Sting lifespan

[SkippyT]

How long should I expect my strings to last? I'm super paranoid that I'm going to snap one and have to go a day without playing while I run to the store to pick some new ones up. I've been using D'Addario EXP's for about a month. I'm not too rough on them, generally some gentle pick use or fingerpicking, plus my guitar never goes out of tune (unless my sister trys to play it). Anyhow, that's my question, how long should strings last between breakage or loss of tone.

Ah hell, I spelled String wrong in the title...oh well

[Edited by SkippyT on 01-23-2004 at 04:01 AM]

[mijnpaal]

Seems to me you can play a couple of months without having any complains about loosing tone. Once played at a guitar for two years. Now i use some fredboard polish and snares stay clean and sound good for a long time. am i foolish or what???

Greetzzz

Originally posted by SkippyT
How long should I expect my strings to last? I'm super paranoid that I'm going to snap one and have to go a day without playing while I run to the store to pick some new ones up. I've been using D'Addario EXP's for about a month. I'm not too rough on them, generally some gentle pick use or fingerpicking, plus my guitar never goes out of tune (unless my sister trys to play it). Anyhow, that's my question, how long should strings last between breakage or loss of tone.

Ah hell, I spelled String wrong in the title...oh well

[Edited by SkippyT on 01-23-2004 at 04:01 AM]

[Death55]

As i said before in another thread, my strings last me about 2 weeks and by then my tone will be worse and the strings will be sticky because of the rust and sliding with my pinky is very hard.
I always keep a spare high E string just incase i do snap mine. Your strings will rust depending on how damp the room is, how much you play and how sweaty your fingers are. If you wipe the strings after everytime you play it should stop them from rusting so quickly.
My friend use to snap strings every week. It does depend on how your playing and how ruff you are with them. Obviously the thicker your strings are the less likely they are to break !

[Tele Master]

Acoustics and Electrics are different. I find acoustic strings last longer, but TONE wise, I can't remember the last time I broke a string from just playing. If I break a string, it usually happens when tuning.

Electrics I find wear out in a few weeks. I use GHS Booomers, and they last a long time.

[Jolly McJollyson]

Hmm...from the title of this thread, I thought we'd be placing bets on how long it would be until Sting dies.

[Death55]

Originally posted by Tele Master
If I break a string, it usually happens when tuning.

Same here. I hate it when you put new strings on and they snap when you tune them and hit you in the face. Usually because there is a kink in the string causing a weakness in the string when you put it on.

[Karma In The South]

Just buy 2 sets next time you get strings, and always have one in reserve in case one snaps.

[dinell2]

*New strings can remain usable for one day or one year depending on how often you play and the climate in your part of the world. Perspiration is also a major factor. Most busy guitarists change strings once or twice a month, and the really busy ones change strings for every performance.

Ever want to make guitar playing look so effortless? You can! It's easy...and fun. In fact...

Anyone can play guitar. Not everyone will...
If guitar playing has ever intrigued you, Guitar Page is here to help - even if you've tried before. All guitar players, at some point, did not know how to play. This is where we can help, AND you can have fun in the meantime. Take your time to explore these pages - Bookmark this page if you like, since we're continually adding to the fun.

http://groups.msn.com/GuitarPage/homepage.msnw

[planetalk]

Hey dinell2.

No offence, and I appreciate what you're trying to do with your site, but to come here and spam every thread on this amazing site, advertising your -- well, let's be honest -- underdeveloped, amateurish, not-really-worth the effort approach to online teaching ... is beyond belief.

Why don't you GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD and come up with something none of us have seen before, something really worth the click, and then come back and announce it ONCE, in the appropriate forum. Then maybe you won't be the laughing stock here anymore.

[dinell2]

I appreciate your opinion... however, I now understand how to properly leave a response on this forum. I guess I was a little self indulgent. For that, I say sorry. Let's get one thing straight tho', I really believe in guitar playing and helping others. Yes my site my be trivial for the moment, but you got start somewhere. I want to help out beginners...

I thank you for any other expertise in this subject.

[Jolly McJollyson]

Ok, problem solved. Now we drop it.

[sme331]

I agree with Karma, I buy GHS boomers and I have 2-4 sets on hand so I never am without a set. Heck, strings are cheap. And like Death55 said, clean your strings after playing to remove oils and sweat so that you get the most out of each set.

[Azrael]

i have been using ELIXIER strings for the past few years and they last very long and have a very good tone. i usually wipe them after i play and i also wipe the freboard and try to keep it clean. i ALWAYS have at least one complete set of strings in my gigbag - just in case.

[Cryptic Excretions]

Good strings, such as d'addario and ernie ball among others, are pretty good at not breaking. The strings on my bass are roughly a year or so old and they still work just like they did, sure I should replace them and all and have a fresh set, but the point being they still haven't broken. It's good to have a backup set, just in case, though if you're working on one package, you've got time to get another pack before they break or even need to be replaced. As far as a time limit on when's best to change strings goes, that (in my opinion) depends on how much money you're making. I'm poor so I make strings last, for example keeping the same set of strings on my bass for a year.

[SkippyT]

Well, I went and picked up 3 sets of D'addario EXP's (2 lights, and 1 medium). One of the guys in the store pissed me off royally, because I asked specifically for EXP's and he kept trying to get me to buy the non-exps with dumbass excuses like, "Uh, they cost too much money", and "If they break, you can't replace them". I asked him to show me the capo's they had as well, and he was kind of a dick about that too.

#1 I don't give a rats ass about how much they cost, because if they're good strings, I'll pay for it.

#2 If they break, you can't replace them, wtf is up with that? After hearing that one I just told him thanks for the info and told him to go away.

Regardless, the strings on my Takamine look like mediums, but I wanted to try the lights to see if it would maybe be a bit easier to play.

[iamthe_eggman]

Originally posted by Cryptic Excretions
Good strings, such as d'addario and ernie ball among others, are pretty good at not breaking. The strings on my bass are roughly a year or so old and they still work just like they did, sure I should replace them and all and have a fresh set, but the point being they still haven't broken. It's good to have a backup set, just in case, though if you're working on one package, you've got time to get another pack before they break or even need to be replaced. As far as a time limit on when's best to change strings goes, that (in my opinion) depends on how much money you're making. I'm poor so I make strings last, for example keeping the same set of strings on my bass for a year.

I don't think I've ever heard of bass strings breaking. Although I could imagine that it could be pretty painful if they did.

[joe scalene]

i broke the string E,A and D . I didnt hurt because the bass string has a another string roled over his body. So when it snaps it actually lessens the impact..the smaller one hurt much more. Some guitarist lost their eyeballs from those things.

[Jolly McJollyson]

Really? I figure a bass string'd take off your arm.

[joe scalene]

yah for original strings. We have local strings here in the phil! that can cut your ear... (basically made of cheap stuff)