When To Change Strings

[tomgirl571]

Alrighty....I've got a question...When do you know that it's time to change your bass strings? I've been playing bass for almost two years now....And I've had the same strings for that whole time *blush* But I've kept them cuz the strings have still sounded awesome. But...they've been giving me problems lately. I'll tune my bass, but when I go to play a song, it'll sound totally off-key. And the notes don't hold as long as they used to...I think it's time for some new strings.. But my dad keeps saying "oh, no. You probably wont need new ones for a few more weeks, or so.." But......I hate practicing with my band with lame strings..lol. So, is it time to change my strings? Oooo, and what brand of strings would y'all recommend?

Thank ya very much.
*mwahs*

[xAnothrLostSoul]

i change mine at least once a month...but i play guitar and strings are alot cheaper...as soon as it gets harder to keep it in tune i'll change the strings and am back in action

i'd change mine now if i were you...trust me if you think it sounds good now you'll love it with new strings

i play Dean Markley Blue Steel strings

hope that helped

[youcomebeforeyo]

On my bass when I first got it I kept the strings three years. When I replaced them I realised how stupid I had been.

You should be able to look at the cosmetics of the strings and figure it out. If there's rust, change the strings.

I change my bass strings every four months.

[tomgirl571]

thank you! That was a lot of help. I just needed to know how often and such.. You guys rock! :bigsmile:

[xmicandmoshpitx]

or you could get a nice set of strings and just keep cleaning them

[pinklar]

i change mine every two months or so, and use ernie ball regulars. fucking love that crunch when i've just changed them.

[merv the perv]

Whenever I change my bass, my acoustic guitar, or my electric guitar's strings I get so excited because they sound brand new.

[EriatarkaHRD]

one way of saving money on bass strings is rather than buying new ones, boil the old ones to get the corrosion off of them, let them dry, then restring your bass. however in your case, there may be too much corrosion after 2 years of playing, so just get some new strings.

i try to change guitar strings once a month or so, and i change my bass strings a little less frequently cause i play it less.

[pinklar]

one way of saving money on bass strings is rather than buying new ones, boil the old ones to get the corrosion off of them, let them dry, then restring your bass. however in your case, there may be too much corrosion after 2 years of playing, so just get some new strings.

i try to change guitar strings once a month or so, and i change my bass strings a little less frequently cause i play it less.
the only downside to that is that they don't stay punchy for as long, at all.

[EriatarkaHRD]

yeah, but i normally have the tone rolled down anyway, so it doesn't effect my sound all that much

[xmicandmoshpitx]

one way of saving money on bass strings is rather than buying new ones, boil the old ones to get the corrosion off of them, let them dry, then restring your bass. however in your case, there may be too much corrosion after 2 years of playing, so just get some new strings.

i try to change guitar strings once a month or so, and i change my bass strings a little less frequently cause i play it less.
do NOT boil them. they might rust. go to this site (http://www.tunemybass.com/strings/how_to_clean_bass_strings.html) and clean them that way.

[EriatarkaHRD]

i've always boiled my strings and they've never rusted.

[tomgirl571]

lol, i was just about to come here and tell evryone how my sister's guitar teacher told me to boil the strings. But anyways.....what I don't understand is the price of bass strings...... My dad buys good quality guitar strings for $6, and I've gotta pay $22.50 for some bass strings.. I'm gonna be broke by the time I'm 20! lol..

[Lueda Alia]

thanks for the info.

[Scott Weber]

Haha, I never change my bass strings. Oh well.

[Brandon Allin]

I'd say changing them every 4-5 months is a good idea. Keeping up with guitar strings can be a bitch, but bass is much easier.

Also, i'd reccomend Ernie Ball bass strings. Not exactly sure which specific kind, but I just Ernie Ball guitar strings, and they've never failed me. Sound great.