Changing Strings

[Guildedagain]

Nice string drawer. I've added John Pearse's to my string drawer but need to re-order. They have a nice Slik n Bronze folk set, and GHS makes a really nice sounding Silk n' Steel.

 

[davismanLV]

real impressive array of string brands Tom, love it. is GHS still your fave?

I really love my GHS strings, but they're not coated and between the five guitars I'd rather put coated strings on because they last a lot longer, so less string changing. I have two guitars that are far overdue for new strings, but I've been sick and not wanting to do it so .... maybe next week. Or month. Who knows?

 

[F312]

I really love my GHS strings, but they're not coated and between the five guitars I'd rather put coated strings on because they last a lot longer, so less string changing. I have two guitars that are far overdue for new strings, but I've been sick and not wanting to do it so .... maybe next week. Or month. Who knows?

Go on, reach in your drawers and grab a set, you'll feel better.

Ralph

 

[adorshki]

What do you do that makes changing strings better?

My string drawer currently looks like this:

You are way too organized.
Have you considered Xanax?

i am sure there is a better way, but i done it this way since i was 15 so, outside of getting hit in the eyeball that one time and then cranking a string too tightly it broke the machine head clear off the guitar while sitting at airport in Mexico waiting for my plane, it has been successful.

I wonder if Tommy Emmanuel ever broke a machine head off a guitar?

 

[Rebosbro]

It’s why I like stringing my Fenders best. All tuning pegs on same side. I struggle with the GBE strings on my LP, M75 Bluesbird and Ibanez
Paul

 

[GAD]

I string probably two guitars a week on average. I can string any guitar including ones with a Floyd Rose or Bigsby in 5-10 minutes tops, but like Tom I like the ritual of cleaning and polishing so it takes a bit longer. Plus ai end up playing that guitar afterwards and then the time just goes away.

I loathe old strings.

 

[ezstrummer]

I never broke a string while changing them......

 

[Guildedagain]

The really cool thing about the vintage Fender style split tuners is that you can loosen the strings and pull them out, lovely metal memory being what it is the little coils keep just fine, and you can swap necks, say from Rosewood to Maple, in five minutes, same strings. Don't like it, swap back, another 5 minutes ;]

 

[Westerly Wood]

You are way too organized.
Have you considered Xanax?


I wonder if Tommy Emmanuel ever broke a machine head off a guitar?

that dude can really jam.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

One of the pleasures of playing bass is to never have to change strings!

As for guitar, I install strings as shown in the Guild owners manual. It's the "string over" locking method and although it looks a little lumpy it has never failed me!

 

[Guildedagain]

Not sure if I believe easystrummer ;]

I've popped all kinds of high E strings just stretching them, gotta watch that. This is a reason why I don't use D'addario, had more of those break than any other, nice tone, but maybe weaker than GHS's.

Now on to the fear and loathing of string changes, how many bleeding fingertips have you incurred from getting stabbed by needle like string ends.

At one time, I stopped cutting them just to avoid being stabbed. I've actually had a G string end hook impale itself way into my finger in the last year.

Also don't like stabbing myself with other people's strings, ugh...

 

[walrus]

One of the pleasures of playing bass is to never have to change strings!

I know bass players rarely change strings, but is there no difference in sound when you put new strings on? Or feel? i.e. is there any added value of new bass strings?

walrus

 

[GGJaguar]

I know bass players rarely change strings, but is there no difference in sound when you put new strings on? Or feel? i.e. is there any added value of new bass strings?

Back when I was a gigging bassist, I absolutely could tell when it was time to change my round wound strings (sound was degraded). On the other hand, any of my basses strung with T-I Jazz Flats have never had (or needed) a string change. Those things last forever.

 

[fronobulax]

I know bass players rarely change strings, but is there no difference in sound when you put new strings on? Or feel? i.e. is there any added value of new bass strings?

walrus

Depends what you want and are willing to spend time and effort to obtain.

New strings sound different and if that is the tone you want then you shell out $20 or more every month or so to maintain that tone.

My experience is that new strings sound brighter, i.e. more treble, but that is not always what you want from a bass, especially in a mix with other instruments.

Once a bass strings have settled in, they are consistent. They will still sound and feel the same a year from now. Some people think consistency is overrated but they usually aren't bass players.

 

[GAD]

Aren't bass strings usually flat-wound, too? Flat-wounds last longer.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Aren't bass strings usually flat-wound, too? Flat-wounds last longer.

No, now a days most bassist play with round wound strings.

A lot of it depends on what kind of music you're playing. Flat wounds just thump and have little to no sustain. Like a guitar, new round wounds have a lot of zing that is not usually desired by bassist. Matter of fact the joke is after you put new strings on you need to eat fried chicken and wipe the grease on your strings to dial in the sound!

 

[GAD]

Hmm. I do like fried chicken...

 

[Opsimath]

I really love my GHS strings, but they're not coated and between the five guitars I'd rather put coated strings on because they last a lot longer, so less string changing. I have two guitars that are far overdue for new strings, but I've been sick and not wanting to do it so .... maybe next week. Or month. Who knows?

I hope you feel better real soon.

 

[fronobulax]

Aren't bass strings usually flat-wound, too? Flat-wounds last longer.

I've got three basses with flats and three with rounds.

One set of rounds was purchased and has been in use since 1978. Longer than what?

 

[davismanLV]

I remember a fun interview with the late, great Bernard Edwards bass player for CHIC. The interviewer asked what strings he preferred or used. Bernard got a kinda confused look and then asked his band buddies, "Hey, does anyone know what kinda strings come on a Bassman??" He'd been playing that thing for years and on so many records!! I thought it was funny....