Members filterthing Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Went to get some new strings and realized it has been since late 2006 that I put new ones on! I dont change my strings that often, couple reasons being my hands only sweat when I fly, and I treat my neck like a surgical scrub room. That being said, would it be bad for the neck to put on new strings after such a long time? Should I get a set up as well? I think the newer strings will have more tension than the almost 3 year old set. By the way, I tend to play medium light gauge, 100 for the E. Thanks all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WynnD Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 The tension of a tuned and properly setup bass won't change. Or at least won't change enough to notice. I sometimes run pretty long time between changes too. The only thing I do notice is if the strings are more or less slippery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members poomwah Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 as long as you stick with the same guage strings, you'll be fine. the big thing though, does it sound like you need new strings?? I vary how long I use strings a lot by which bass it is, my thunderbird for instance, I hope I NEVER have to change strings on that, I LOVE the way it sounds with old strings. My yammie, I tried to keep them pretty fresh, its got a nice "piano like" sound when the strings are new. whenever I do change the strings on the bird, it will probably be with old strings off of one of my other basses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 That being said, would it be bad for the neck to put on new strings after such a long time? Should I get a set up as well? I think the newer strings will have more tension than the almost 3 year old set. If it's been 3'ish years since you've had it set up, then yes, it's time. I have mine set up about once a year and I have my guy change the strings while he's at it...which is about the only way they get changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members filterthing Posted February 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Hey, Thanks for the responses. I have never changed the gauge of the strings since the bass was new. So that shouldn't be a problem. As far as a set up, I know it is due, but I am happy with the way it plays. I am sure the intonation is off in some places, but there is very little fret buzz and the action is where I want it. As far as needing them, I think it is time. I am used to keeping them for a long time, but at this point there is zero brightness to any of them. I hate new strings for that reason, as they tend to sound way too bright the first couple of weeks you have em on. But the current set is really sounding kinda dead. So it sounds like if I stick to the same strings and gauge all will be well. Thanks again... now off to buy some. Gotta love the fact that you can keep them going for so long, easy to justify the 25+ for bass strings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I may go over a year with a set of strings. I bring my basses in for an annual "checkup" just to keep them in top shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Perfessor Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I never change my Rotosound jazz flats. Never. Guys here think I'm nuts....everyone who hears them says they sound great and tell me so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members solderjunkie Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I put new strings on when I put a bass together, and change them when I don't like the tone any more. My Jazz has had the same set of DR High Beams for over a year... still "zingy" as ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members davidM Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 i change about every 3 months, but i sweat like a hog, and my band practices 2 to 3 times a week for 3 to 4 hours, and we play almost every weekend. but i'm also a fairly aggressive player, i'm working on not being so, but i've been known to break stings... in the last year i've popped about 4 or 5 strings. stupid bad technique, that's what i get for playing punk and hardcore for almost my entire musical life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members countrybass Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 Hey, Thanks for the responses. I have never changed the gauge of the strings since the bass was new. So that shouldn't be a problem. As far as a set up, I know it is due, but I am happy with the way it plays. I am sure the intonation is off in some places, but there is very little fret buzz and the action is where I want it. The intonation is always going to be off slightly in some places. When I went to Duquesne University to study jazz, my prof was so into ear training which was cool, but because I developed my ear to such an extent, slight intonation issues drive my nuts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I never change my Rotosound jazz flats. Never. Guys here think I'm nuts....everyone who hears them says they sound great and tell me so. James Jamerson never changed his strings either, you're in good company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members georgestrings Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 The tension of a tuned and properly setup bass won't change. Or at least won't change enough to notice. I sometimes run pretty long time between changes too. The only thing I do notice is if the strings are more or less slippery. I don't know that I agree with that - I typically get around 6-10 gigs out of a set of strings before I feel they're played out - which is *usually* around 6 weeks... During the tail end of that time, it seems as if the strings are *slightly* losing some tension or stiffness, as sometimes I have a tiny bit more neck relief than desired until I put a new set back on - and they get a "floppy" feel to them... Also, older strings tend to get buzzy a bit easier than fresh strings... YMMV, but that's how I see it... - georgestrings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bryan316 Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I despise new strings with a passion. I want deep, smooth, thick tone. I don't like a lot of chimey highs or hearing the strings clack against the fretboard. I want old, dead strings. I want all tone, no characteristics. Let the guitars ride over it. Unless I record. then I change strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jasper383 Posted February 27, 2009 Members Share Posted February 27, 2009 I despise new strings with a passion.I want deep, smooth, thick tone. I don't like a lot of chimey highs or hearing the strings clack against the fretboard. I want old, dead strings. I want all tone, no characteristics. Let the guitars ride over it.Unless I record. then I change strings. Try flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WynnD Posted February 28, 2009 Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 Interesting points Georgestrings. Would love to test that scientifically. But music isn't really about science. I've never broken a bass string. Is that unusual? (Playing since 1972) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jrkman Posted February 28, 2009 Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 I never change my Rotosound jazz flats. Never. Guys here think I'm nuts....everyone who hears them says they sound great and tell me so. Rotosounds are great strings. They last a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jrkman Posted February 28, 2009 Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 Went to get some new strings and realized it has been since late 2006 that I put new ones on! I dont change my strings that often, couple reasons being my hands only sweat when I fly, and I treat my neck like a surgical scrub room. That being said, would it be bad for the neck to put on new strings after such a long time? Should I get a set up as well? I think the newer strings will have more tension than the almost 3 year old set.By the way, I tend to play medium light gauge, 100 for the E. Thanks all What brand of strings are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members georgestrings Posted February 28, 2009 Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 Interesting points Georgestrings. Would love to test that scientifically. But music isn't really about science. I've never broken a bass string. Is that unusual? (Playing since 1972) Yeah, I don't know how to go about testing that in a scientific manner, but the differences in how my basses play during those transitions of string life are obvious to me both in measured neck relief, change in the feel of stiffness(for lack of a better word) and additional buzz... Part of the additional buzz could probably be attributed to the normal wear of the strings on the frets - I can see indications of that on the strings themselves after they've been "played out" - so it's not hard to believe that wear spots would change the interaction between frets and strings that so critically affect a good setup... After all, nearly all competant techs will require fairly new strings before doing a proper setup and intonation - there's *probably* something to that... I don't think it's unusual to have never broken a bass string - I've never broken one, either... although I tend to let my amp do the work, and keep my strings fairly fresh... - georgestrings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sludgebass69 Posted February 28, 2009 Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 I've got almost 2 years on the Blue Steels on my MTD Kingston 5'er and they still sound fine......one of these days I suppose I'll spring for some new ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members perrydabassman Posted February 28, 2009 Members Share Posted February 28, 2009 I've got almost 2 years on the Blue Steels on my MTD Kingston 5'er and they still sound fine......one of these days I suppose I'll spring for some new ones. I use those as well. They do last forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sub5ound Posted March 1, 2009 Members Share Posted March 1, 2009 Keep in mind that different brand strings carry different tensions. I would research the make up of your current ones, ie; pure nickel, nickel plated steel,pure stainless steel, roundwound, flatwound etc... There is a bit more to it then just gauge. A 45-105 set of half-wounds made by D'addario is going to have about a schoolbus more worth of tension compared to a DR set of the same gauge, just for example. If you like your neck and action where it is, I would put some serious thought into a decision (being so long since you changed your strings). Alot of people underestimate the effects of TENSION. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Scary Bill Posted March 1, 2009 Members Share Posted March 1, 2009 Changing strings after that long could result in a need to adjust the bass. If you put the same brand and gauge on that you have now it should be minimal. I would say to check with the "Kindness set up thread". It will walk you through any thing needed. At most you may need to turn a truss rod 1/8 - 1/4 turn or adjust the saddles for intonation. I change strings when I get sick of them. I have let them go for years. It takes me about an hour to do everything. I take off the old strings, clean the frets and FB, restring, tune up to pitch and let sit a while. I then check for any setup issues and correct as needed. Of course if I was changing more often I would skip the cleaning, I would still go over the setup stuff, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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