Make strings last longer

[apaclin]

Hi, how can I make my guitar strings last longer? I have Ernie Ball Paradigm which already last longer than regular ones, due to coating, but can that still be improved? For example wearing gloves during playing or/and apply a degreasing liquid on the strings after playing?

[Drew Stephenson]

I know some folks who swear by FastFret but I've never really got on with it myself. But I don't go through strings rapidly so have the luxury of choice.

[Stuart79]

Last longer in what sense? In terms of retaining freshness/life? Or do you mean in terms of preventing them breaking so often?

[Murray B]

Best plan
Wash your hands before playing
Clean the strings after you've finished
Gloves? - Maybe, never tried them.

I use dunlop string cleaner and conditioner on my knock about guitars. It can help get the strings back into some kind of shape when I've neglected to do the steps above. But it doesn't make them sound like a new set.

[zenguitar]

Guitar strings are consumables. They wear out and then you replace them, just like car tyres.

We are fortunate to live in an age where guitar strings are excellent quality and, in real terms, cheaper than they've ever been. Of course, keeping a decent cloth to hand to wipe down the neck and strings after playing will maximise string life.

Andy

[SecretSam]

For bass players: just turn up the treble a bit as they age.

Eventually they become utterly lifeless and don't hold tune so well. At that point, give up and change them. When I used to play a lot, that was about once a year. Less often now.

Anyone know of a use for old strings? Or is it straight to recycling?

[zenguitar]

Anyone know of a use for old strings? Or is it straight to recycling?

At a local craft fair I spotted a craftsperson making jewellery using old guitar strings. In conversation they revealed that a guitar tech had advised them that guitar strings couldn't be recycled and were very disappointed when I explained that Strings Direct had a guitar string recycling program.

Andy

[SecretSam]

Hi Andy

Nice to meet a fellow insomniac.

Since lockdown I have discovered that my natural sleep pattern is two hours, followed by an hour or so wide awake, then another four hours, then a sneaky hour's snooze in the afternoon.

It's probably not healthy, but it feels comfortable.

[zenguitar]

I'm off to bed now....

I'll be up at the crack of lunchtime

Andy

[tacitus]

I’ve always found my bass strings last a lot longer if I don’t practice. And I get fewer gigs, which helps even more …

[BigRedX]

Technically guitar (and bass) strings last until they break, or the windings have worn down so much against the frets that they are impossible to intonate.

And it's all relative. I used to favour the sound of bass strings after I had been playing them for several weeks rather than brand new. Now I really ought to changing them every month (and probably more often if we're gigging a lot) to get the zing I currently want.

Coated strings tend to last longer, but depending on the tone you want they may never sound as good as a fresh set of bright uncoated ones, and then there is the feel. Personally I can't stand the feel.

So why do you want your strings to last longer? (and how much is "longer"?) Is it the tone you want to maintain? Is your guitar difficult to re-string? Are you trying to save money?

[sonics]

I’ve always found my bass strings last a lot longer if I don’t practice. And I get fewer gigs, which helps even more …

I was in a band where the bass player boiled his old strings. He is the also the only bass player I've worked with who has broken strings on stage. He was an fairly energetic plucker, though!

[BigRedX]

IME the benefits of boiling strings are mostly psychological. I tried it once and in the process ruined the pan I boiled them in. Then when I put the strings back on one of them snapped. While the boiled strings were brighter than before, they weren't anywhere like as bright as the new one I had to use and were back to their original dullness in a day or two. For the amount of time and effort involved, it wasn't at all worth it.

If I wanted to save money now, I'd just buy cheap strings, and change them slightly more often.

I'm also a bass player who has broken strings on stage, but I usually take a spare bass to gigs for this eventuality. Also at one time or another I have broken every string including Low B on a 5-string bass just through playing.

[Wonks]

My bass-playing friend made a tubular bass string steamer, following a design he saw on YouTube. He thinks it extends their life and it’s less extreme than boiling them. Just.

Why he doesn’t just buy new ones is beyond me. He owns two yachts.

[Wonks]

But it’s not recommended for coated strings.

[apaclin]

I’ve always found my bass strings last a lot longer if I don’t practice. And I get fewer gigs, which helps even more …

Should I stop playing guitar? They would probably last as long as possible then.

[Philbo King]

I use Elixirs on my 6 string guitars and usually get 2 or 3 years out of them before the coating comes loose and they won't intonate.

I've never changed strings on any of my basses.

One big factor: I don't ever use picks, thus limiting the string abuse to how much my picking fingers/thumb can tolerate.

[tacitus]

I’ve always found my bass strings last a lot longer if I don’t practice. And I get fewer gigs, which helps even more …

Should I stop playing guitar? They would probably last as long as possible then.

Philosophically interesting but a bit pointless. TBH, mostly my lack of practice is down to circumstances rather than a need to relax or save string wear. I’m pretty light on strings - no pick, never broken a string playing and never played enough to wear strings out from perpetual use. I’m playing bass a bit more now because I don’t have the stamina I used to have for saxes after Covid, ageing and probably my hormone therapy.

I do agree that strings are not very costly. My cash seems to go on bari sax reeds …

[BigRedX]

Most of my bass string breaks have been from playing finger style.

[tea for two]

Bass Uke is probably going to be my next instrument purchase.
This Lady has had Aquila Thundergut about 4years on her Bass Uke.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NQVEyXA5bgY
At 2min07sec.
Although they get sticky according to her experience.
She preferred the texture of the Thunderbrowns.

[SecretSam]

I know nothing about ukeleles, but those brand names sound like someone has too much curry in their diet.

[Wonks]

But you can’t have too much curry in your diet!

[tea for two]

I know nothing about ukeleles, but those brand names sound like someone has too much curry in their diet.

Mos Def

[jjlonbass]

I find that storing each of my basses in their case / bag when not in use makes the strings last much longer than when an instrument is left on a stand in the open air.

John

[awjoe]

Hi, how can I make my guitar strings last longer?

By playing slower? Less wear and tear on the strings than vigorous strumming, for instance. Check what Big RX said about breaking strings, to illustrate. I haven't actually put this approach to the test myself, but it would be fun to try, I think. Gentle your strings for longer life.