how long do your strings last?

[factorychef]

I play without a pick and practice 64 to 70 hours a month. I sometimes get 3 or 4 weeks before strings start to go flat sounding or break. I did use Elixer 12 to 53 gauge but like DR Black Beauties 12 to 54 guage better. These strings are on a Cargo. Thank You

[Fingerplucked]

I don't break strings unless I'm using a pick. The longest I've gone with a set of Elixirs was around 9 months. I really should have changed strings earlier since they were getting pretty dirty, but I wanted to see how long they'd hold up with normal (for me) playing. When the G string finally broke, I restrung it. The G string on that set broke, so I restrung it again. And again the G string broke a week later.

Normally I get about 2 months out of a set. I have 3 guitars that I'm playing now in regular rotation, all with fresh strings since I-Jam, and I'll probably get 3 to 4 months out of them.

[Deleted]

I use uncoated strings (bronze, 80/20) and get 3-4 weeks before they sound bad to me. I play a mixture of flat and finger picking. I can't remember the last time I broke a string, but I rarely switch tunings these days. Back when I played a variety of tunings I'd break a B string or G string pretty regularly.

[factorychef]

Changing tunings would also cause me to break B and G strings more often.

[t-bob]

My nylon Goya has strings from 2 years ago. The 12 string about 2 years as well, but i only play it a couple times a month. The Taylor and the Barbarossa go about 3 months. The Strat is 6-7 years since last change.

[epaul]

There are a ton of variables (37 of them, to be exact). But if you are playing one guitar regularly (70 hours a month) and are at all particular about sound and feel, I would say that getting three or four weeks out of a set of strings puts you exactly at the 50th percentile of players with similar habits and expectations.

You are average. Typical. Smack dab in the middle. Not to say you are ordinary. You are special. Unique. A one-time child of Odin.

[millring]

mine either rust or bust.

[Village Idiot]

You either don't mind changing strings, or you hate changing strings. You don't mind changing strings, so change them a lot more often than I do, because I hate doing so.

I use Elixer lights, and they last a long time. I change them when I start noticing a change in intonation on the higher frets (keep in mind the fifth fret is way up there for any of the five chords I play) or it's hard to slide up or down because the strings are rough. When either of these things happen, I think about it for a few weeks, finally break down and change the strings, and am re-amazed at the sound of Steveo's Larrivee.

As far as Elixers go, I love them. I havent' changed them since Idiotjam and I've actually been playing quite a bit, and they still sound good. The only time I change tunings is when I go to Drop D, and that's nothing.

On edit, FC, I should have you out to change my strings instead of cooking us a meal. Except that Kim prefers the latter.

[Dub]

I've gone through quite a few sets since iJam. Playing strong bluegrass rhythm will use up a set of strings in short order. These days I can sometimes get two or three weeks out of a set but sometimes a single week will kill them.

Back in the 1970s I was using the James Boyce strings that Jamie Brockett introduced me to. I'd put a new set on every Thursday or Friday to sound my best for the weekend's gigs. Two nights of performance from 8:00 - 1:00 and a show on Sunday left enough life for a mid-week rehearsal but not much else.

I almost never break strings. There was a period a few years ago when my saddle developed a sharp rough edge and I broke a few treble strings. But except for that, I don't think I've broken more than two or three strings total since 1960.

These days I use D'Addario EJ17s almost exclusively. They sound best on my Dreadnought guitars and that's what matters.

- Dub

[bamfiles]

Strings last until right after Christmas when I get new ones. I have a standing order with Santa. If they don't that's why I have 3 guitars. If all 3 had broken strings I guess I'd have to drive to the mainland and get more strings if it wasn't close to Christmas but so far that hasn't happened. Don't they have carbon fiber strings for Cargos that would last forever and not shrink or stretch if you hot them hot or wet or something? That seems like a weak link in an otherwise bulletproof plan.

[Doug]

guitars before my D28 I don't remember, so I guess pre 76 I changed strings when I broke one or got two rusty.
When I got the D28 I went to using Marquis Med and still think that's the best string for that guitar.
Now I use Martin regular lights that I get in bulk.
I have a heavy hand but almost all the breaks I've had have been mechanical, like a sharp nut or saddle. I've broken the D on the Cargo 3 times at the saddle and I checked it and dressed it last time. So I guess I better do it again maybe with a more aggressive dressing. So I've been changing the Cargo when they break 6-8 weeks. Before the Cargo I changed when they got hard to get in tune. With the Cargo you never have to retune it. I check every time I pick it up. If I haven't banged a tuner key it's in tune. Amazing.

[frazer]

I haven't broken a string for years, except for once or twice when I've been moving between tunings with very old strings.

i seem to corrode Martin phosphor bronze strings quicker than others for some reason, although I tried their nickel strings the other day and they lasted a long time and sounded really good. I've found the Elixir nanowebs to be very good - long-lasting and clear, and more pleasant to the touch than the polywebs. I still use D'Addario phosphor bronze for preference. They last me a few weeks of heavy playing. I have a couple of sets of the D'Addario coated strings to try at some point, too.

[omaha]

I haven't changed mine since iJam either. But then, other than a couple of hours each week at church, I really don't play my acoustic all that much.

"Rust or bust."

That's pretty much how I roll.

[mccoyblues]

As long as the bass they are on.

The last set of strings I purchased was about 5 years ago.

[mnhermit]

As long as I can stand the sound or the feel. - or unless I'm going to be playing out, then I'll change them and like VI be amazed at how good the guitar sounds.

I kind of like McCoy's method when you have to change strings - get a new guitar.

[aquaduct]

Nov 13, 2009 9:37:17 GMT -5 mnhermit said:

As long as I can stand the sound or the feel. - or unless I'm going to be playing out, then I'll change them and like VI be amazed at how good the guitar sounds.

I kind of like McCoy's method when you have to change strings - get a new guitar.

Pretty much my experience. With 2-3 gigs a week, that usually works out to 2-3 weeks.

[Greg B]

When I'm teaching or playing a lot I will change them about every 2 weeks. When I had 42 students and also was playing with my band I would change them every week.

On very hot summer days I've had them go dead in a day.

But in general, I change them about once a month, although at the end of the month I'm really suffering with the dead tone of the strings.

Because I seem to be constantly changing between standard tuning and some sort of alternate tuning they go dead sooner than normal. I've been playing in DADGAD a lot as well as DADGCE and CGDGAD.

On the mandolin I don't seem to notice the strings going dead. But when I change them there's always a moment of "Wow, That's different. I didn't realize they were so worn out."

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2009 19:04:42 GMT -5 factorychef said:

I play without a pick and practice 64 to 70 hours a month. I sometimes get 3 or 4 weeks before strings start to go flat sounding or break. I did use Elixer 12 to 53 gauge but like DR Black Beauties 12 to 54 guage better. These strings are on a Cargo. Thank You

I also like the Black Beauties 13-56 on my Cargo.

[factorychef]

I have 13-56 BlackBeauties on order and should have them Monday.

[Greg B]

BTW, I use strings from www.webstrings.com
$3 per set on average.