NewB string question

[WestCoastMandoGirl]

Hello,

I have looked on the forum to see how often people change their strings, seems to be every one-two months?

Here's my question: why do they have to be changed so often? Is it because the pick causes more wear and tear on them than say, a bow? I only play 7-8 hours per week, do you think I should still change them that often?

I have some familiarity with the process because I know how to change strings on the viola, but the whole process still seems a bit ominous. Neverthless, I have two sets of D'Addario J74's waiting in the wings.

[Mark Walker]

Welcome aboard!

There are a number of threads relating to this subject, but there is no 'set' answer - because of several variables.

Some players have particularly 'caustic' sweat, naturally-occuring body oils - whatever - and these can wreak havoc on strings. I've put D'Addario EXP (extended play - coated strings) on my instruments - which usually will give an 'average' player several good months of frequent playing. The husband of a cousin of mine is a tremendous mandolin, fiddle and guitar player - and whatever it is about his 'body chemistry' just eats those strings up in a mere few sessions.

The actual 'pick' probably doesn't affect them as much as what you transfer onto/into the strings via natural substances on your fingers and hands. Strings 'do' wear out and sound 'dead' - regardless of how much 'transfer' of 'contaminants,' but if you're happy with the way they sound and don't have nationally-televised music gigs coming up soon, you can let them go for as long as you'd like...at least until they sound really 'bad' to you. The thing to sort of watch out for is that the deterioration in tone, 'brightness,' etc. is such a gradual thing you may not notice them sounding 'dead' for some time!

It probably really boils down to personal preference. I've got Elixar strings on my mandolin and guitars - which many people maintain will retain their bright tone for up to a year or more, but I still swap them out about every six months or sooner.

JMHO, YMMV!

Good luck!



Hello,

I have looked on the forum to see how often people change their strings, seems to be every one-two months?

Here's my question: why do they have to be changed so often? Is it because the pick causes more wear and tear on them than say, a bow? I only play 7-8 hours per week, do you think I should still change them that often?

I have some familiarity with the process because I know how to change strings on the viola, but the whole process still seems a bit ominous. Neverthless, I have two sets of D'Addario J74's waiting in the wings.

[pinky57]

I change my strings whenever they start to sound a bit dull. Sometimes it's a month or two between changes, sometimes a bit less. I think it's more of what your fingers leave behind on the strings, that's where I see the deterioration. Even when your hands are freshly washed, there are still oils and other substances left on the strings.
The more you change the strings, the easier it gets.
Perhaps someone at your local music store can help you out!

[Rick Lindstrom]

I think mostly that the windings on the D and G strings begin to loosen over time and the strings lose some of their brilliance.

To me, it doesn't seem to matter much- I think I changed the strings on my Bridger about a year ago, but I cant remember :)

J-74 are fine strings, and changing them is not as daunting as it seems. Just learn how to lock them at the tuning machine post, and only take one string off at a time. You'll be fine.

I haven't verified it, but I'll bet that you can find a fine tutorial on changing strings at Frank Ford's site www.frets.com.

Rick

[Bruce Clausen]

I get six months to a year out of a set. It's not the pick but the frets that really wear the strings down, but this depends on how hard you press when you play. Also as said above gunky fingers can dull the sound and sweat can cause corrosion. But the strings must seem very cheap compared to good viola strings and they're not hard to change when you get used to it.

BC

[red7flag]

My usual redflag about changing strings is when I have trouble getting strings in tune. My second redflag is when the strings sound dull. Some times, this may be the instrument more than the strings if the instrument has not been played a while. I will pound on some open chords and see if the sound opens up. If not. it is time to change strings.

[John Flynn]

If you really don't want to change strings often, invest in some T-I strings. Being flatwound and low tension, they will feel a lot more like viola strings, they have a great mellow tone and they will last a really long time. They cost about 8X as much as j74s, but they probably last about 5 or 6 times as long.

[Binz]

as another newbie I'd also been wondering about string replacement frequency.
I put new strings on just after I bought my (pre-owned) mandolin and it made a lot of difference, that was back in August. Recently G & D sound duller to me, I only play about 10 to 30 mins each day. As experiment I will 1st replace just 1 of each pair and see how new and old sound next to each other, that way i can know just how 'tired' the strings are sounding and if its needed or if it's just my ears/perception. Of course that needs to be with same string type, which is J74 in this case.

Binz

[Michael Gowell]

I've read many posts on this subject where the writer says they prefer dead strings. I agree with Tony about the signs of age - dullness of tone & difficulty of tuning - but would reverse the order of importance; it's the difficulty of getting (& keeping!) a string or two in tune that prompts me to change strings.

[WestCoastMandoGirl]

Thanks for all of the replies, people of the Mandolin Cafe! :mandosmiley:

[WestCoastMandoGirl]

FYI, my teacher changed my strings for me today and wow! what a difference!

[Greg H.]

Hmmm well maybe I'm somewhat overdone on this. . . .but I tend to change sets roughly once a month or so. Sometimes a good bit less or maybe a bit longer. It all depends out how much use for a given month (or even in weeks or days. . .one festival is about the end of a set for my taste). What can I say, I like the sound of a new set of strings. . .(perhaps not immediatly, but newly broken in).

[D C Blood]

I know that some recording artists (bless their hearts) :-) ...change strings after each song or every hour while in the studio...:disbelief:

[Fretbear]

why do they have to be changed so often? Is it because the pick causes more wear and tear on them than say, a bow?
More that the frets cause more wear and tear on the underside of the strings than no frets do. Strings perish because of metal fatique and corrosion. The metal fatigue by the frets will eventually wear pits right through the windings, which will make them hard to tune. The corrosion causes them to tarnish and sound dead, which makes them lose their tone.