon oil, etc. That said, my main guitar is coming up on 5 years old and I've polished the frets twice and oiled the fingerboard once. My 12-string is about 35 years old and I've done each to it exactly once. So I don't find it to me something you need to do often.