colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,319
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Post by colins on Sept 22, 2013 16:27:44 GMT
When I gigged a lot with steel strings I used four different guitars in a set (different tunings etc so different string gauges) so used to change them the week before any major gig then usually leave them till the next. I was quite gentle on strings though, it varies according to your skin chemistry.
On the classicals the bass strings got changed more regularly than the trebles, and I always had a couple of sets of stretched strings available on a frame. When I switched to using natural gut strings on the classicals, they basically only got changed when they started to fray! Same with the lutes, a set of gut strings for my lutes cost about £200 a go, so believe me you only changed them when needed.
When I supply a new guitar to a customer I give them a couple of spare sets of strings in the case with strict instructions to come back to me in a month, where I will take them through the string changing process, it's amazing how many player don't know how to do it properly, especially at the bridge end. By the state of the strings when they bring the guitar back I can then advise on how often they should change them.
All of my steel strings are made for Martin phosphor bronze SP Custom Lights, classicals use Hannabach Goldins as they sound the closest to gut.
Colin
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Post by redpick on Sept 27, 2013 18:21:43 GMT
I've changed my strings once in the last year, and I do think they need changing again now. However as I can't find my string winding thingy since moving, I don't know if I can be bothered to do it the old fashioned way.... Strings Direct have a promotion on D'Addario 3-pack with free string winder....
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Post by jugbandman on Sept 29, 2013 16:57:50 GMT
My old string winder broke recently - the pin puller went, so now it's kept with the banjo - so I bought a nice replacement with a cutter, the Planet Waves Pro-Winder. It works, too.
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Post by sigmadel on Oct 2, 2013 15:17:01 GMT
When I gigged a lot with steel strings I used four different guitars in a set (different tunings etc so different string gauges) so used to change them the week before any major gig then usually leave them till the next. I was quite gentle on strings though, it varies according to your skin chemistry. On the classicals the bass strings got changed more regularly than the trebles, and I always had a couple of sets of stretched strings available on a frame. When I switched to using natural gut strings on the classicals, they basically only got changed when they started to fray! Same with the lutes, a set of gut strings for my lutes cost about £200 a go, so believe me you only changed them when needed. When I supply a new guitar to a customer I give them a couple of spare sets of strings in the case with strict instructions to come back to me in a month, where I will take them through the string changing process, it's amazing how many player don't know how to do it properly, especially at the bridge end. By the state of the strings when they bring the guitar back I can then advise on how often they should change them. All of my steel strings are made for Martin phosphor bronze SP Custom Lights, classicals use Hannabach Goldins as they sound the closest to gut. Colin That's what you call brilliant after sales customer service , Colin . I wished there was more like you out there .
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