When do you know you should change your strings?

[grandmainger]

Is there any way to tell that it's time to change your strings (other than a broken one ;) ...)

I play about 2 hours a day... how often do you change yours?

[mandoJeremy]

It depends on the type of string you use. I play at least 4 hours a day but I use the Bush (Monel) set and they resist corrosion better than any other set. Of course I have acidic hands and I can ruin a set of phosphor bronzes in about 3 songs! Regardless, I think it is possible for you to be able to tell that a set of strings is going dead. They sound muted and in extreme cases they won't even intonate right. You will think it is your mando but just change them and you will notice the difference. Also, they will tarnish and turn a dark brown on the places you note the most.

[dasspunk]

Generally, once a month or so would be in the ballpark but...

Reasongs I cange my strings:
- I change my strings when I feel them fighting a bit and thus making it more difficult to play. This is very subtle and hard to explain but they just stop responding as I expect them to.
- sound bad, dull, tinty,
- get crusty
- won't stay in tune

FWIW, I wipe my strings religiously before and after playing. It's been my experience that this dramatically lengthens a strings lifespan.

[steve in tampa]

When they won't stay in tune.

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

When they won't stay in tune.
If I used that criteria on my banjo, I'd have to change between every song!

[grandmainger]

Wow! I've just changed the strings on my mandolin (first time since I got it 2 months ago).
WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! I'm completely dumbstruck by the improvement in sound! I can hear all sorts of bits of sound I didn't hear before. To me, it's the same kind of difference I heard when I upgraded from a bedroom system to a full blown hifi.

I'm so happy right now http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I can't stop playing! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[steve in tampa]

I use my banjo to help keep my washtub bass in tune:)

[grsnovi]

I also just changed my strings (I think it was all this string talk) but it was time. Tuning was getting harder and harder.

I only play my mando about an hour a day.

When I was playing a weekly (guitar) gig (Thu/Fri/Sat) I would change strings every week.

So, my new J74's sound new. I know they'll shed that blinding "too brightness" in a day or so.

Its almost like I had gotten comfortable with the rotten things I took off...

[fatt-dad]

Rust is always a good indicator - ha.

f-d

[mad dawg]

Dang -- I thought this was going to be Jeff Foxworthy-esque thread like "You know you need to change your strings when..."

[mandopete]

When they break.

[earthsave]

I have a tendency only to change them when they break. But usually at least twice a year. It depends on your ear, your body chemistry, your choice of strings.

I think I'll change my strings on my beanblossom tonight and see if it makes it sound any better.

[mandolooter]

As your playing skills increase and your ear gets a little more used to hearing the tonal range of your mandolin it will become a lot easier to tell when ya need to change out your strings. Different strings have way different life-spans too...the flat-wounds and monels last a lot longer than the phosphoer bronze ones it seems. #I started using GHS Silk & Steel strings about 3 months ago and they have the shortest life of any string I've tried so far but the sound has me swearing by them on my main mandolin, a Givens A6. #I get about 2 weeks out of 'em playing 1-2 hours a day, weekdays and 4 or 5 hours a day on the weekends. There's nothing like the fresh tone of a new set of strings to inspire ya !!!