I'd rather have a string sound full and bass-heavy then bright and brittle. After the initial breaking in you won't notice a significant change in your string quality for another month or two, longer if you're using a coated string.
Signs that strings are starting to wear and need changed could be any of the following:. Old and corroded guitar strings. Flickr Commons image via Ben Ward. Any of these signs could mark the beginning of the end for your guitar strings operating at their most optimal quality level.
Again, they might not break or stop making noise, but they'll no longer be producing the best possible tone or sounding like they were made to sound. There's no de facto answer once you get to this point.
Again, replacing them depends a lot on how often you play, how much you sweat and what type of strings you use. I've been playing guitar for a long time and have used a few different strings consistently, so I can list them and give you some exact numbers in terms of how long I wait to change them. Elixir acoustic guitar strings last a lot longer because of their coating material. As you can see, I tend to push strings pretty far past their conventional "expiration date. In either case, it's a big matter of preference.
While I can't speak for other string brands, my experience with Ernie Ball and Elixir coated strings it that they can handle some some age, especially the Elixirs. If you're primarily concerned with string life and longevity, Elixirs and larger gauges heavier string gauges are going to be your best options. Uncoated strings and thinner gauges just don't last as long.
We all know the familiar snap of brand new strings. Some guitarists love the sound of fresh strings and change them every few days to keep it up. Regardless of your preference, your strings should never sound dull or flat, the way that really old strings can. When we play guitar, the oils from our fingers build up on the strings over time, leaving them more prone to corrosion, and eventually breakage.
An early sign that your strings are on their last legs is their color. As nickel and steel guitar strings age they lose their luster, turning a sort of dull gray color. Bronze acoustic strings lose their copper-colored sheen and turn a darker brown color. Once they start to feel stiff, it means the metal is begin the process of corrosion.
When you slide your fingers along your strings, they should feel smooth, almost slippery. It could be any number of things, but mostly likely a setup issue.
The one where they feel stiff, in time I came to know that when this is the case a good hard bend was likely going to lead to a break. That means that every string change comes with an inspection of the saddles, particularly where the strings sit, and the nut. When this happens on a steel string it will normally fall apart.
On nylon strings, the winding may sometimes begin to pull off without breaking the core. Wiping down your strings top and bottom with a thin cloth can remove the corrosion-causing substances left on them after playing. This can therefore prolong the life of the strings. Few guitar players do this regularly. A handy tool to use for this is the ToneGear String Cleaner [?
There are a number of products on the market for cleaning and conditioning guitar strings. These products work by putting a layer of oil over the strings which protects them from harmful, corrosive substances. Examples include Dunlop String Cleaner [? Most players should plan on changing strings about once every 3 months or hours of practice—whichever comes first. Your strings may last twice this long, or more. This is a key factor! Noticeable wear can become visible on the strings beginning within weeks or hours of practice.
By the time 3 months or about hours of use, your strings will be fairly worn out and may not sound as good anymore. The corrosion on your strings is what makes them feel gritty and unpleasant to play.
0コメント