How often do you change strings and do you keep it in a case?

[dibart77]

I like to keep strings on as long as I can (sorry EBMM sales guys). I think they go through a phase of bright sounding when brand new, they warm up as they get stretched and finger grease, and then they start to go dead and it's time to change them. Depends on how much I am practicing/recording, but mine tend to last a month or so before they get dead sounding (and I might break a string and re-clamp it -- for the unwound strings -- a couple times in that month).

Only exception is before a gig. The few times I have not done a string change before a gig, I broke a string on stage. I guess I maybe play a tad harder live (adrenaline or something), and if the string where it clamps into the floyd (or where the string crosses the saddle on a vintage trem) is a month old, I'll break it there live. So, ALWAYS the night before a gig. And then I stretch them well. In the AM on the day of the gig, I try to play them for 15 min or so, and then re-tune them. Then re-tune before the gig as humidity changes / heat of the van might have wacked them out.

Sometimes, depending on what I'm recording, I'll want a clean set as well (for the brightness).

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[BrickGlass]

I change them when they need changing, which for me is when they start sounding dead or dull. I always keep them in the case when I'm not playing.

 

[TNT]

My JP barely leaves the case, and I'm yet to change the strings on it since I purchased it 8 months ago. Sad really, I'm too cautious with it so I don't play it much...

"... I'm too cautious with it......" LOL. I hope you play another guitar though!! LOL

Laughing with you not at you.

 

[GoKart Mozart]

I've been running nothing but coated slinky's on my Luke it since I got it (prior to the Cobalts I put on it 3 weeks ago), so I go a lot longer between string changes than probably most folks do...probably 8+ weeks. Dead strings definitely have a particular sound to them, although I'm curious to see how the Cobalts will naturally "age". The biggest indicator that it's time to change strings for me though is the feel of the unwound strings, particularly above the 12th fret. If I can feel noticeable corrosion under the string, it's time to change.

I have 5 wall hangers in our bedroom and keep my electric guitars there. The only things I keep in the cases are the acoustics.

 

[Gerry]

I go by my old ears and to some degree appearance. My Reflex is now my only guitar and has not been in its case the four months I have owned it and that IMHO is how it should be.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I always keep a guitar on a stand at home and rotate them so they all get played. It's nice to grab a guitar when you feel like it without opening up cases and the like!

As for string changes, probably every couple of months. I gig with all my guitars so they all have more or less equal use. They also all have Graphtech saddles on them, so strings never break regardless of how old they are! When the strings are black and have little dents under the wound strings is my cue to change them!