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Thread: What's the big deal about changing strings?

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    Default What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I have a few gigs this weekend and have been playing my strings for quite a while so decided to change them. It took me like all of five minutes to change all the strings. I have heard of folks hating to change strings only when they have to as they hate it so much. Practice makes perfect.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I think you need a new watch battery, or you're exaggerating. Takes me a while longer than that. But I'm also doing some cleaning and polishing as well, so ...

    But one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen at a show concerns this. My old jug band had opened for John Hammond one time, and during his set he broke a string. He kept playing, keeping a rhythm going, while he put on a new string and tuned it up - in about a minute. Never seen anything like it.

    The opposite end of this was when I went to the Newport Folk Festival, and the Indigo Girls played. They were so rough on their guitars they swapped them out after every song and their guitar tech had to tune both of those guitars before they were done with the next song, and had to swap them out again. That poor guy. He definitely earned his money.

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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I'm not a fast string changer and fortunately don't seem to have them break on me these days. I do take two mandolins to gigs should a string break occur. I saw Sam Bush years ago with Bela Fleck's Acoustic World tour. Sam was breaking them through the sets and had a tech hand him his backup as it would happen. It was amusing to observe. I don't know if he lightened up later on but the last time I saw him with his own band, he did not have any string breaks.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Two things factor in this for me:

    1) I'm busy (not to imply that you are not...I don't know). Wife, daughter, career, adult responsibilities (taking care of house, vehicles, etc.) playing mandolin in a bluegrass band. And other interests - guitar, singer/songwriter, outdoor activities, motorcycle, etc. So when I get a limited amount of time to spend with my mandolin - I want to play, not change strings.

    2) I don't actually like the way that new strings sound. Too bright, too jangly for my ears.

    So I change strings every couple of years. (I do have more than one mandolin - I rotate among 4, or so...)

    To each their own,

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    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Have gotten it down to under 30 minutes. But that's with stretching and re-tuning. Might be able to do it faster if I wanted.

    FWIW, took about half that time today to change strings on a guitar. Same thing, stretch, retune, repeat about 3 times. Still easier than mandolin.

    Am another one who isn't thrilled by the sound of brand new strings. On anything. Won't need this acoustic for another week, but wanted to change now to let them sit and settle.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Saw Michael Cooney -- geez, must be 55 years ago now! -- break a banjo string, and he sang Nu Grape, a cappella, while he put a new string on.

    On the other hand, saw the Osborne Brothers a few years before that (!); Bobby broke a string, just kept playing. Then Sonny broke a string, and they had to take an early break between sets.

    I change strings pretty infrequently, but when I do I like to put a bit of polish on, microfiber the fingerboard, etc. Make a bigger production of it, take a bit more time.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I change strings when I gig a lot about every 2 months. Longer during the last year when gigging was non existent. I will clean the fingerboard only when I take all the strings off, which I don't like to do unless I need to something else or the board really needs cleaning. This was a simple string change, nothing more. I like the sound of new strings, the G string will get dead sounding and I like it brighter. The plain strings usually sound the same new and old, it's really only the G string that really benefits, my mandolin is warm and not bright so changing strings doesn't make it unpleasant sounding. I use Pure Nickel strings and they aren't bright like phosphor or 80/20. They also hold their sound a good while before going dead, I had fret bumps underneath, with 3 gigs the next two days that tells me I need a change.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Five minutes is very fast, a lot faster than I can do them. It probably takes me around 20 minutes, but I actually like the process and take the time to look over and inspect my mandolin. My dad taught me when I was a kid, but he never told me to stretch the strings. Really does help a bunch.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Changing strings sucks.

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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Yeah I'm not nuts about changing strings but is is necessary so just do it. And more in the thirty minute range because I also clean the fretboard, polish the instrument etc.
    And I actually don't like the sound of brand new strings but after a day or two then I'm glad I changed them. Like them slightly broken in.
    As for changing a string on stage I learned a long time ago to bring two mandolins.. Much easier to just grab my backup than trying to fumble through a string change. Talk about a way to kill an audience. And the rest of the band just stands there waiting. Not good stage presence or entertainment.
    Now of course that is perfect justification to have multiple mandolins on hand at all times.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I don't play as much anymore. But If I did I would change after a couple of shows at least. It didn't take too long but always fifteen minutes more or less. Now days I may go 6 months or more. I'm blessed to not have corrosive hands/sweat either.
    Now if I'm home I do a lot of things like:
    -locking the string around the post.
    - making FOR SURE the bridge doesn't move or tip forward as I tighten them up
    - draw blood from one or more of my fingers with the end of a string
    - grease or graphite the nut,
    -grease or graphite the strings slots on the saddle
    -trim the loose ends and bend them.
    - clean up/put up/
    -don't play that mandolin till tomorrow.

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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I have it down to about 20 minutes, taking it nice and easy. Once a month or a little sooner depending on when I might be playing out of the house at a gig or Irish session (no gigs these days).

    I pour a glass of wine or crack open a beer, and set it on the table next to me. A few sips to relax and start changing strings. The rest as a reward at the end, while playing some tunes to stabilize the strings. If you can frame it as a pleasant ritual instead of a chore like this, it goes easier.

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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I cut my stringing time by more than half by changing to the method shown towards the end of this video. Seems obvious once to do it a couple of times.

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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Calley View Post
    I cut my stringing time by more than half by changing to the method shown towards the end of this video. Seems obvious once to do it a couple of times.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNl6jMfX2Rk
    I've been doing that method for over 40 years, much faster. One at a time and you don't have to worry about repositioning the bridge so quicker yet.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I don't mind string changing, takes me about 15 minutes. I use monels on my acoustic guitar and probably only change them once a year, they last so long and sound so great. Recently switched to using monels on my mandolin, really happy with the sound too, will be interesting to see how long they last as compared to phosphor bronze.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Quote Originally Posted by pops1 View Post
    I have a few gigs this weekend and have been playing my strings for quite a while so decided to change them. It took me like all of five minutes to change all the strings. I have heard of folks hating to change strings only when they have to as they hate it so much. Practice makes perfect.
    37.5 seconds per string change is quite fast. How fast do you play?
    Wait…you never said mandolin….was it a domra(3), morin khuur(2), or a washtub bass(1)?
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Quote Originally Posted by MontanaMatt View Post
    37.5 seconds per string change is quite fast. How fast do you play?
    Wait…you never said mandolin….was it a domra(3), morin khuur(2), or a washtub bass(1)?
    Yeah, I did the math on that too...

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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Quote Originally Posted by MontanaMatt View Post
    37.5 seconds per string change is quite fast. How fast do you play?
    Wait…you never said mandolin….was it a domra(3), morin khuur(2), or a washtub bass(1)?
    OK i didn't actually time myself, but glanced at the clock with the last two to go and they took about a minute and a half. It could have been more than five minutes, but it wasn't much. Just saying I don't know what the distress is over changing strings. I wasn't hurrying. Years ago at a luthiers convention there was a string changing contest on a Martin guitar. Take all 6 off, new on, tune and play a chord. I was a minute and a half, but broke a string tuning the last string so was out. The winner was faster than me by a fair piece.
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    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I'm in agreement with Austin Bob, Folded Path and a few others. I kind of like changing strings. It's a bit of down-time, unwinding with my mandolin. I like my mandolins, so I get some pleasure out of taking care of them.
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I'm just happy not to need a bandaid when I'm done with the change.

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    Last edited by Dave Hicks; Jun-19-2021 at 3:57pm.

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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I'm another one of those guys who doesn't see changing strings (whether on my mandolin or one of my guitars) to be a chore or anything to rush thru...I'm not on a mission...

    I relax, take my time, and enjoy the experience of taking care of my instruments...it's like a cross between therapy and meditation...

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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I don’t get it either, it’s not hard or even dangerous. Take your time, do it right do it the same way each and every time and you will build up speed and accuracy, try working in an acoustic music store and you learn quickly that there is always some cute girl that is in love with her 12 string guitar but is afraid to change strings.
    Well, that’s another story...
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Used to go to hear Peter Ostroushko fairly frequently....took my first lessons from him. I asked him how often he changed strings.

    "When they break."

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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    I don't mind changing strings. In a prior life I did work on guitars, even built a few. But, mandolins, yeah. The mandolin I just got came from a friend, who, when I said I was going to try learning some mandolin again, said, "You can show me how to restring mine when you come visit." I restrung it, then talked him into selling it

    Like anything, figure out what works. (Which you will do if it's important.)

    I like coated/treated strings. I'm not hard on regular strings, but if I can stretch the time between replacing a set by 2 or 3x, duh....

    I do like to replace strings in sets. I broke a single E string on a relatively new set. My only option was some Ernie Ball (good company!) 0.011 from probably an electric set. It doesn't sound the same. (I digress...)
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    Default Re: What's the big deal about changing strings?

    Quote Originally Posted by still_fiddlin View Post
    I don't mind changing strings.
    I don't mind choppin' wood ... and I don't care if the money's no good.

    Seriously - good thread. A few things to think about here.
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