HOw do you know its time to change strings?

[Parker]

i know that if they go out of tune easy it is about time, but what else. my problem is that my strings really stay in tune for good periods of time. i have had my bass for 3 months and havent changed strings yet. they are d'aderrio i belive (terrible spelling). they are dirty though and have some blackness to them, like oil from my hands. is this common and what are some signs it is time for new strings?

[DMBFan63]

i know that if they go out of tune easy it is about time, but what else. my problem is that my strings really stay in tune for good periods of time. i have had my bass for 3 months and havent changed strings yet. they are d'aderrio i belive (terrible spelling). they are dirty though and have some blackness to them, like oil from my hands. is this common and what are some signs it is time for new strings?

Those are the signs you need to change your strings.. When they become dirty and start to lose their original tone(a lot) you know you gotta change them..

[You_Enjoy_Myself]

Your higher strings will lose their brightness and start to sound dull, and you can physically see them wearing down, its time to change

[Parker]

looks like its time to change. appreciate it. any good string suggestions. i am very satisfied with these D'Addario but am open to anything. i know that it is personal preference, just curious as to what you others use.

also, will a standard music store (sam ash, mars) change them?

[Beauford33]

first off, no 9one is too dumb for someone to to hange strings for them. I cheange them when ever I got guitar center. I always buy stiring when I go there. security I guess

[Parker]

i dont consider myself dumb, just new to bass. not sayin you are calling me out i just would rather ask than fuck up my equipment. so you suggest i learn to change them rather than have someone do it?

i also realize there can be difficulties with other people fucking it up so i understand.

[DJR]

it wouldn't hurt to explain that you're new to the bass, and ask a guy to show you how
good luck

[Beauford33]

pretty easy. I have changed a few bass stings in my day, and messed up only a few times. I suggfest you learn to do it by yourself. If you do have someone else do it, I suggest you watch. Just somthing that may be usefull when you just playin in the middle of the night (which I often do) and notcie its time to change strings.

[Parker]

appreciate the insight. i know it will pay off in the long run anyways.

[Beauford33]

plus, it looks cool when your friends watch you change your strings and makes you look like a big shot.

[ericwormann]

Beauford you're killing me. You really need to type up your posts in word first, then run spell check, then copy and paste them. Usually I can tell what you were trying to say, but lately it's gotten out of control.

[street fish]

i dont consider myself dumb, just new to bass. not sayin you are calling me out i just would rather ask than fuck up my equipment. so you suggest i learn to change them rather than have someone do it?

i also realize there can be difficulties with other people fucking it up so i understand.

Maybe it wouldn't hurt to have someone walk you through it once, but on the other hand, changing strings is far from rocket science. As long as you put the new string on exactly the same way as the old one, it would be pretty difficult to actually damage anything.

1. Change the strings one at a time. Take off one string, put the new one on and bring it up to pitch, then move to the next one.

2. As you remove the old string, look at how it is wound around the tuning post, how the end is bent and inserted into the hole in the tuning peg. Use the old string as a guide for cutting the new string to the correct length.

3. Put the new string on exactly how the old one was on there. Wind it around the post in the same direction. Wind from the top of the peg down, so when the string comes off the peg to go down the neck, that it is coming off the bottom, not the top of the tuning peg. Wind it neatly. Pull on the string against the tuning peg just enough to keep it tight while winding, this helps it wind neatly around the peg.

You must learn to do it yourself, because at the very least you're going to be changing strings every few months, and worst case, you'll break a string during a practice or gig and there won't be anyone there to change it for you.

[jsgksu]

Beauford you're killing me. You really need to type up your posts in word first, then run spell check, then copy and paste them. Usually I can tell what you were trying to say, but lately it's gotten out of control.

Haha, I noticed that too, its kinda funny, its like hes in a race against himself, "just get it out as soona s you ca and dont owrry if there s anywspelling mistakes"

[Beauford33]

shutup yougy s!

[jakeopolis]

one thing that's REALLY important and most people don't do: stretch your strings after you put them on. pull them upwards, away from the body and neck, starting at the bridge and moving up the neck until the nut at the head. don't go nuts, be gentle, but if you do this, your strings will stay in tune better.