Guitar Forums

Sorry for all the posts! Lol, im just getting a few questions answered. Just wondered how how long to leave the strings before being replaced. The thing is i dont know what the strings are made of. I know that sounds really bad but only had the guitar about 3 months so still learning alot. I know when the strings look worn out that id definately have them done but they look fine so far?

No worries for posting lots - helping out is what we are all about!

When I first started playing I used to know strings needed replacing when one snapped!

As strings get older they start to lose their brightness and sound muddy. Your strings are most likely good for another three months or more but when you do change then you will see how different it is playing on new strings and from then on you will always know when it is time!

I used to go through strings like anything - maybe changing them once a week to really maintain the brightness. Now I change them once every few months if that!

Thanks, so how do i know what they are made of? Or is it a case of going to a music shop and they will tell me? Cheers

Well electric guitar strings are made from steel - or am I missing the question? I beleive they may somtimes get plated to prevent wear and corrosion but I am not sure.

They come in different gauges which make them hard or easier to play on. Generally the heavier the gauge the nicer the tone though it is a balance between what you can comfortably play to fit your style against the tone you can get.

Personally I use 9s which is a short was of saying that the thinnest E string is 0.009 of an inch I believe (someone correct me if I am wrong) and then the strings get thicker up to 0.042.

String changing for me usually happens around Christmas time and around July. I play the guitar everyday, but they seem to keep their brightness and tone ok, but when I put new ones on after 6 months it sounds like I have a new guitar

yeah i agree with you

an acoustic guitar relies on vibrant strings for its sound ...so when your acc git starts to sound
lacklustre its probably time for a string change.....an electric git is more foregiving....( sound wise )
a new string can break immediately ...so breakage should not be an issue if your git is as it should be
a new string sound is very short lived ..so get used to a lived in sound ie. a bit on the dull side ..adjust
your sound to a lived in sound ....dont worry about breaking strings...it happens....learn how to
do a quick change ... and if your gigging have a spare git to see you through the spot ..else you'll be on your
todd doing a string change

IMO you dont change your strings for the sake of it

if you replace a wirewound string but a drop of thin oil on it ...this will take a lot of the ' twang ' out of it
and make it more 'lived in'

always pull the sh!t out of a new string ie tune it..pull ( tugg )it off the fretbooard ...retune...pull...tugg
untill the pitch remains the same...then tune it .....job done...no flat strings ( this takes all the slack out
of the machine head windage )

Earni Balls, super slinky