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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | So, I grab my 1681 Adamas outta it's case to pluck-around with...
Inside the compartment I have the wrapper for the strings that are on it.
They are D'Addario EXP11 80/20's that I put on on 7-2-09...
It is written on the wrapper.
I have a brand new set in the compartment, but the old ones still sound good and have no dirt or corrosion on them.
I obviously don't play this guitar often enough, but I have taken it outside to play a few times. Especially in the winter, cuz I figure the carbon-fiber-laminate can handle the cold better than regular wood-tops.... Not so much the wood. I just don't want the finish cracking due to the cold, so I take an Adamas or the painted T.
Anyway... Am I just really cheap and lazy, or do others have guitars with old strings that still sound good and play well?
(How about you folks who have never changed the strings on your 12-String? :rolleyes: ) |
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Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I like to extend the life of my strings by wiping a little metal polish on them and buffing them off. It seems to work for me for a while. Makes me wonder if it's really just the corrosion that makes em sound dull. |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Jay had guitars he bought ten years ago that still had the original strings. He said they were just getting "broken in".
I have a "house guitar", and old beat up Yamaha that sounds pretty darned good, that is for the use of my regulars. Jay used to play that guitar every day. Eventually one of the strings started to unwind so I HAD to put new strings on it. But I put a set of used Elixers on it for him, because they are the closest to dead strings as it gets. (Sorry Elixer fans - but you know I don't like them.)
I like crisp new strings. If I owned a music store or something, all my guitars would get new strings every week. Oh, wait a minute...I have to go now. Time to change strings again. |
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Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | I love the sound of strings about 2-3 hours old....just cannot afford to change them that often...how old is old?...when they sound old....I also have found the strings that sound the best are the ones Phil Keaggy, Brad Davis, Matt Smith, Unca Beal,(shameless plug), Tommy Emmanuel, and Jim Lauderdale play...oh...that goes for guitars too....OK OK ...Temp and Professor are strong too! |
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Location: Flahdaw | I'm not that picky. I could go 6 months or more, but I rarely do. My main player about every 2 months or less. |
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| Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
... but the old ones still sound good and have no dirt or corrosion on them.
Then they're OK - they might take a dive pretty quickly once you start playing them though.
I've had sets of strings sitting in the package for 2 or 3 years and my impression was that when installed on the guitar they didn't sound quite so good as they should have and didn't last as long as ones that were bought recently. That was my impression, maybe it's wrong or other factors came into it but I've been using the same type of strings for well over ten years so that much was consistent at least.
As for time between changes, it varies; if just practicing then I don't change them often; if I'm going to play somewhere then I'll change them a week or a few days before. I like strings to be played in a bit so they're in the zone that I'm used to. |
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | SWMBO's piano got rust on the strings (a string change on a grand piano is neither a DIY nor a decision taken lightly) and the solution was to clean the corosion off with WD-40. Sounded better after they were cleaned. |
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Posts: 95
Location: Vancouver Island, BC | When "Scarface" (1981 Custom Legend)arrived in my life last January, I fitted a set of EXP 16.
Over time she settled into our climate and was played every day with the others. Over time she took a back seat even to my Balladeer. By early November I fitted a new set. Wow!! Acclimatized, with fresh spagetti she is blowing the others away. What a change.
So...if in doubt, treat yourself and your guitar. The deterioration is subtle and slow, you just might save yourself from GAS. |
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Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | My 1681 I use 1414 adamas strings nothing but compliments on the tone |
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Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I remember seeing an eBay auction some time ago for a somewhat aged Balladeer (or similar) and it was described as; "with original strings"... |
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Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | The chronological age may not matter. If they sound good--keep 'em! My personal alarm goes off when I notice buildup of dirt and corrosion on the UNDERSIDE of the string. That means rapid fret wear.... time to change. Better 13 bucks for a new set than an expensive (untimely) fret dressing. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Because I'm always plugged in, I don't notice when strings begin going dead as quickly as I might playing only acoustic. When I do notice it, then that is when I change them. I'm getting six months to a year on most guitars using EJ16s, XL10s and Adamas 1818s. When I have a big gig planned, like the last two weekends, I'll put on a fresh set no matter what. All gear is strictly humidity controlled and I leave very little body acid on the strings, so I might get a few more extra miles than some players. |
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Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Classical ---every 3-4 weeks. Steel every month or 2. Classicals seem to keep stretching until they die. |
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Posts: 15665
Location: SoCal | Non coated strings last maybe a week or two. Coated strings last 3-4 months and look ugly long before the tone is gone...... |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Originally posted by twistedlim:
Classical ---every 3-4 weeks. Steel every month or 2. Classicals seem to keep stretching until they die. I only change the wound strings on my classical, unless the clear strings get rough spots. The wound strings stretch a lot too, but not as bad as the monofilament ones. And because they have no winds to collect skin oil and dirt, they don't go dead. |
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Location: cincinnati, ohio | As long as they sound okay. Trouble is, loss of tone is a gradual thing, like when brakes slowly go bad on your car - you don't always notice until you don't stop. As a general rule I change every 2 months or so (and I play a lot). I wipe down the strings every time I put away the guitar. I use D'addario bronze lights.
As dobro mentioned, what really helps is to clean the UNDERSIDES of the strings. I put a soft cotton cloth (like an old washcloth) between the strings and the fretboard and run it up and down the length of the neck several times. I also check for flat spots on the undersides of the strings where they meet the frets (usually the first five or six frets). Eventually they'll break there. Most of the time they still sound good when I change them - or so I think, until I hear the new ones. :D
Of course you could always try that impoverished old bluesman trick of taking them off, boiling them in a pot of water, and restringing them.
Yeah, right... |
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Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | You may laugh but...
I know a fella who has a banjo which he hadn't played for 15 years, is now back playing it and hasn't changed strings since ( or indeed tuned them). |
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Location: Colorado | hard to tell the difference on a banjo |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Over the last couple of years I've taken to cutting a small corner (1"x1") of the string package that shows the guage. On the back I write the date I put new strings on and throw it in the guitar. That tells me the brand, the guage and date. If I'm playing a lot and it's sweaty and sticky they'll last a week, maybe. Usually I get a month or two out of a set, sometimes double that.
But keep in mind I have several guitars and they are in constant and random rotation.
Strings sound dead because they get all kinds of spooo inbetween the wraps, or the wraps come unwound. So unless you like that sound change them. The third "death" is when they get flat spots and vibrate funny and out of tune.
I just changed strings on my longneck 12. What I put on are an old set, maybe 15+ years old. The wound were fine but the plain had a few faint spots of corosion. I just wiped them once with steel wool and they're fine.
Sure gave me a headache tuning it.
I've found one slight exception to dead strings.
On the '39 twins I've tried the brass strings, and basically didn't like them although they were better on May, the d18, than on April, the d28. When these go dead there is a certain sound that you get on these old guitars. The volume stays the same but sound of the string itself kinda goes away, and the guitar itself makes the noise.
That's not a real good explanation but basically that's it. Tony Rice and Peter Rowan said it better in an article a couple of years ago on why they liked dead all nickle acoustic strings. |
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Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | I change them when I can hear a difference, can't stand the odor, or my fingers turn green. It may be 6 months or it could be 2 years. Truth is, I enjoy changing strings as it gives me an excuse to handle the guitars.
I too put the empty string package in the case pocket, but I like the idea of writing the date on it.
Originally posted by Beal:
...they were better on May, the d18, than on April, the d28. I wanna see your calendar. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The D18 was made in May and the D28 was made in April of 1939, hence the names, they are 177 s/n appart, hence why they are twins.
There's a pic of Cliff playing the 18 at the Guthrie somewhere around here...... |
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Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Much more interesting story than where I thought it was heading. Very cool. |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Anyone else had a set of strings that sound GREAT for like 10 days, then start to sound like crap. Me, I get a couple months or so out of a set of strings, OR they sound like crap right away. I've never had this 10 day thing til this last set. (and I'm not a greasy, oily fingered guy like Beal) |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by dark bar:
Anyone else had a set of strings that sound GREAT for like 10 days, then start to sound like crap. Yeah ... DR Strings color coated strings. The Red Devils, Cool Blues and the Black Beauties. They're good for a couple of outings, and then go dead as dirt.
DR has apparently recently changed how they formulate and coat their strings so I'll have to give the new ones a shot. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | This is how a procrastinator does it: I will pick up a guitar and decide it needs new strings, so I put it away and get out another one, etc. Over the course of a year or so, all the acoustics got played until they all need new strings and I have no idea how many times or how long they've been played. The strings just look grimey on all of them.
Lately, I've been playing my two electrics, which both have really old strings, but never got played. One broke a tuner, so I used the other one, but it buzzed. I messed with the truss rod and should have changed the strings then, but wasn't sure I'd ever get it set. Then Grover sent me a new tuner and I fixed the other one. Should have replaced the strings then. Now they both play well and both need new strings. I think I've run out of guitars that don't need new strings, but I'm getting a Viper this weekend. I hope it comes with new strings or I'm going to have to stay home all weekend and change the strings on all the guitars. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
Originally posted by dark bar:
Anyone else had a set of strings that sound GREAT for like 10 days, then start to sound like crap. Yeah ... DR Strings color coated strings. The Red Devils, Cool Blues and the Black Beauties. They're good for a couple of outings, and then go dead as dirt. |
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November 2008
Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | If I'm playing regularly every two weeks. Studio, Every day. Around the house. When they break after detuning it for the 50th time. I love open d tuning. Same as e just not as much tension on the neck. Open g too. I'll detune the same guitar 10 times a night. That's why I bought 3 more Ovations. So I could tune two of them open and leave the Adamas alone. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I finally put a new set of 80/20 on the 1681.
Damn, they sound Bright.
I imagine after playing them in the rain a coupla times they will sound normal.
I guess I'm cool until 2014 now.
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I imagine after playing them in the rain a coupla times they will sound normal. I guess I'm cool until 2014 now. Gotta love them Buskers! |
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December 2003
Posts: 13988
Location: Upper Left USA | Had the opportunity to look over a Martin for a Friend's Brother who had lost his ability to play as he turned old.
The strings had Green patina, that's old.
Some bright Phospher Bronze sets are old in a week due to oxidation.
Mostly it's the debri that collects and deadens the sound.
I just have to laugh at some of those Ebay ads with the "Original Strings" mentioned. Kind of like trying to sell a classic automobile with the "original crankcase oil" from the Factory! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I have too many guitars to keep track of string changes. I might go months without playing one, while another is my favorite, then I switch preferences. I decided the Ute and Folklore were overdue because I could see the grungy strings from across the room. I cut one of the wound strings too short and had to reuse the old one. Some string cleaner took a ton of black gunk out of it. Gross. The strings on some of the others are probably worse. I'll have to do a couple more this weekend. My problem is I start playing one to see if it sounds dead and an hour later it's my bedtime. |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | when they rust |
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Posts: 15665
Location: SoCal | The only correct answer to this question is that strings are old when they no longer please you either in sound, look, or touch. You are the ultimate judge so why bother asking anybody else? Al likes really old old strings. I don't. We're both right. Learn to value your own opinion and stop asking other people question which they can't answer for you..... |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Gee Moody... That really wasn't a real question.
Actually I was bragging that I had two-year-old strings that still sounded good.
It was also a random conversation starter on a slow-post day.
And many people shared their "old strings" stories...
arthurseery - 2011-12-10 3:49 PM
So, I grab my 1681 Adamas outta it's case to pluck-around with...
Inside the compartment I have the wrapper for the strings that are on it.
They are D'Addario EXP11 80/20's that I put on on 7-2-09...
It is written on the wrapper.
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October 2005
Posts: 4049
Location: Utah | Each guitar has it's own preferred string brand. Most of them go about 3 months with regular playing before they die. But the Martin Marquis tend to die sooner, get dull, and then after another month they get a second life. The Martin Marquis SP don't seem to do this, and they sound just as good to my (damaged) ears, so now I use those on the Patriot. |
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Posts: 13988
Location: Upper Left USA | One day... this will be an old string... |
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Posts: 15665
Location: SoCal | arthurseery - 2012-02-24 4:51 PM
Gee Moody... That really wasn't a real question.
Actually I was bragging that I had two-year-old strings that still sounded good.
It was also a random conversation starter on a slow-post day.
And many people shared their "old strings" stories...
arthurseery - 2011-12-10 3:49 PM
So, I grab my 1681 Adamas outta it's case to pluck-around with...
Inside the compartment I have the wrapper for the strings that are on it.
They are D'Addario EXP11 80/20's that I put on on 7-2-09...
It is written on the wrapper.
Sorry OMA... |
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January 2007
Posts: 137
Location: Massachusetts | If you want your strings to last longer and sound good wipe them down after you're done playing, or between sets, if you're at a gig, and always was your hands before playing. Dirt is the number one enemy to a set of strings. I also slide a rag between the strings and the neck. |
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Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Javaman; Right on. I always give my strings a quisk wipe down after playing as well and it makes a huge difference in the longivity.
I usually have one electric and one acoustic that I use a lot at a given time and I'll change the strings on those two about two-three times a year. Some of the others could go years between changes.
Wayne |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Depends. In the summer, with my hands sweating acid, could be two, three weeks. In the autumn, winter and spring maximum life is 9 months max. So I reckon, there's a string change in October, then May, then July then August, then October etc For the CA that would be only twice a year. Though I like the sound of dull strings. |
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Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Over the years, I have seen some really corroded strings on older guitars I have bought: the absolute worst were on the '48 D-28: a set of de-tuned flatwound Gibson strings from early '63...they were completely black ....the guitar came from the estate of the original owner and had sat in the case on a closet shelf for all those years...not any more.
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Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | And some folks wonder why they can't play any better than they can. You need new strings to get the sustain, the harmonics and the basic tone the guitar was meant to have. Once a month on the ones I play. If I played a gig outside and sweat a lot, the next day. New strings are like new tires on a race car. Makes all the difference in the world. |
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Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | mymartind35 - 2012-03-03 9:40 AM And some folks wonder why they can't play any better than they can. You need new strings to get the sustain, the harmonics and the basic tone the guitar was meant to have. New strings will get you sustain, harmonics, and tone, but I have undisputable evidence they don't help me play any better. |
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Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | I have some flatwounds on my archtop that must be about 2 years old. I wipe em down when I'm done playing, but I swear they don't sound any different today than the did when I put them on. Maybe I'll change them and see.
Do flatwounds ever really have sustain, harmonics and tone?? |
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November 2008
Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | Sticky old strings are nasty. I love the sound of new strings. I play, on the average, 4 hours a day. I have Spotify. I download the songs I want to learn. Make a play list and learn them all. So far I have over 100 tunes I can play "almost" exactly the way they are played. Then I put my spin on 'em. I've got 3 Ovations and 1 Adamas and all of them have strings that are no older than a month. They stay that way. I play music. No J O B!!! |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I haven't changed the flatwounds on my P-Bass for probably over 7 years....maybe longer.
Still have the same blunt thump that they had when new.....but I always wipe them down after playing. |
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April 2010
Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | Good question, and I guess, no I know I'm the weird duck here, for me it depends on what type of sound I want from the guitar for the song I wrote. Example, my Christmas song I aged the strings 3 months of constant playing and staying in a guitar stand to soften the sound. Other times I want a nice crisp sound with lots of sustain so I place new ones one for the recording. I do this with my acoustic and electrics also. Just depends on the sound I'm reaching for.
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Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I am changing less often now that I am doing more open mics if that makes any sense. In addition I am playing my classical more often so my Os are getting a rest and I hate breaking in new nylon strings...they stretch out for weeks. I actually lent my pacemaker to my bro in law just so it would get played. |
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Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Re: String threads... How old is OLD? A month seems about right. |
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Strings... How old is OLD?