007
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,601
My main instrument is: 1965 Hagstrom H45E
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Post by 007 on Dec 10, 2014 22:10:32 GMT
I borrowed from our local library this Haynes manual www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=52405&langId=-1I am reading the chapter on re stringing and the suggestion is change strings every week if you are gigging and every 3 months s you are a student Ok I understand all that but can I have a theory. The blues players of the early 20th century played what are accepted as fairly cheap guitars as that was often all they could afford Stellas, Regals etc some of you have been to the yearly meet will have handled some of Paul Bretts guitars from that period. these guys were poor right so how could they afford to change strings that frequently but it seems to make little difference to their playing There is a school of thought that not changing strings enhances tone and bass many will disagree with that As to the manual still working my way through it jurys still out so far.
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stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
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Post by stringdriventhing on Dec 11, 2014 1:31:11 GMT
Changing strings every week seems a bit excessive. Although I do know a guy who changes strings every 2nd gig.
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Post by scripsit on Dec 11, 2014 8:26:58 GMT
Most of those players (and the often over/crudely braced guitars they played) emphasised a fairly tight mid-range thump, very unlike the long sustaining and complex tones popular with many fingerstyle players today, who use much more responsive instruments.
I find traditional blues and rag time pieces don't work so well on my good guitars for just that reason (although it could be because I am a crap player of this sort of music, too). I've taken to using a very cheap 'beater' guitar that I have lying around for rag playing.
Dead strings would suit what I hear on lots of old blues recordings much better than a new jangly set.
When I gigged on electric I used to change strings before every gig. Yet another reason for never making any money.
Now that I just annoy my family on acoustic, I like to change strings every 3 weeks to a month or so, and prefer the tone I get for the first 5-6 hours of playing. If I gigged or got the chance to play more than an hour or so a day, I'd certainly be looking at changing strings every week. Mostly it depends on the sort of music you want to play, too. I hate the difficulty in tuning that happens once the frets have inserted flat spots on the strings and a few beards of that stuff that comes off your fingers appear.
I remember reading once that Robbie Kreuger, the guitarist from the Doors, never changed strings on his guitars unless one broke, so there are lots of ways to go.
Kym
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Dec 11, 2014 8:44:23 GMT
I just changed the strings on my classical guitar last night! Was it worth it? Dunno yet, the strings are still stretching
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leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 24,656
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Dec 11, 2014 14:27:03 GMT
Change? Madness....
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Post by slasher on Dec 11, 2014 14:35:25 GMT
Read somewhere that Tommy Emmanuel puts new strings on before each gig as part of his routine. He really pulls and works them when fitting before really working them hard in performance. A change every couple of months for me
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Post by creamburmese on Dec 12, 2014 21:13:32 GMT
Isn't it dependent on how many hours playing more than how long they last ? Although I admit I've suspected that strings "go off" just sitting in the case for several months, I would have thought usage was the more important factor, probably exacerbated if you keep changing the tuning. I reckon on 50-60 hours before I have to change the steel strings, but probably twice that on my nylon string, and then I hate doing it so much I only change it because I can't keep it in tune!
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Post by andyhowell on Dec 13, 2014 22:57:29 GMT
Isn't it dependent on how many hours playing more than how long they last ? Although I admit I've suspected that strings "go off" just sitting in the case for several months, I would have thought usage was the more important factor, probably exacerbated if you keep changing the tuning. I reckon on 50-60 hours before I have to change the steel strings, but probably twice that on my nylon string, and then I hate doing it so much I only change it because I can't keep it in tune! I will put new strings on a day before a gig or before recording. Otherwise I will wait until the 3rd string breaks (it goes up and down between F and G a lot). The current strings are proving very resilient and are just about gone. I might just change them before Christmas!
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