Guitar Strings

Mars

Mars

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People are telling me its time to change the strings on my acoustic guitar.
They do sound a bit twangy, tho I thought that's due to my playing.

Ive been told that they need to be replaced once a year at least or they get rusty. My fingers do discolor on the strings some days but I seem think they've always done that.

Should I change them? If so, what strings should I get?
Do it myself or take it in?
 
Madman88 said:
People are telling me its time to change the strings on my acoustic guitar.
They do sound a bit twangy, tho I thought that's due to my playing.

Ive been told that they need to be replaced once a year at least or they get rusty. My fingers do discolor on the strings some days but I seem think they've always done that.

Should I change them? If so, what strings should I get?
Do it myself or take it in?
Click to expand...

If you play regularly, I'd recommend replacing your strings once a month or so, although I'll usually let a couple go by before I do, heh.

Once a year sounds WAAAAAY too infrequent.

Do it yourself, on an acoustic it's dead simple, just google a few how to guides.

As for strings, D'Addario are well priced and perfectly good.
 
copacetic said:
If you play regularly, I'd recommend replacing your strings once a month or so, although I'll usually let a couple go by before I do, heh.

Once a year sounds WAAAAAY too infrequent.

Do it yourself, on an acoustic it's dead simple, just google a few how to guides.

As for strings, D'Addario are well priced and perfectly good.
Click to expand...

I play my acoustic every day and I'm still on the strings I got with the guitar more than a year ago.. :0

DrJohnZoidberg said:
I would recommend D'Addario EXPs. Pricey, but coated strings help to maintain your tone for a lot longer especially at the coast.

Gauge is up to what kind of sound you want and your playing style. I would most probably get the light (.12-.53). You can get them at basically all music shops.

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductF...&productname=EXP_Coated_Phosphor_Bronze_Wound
Click to expand...

D'Addario it is. I would like to get the same strings as the ones I have tho.. Do the .12 - .53 come on the guitar as a standard?
 
Madman88 said:
I play my acoustic every day and I'm still on the strings I got with the guitar more than a year ago.. :0



D'Addario it is. I would like to get the same strings as the ones I have tho.. Do the .12 - .53 come on the guitar as a standard?
Click to expand...

That guitar must sound like ass by now! :D

Just take it with to the store if you are unsure which gauge to get, you can't go wrong with the light gauge but they can recommend a gauge for you at the store.

You can string it yourself, it's really not difficult. Anybody can use logic to work out how the previous ones were put on and just follow from there. After you have restrung a few times you'll learn the little tricks, maybe you should get an el-cheapo set of strings to do your first restring as you don't want to ruin a set of D'Addarios.

Prepare to be blown away on how awesome you guitar will sound after the restring :D
 
Can't add anything more to what's been said already.

Back in the day, when I started out - I was restringing guitars myself with tablespoons and sh#t.

These days however - I'm too lazy and leave it at the store for an hour and grab lunch or a coffee.
Also - back then I never knew of innotation and setup.
Now I do - but I'm still too lazy to do it myself :p :D

My CJ5x has been in need of strings for a good long while and will get round to it soon before I book some studio time.
 
Madman88 said:
I play my acoustic every day and I'm still on the strings I got with the guitar more than a year ago.. :0
Click to expand...

How you are even getting the thing in tune is beyond me. :D

D'Addario it is. I would like to get the same strings as the ones I have tho.. Do the .12 - .53 come on the guitar as a standard?
Click to expand...

Probably, that's regular light gauge for an acoustic.
 
I thought you only had to worry about intonation on an electric?
 
copacetic said:
How you are even getting the thing in tune is beyond me. :D



Probably, that's regular light gauge for an acoustic.
Click to expand...

Well,my idea of play and yours is probably a different thing. I spend about 1/2 and hour a day (more if I'm lucky) playing through the work I get given on a Monday morning. Sometimes I manage to steal an extra 10 min here and there to play a little.
 
Madman88 said:
I thought you only had to worry about intonation on an electric?
Click to expand...

Nope, it's just that the intonation is usually not an issue on acoustic it normally only becomes an issue higher up on the fretboard. But if it's out you should take it in (to a luthier) to get set up properly.
 
Madman88 said:
Well,my idea of play and yours is probably a different thing. I spend about 1/2 and hour a day (more if I'm lucky) playing through the work I get given on a Monday morning. Sometimes I manage to steal an extra 10 min here and there to play a little.
Click to expand...

Truth be told, I hardly touch guitars these days. :(

But yeah, look, basically, you will eventually get a feel for when your strings are 'dead'. If you play a little every day, keep your guitar packed away, and clean your strings after use, they will last quite a while.

There is a noticeable difference once they have been used for too long; The tone is dull, they are harder to tune, and generally start looking and feeling a little gross.
 
copacetic said:
Truth be told, I hardly touch guitars these days. :(

But yeah, look, basically, you will eventually get a feel for when your strings are 'dead'. If you play a little every day, keep your guitar packed away, and clean your strings after use, they will last quite a while.

There is a noticeable difference once they have been used for too long; The tone is dull, they are harder to tune, and generally start looking and feeling a little gross.
Click to expand...

How do you clean your stings? Ive never done that either :o, and my guitar lives on a stand behind my desk at home, should I be keeping it in a bag?
 
Madman88 said:
How do you clean your stings? Ive never done that either :o, and my guitar lives on a stand behind my desk at home, should I be keeping it in a bag?
Click to expand...

Yes. Get a bag, your strings are going to corrode a lot faster out in the open. Also when you are finished playing for the day wipe of the strings with a soft dry lint-free rag, this will just help remove the sweat and oil from your hands and your strings will last longer. I'm always to lazy to wipe them down though :D
 
I have this Dunlop oil jobby I bought at a guitar store - meant for strings - after a few uses - its now meant to stare at me.
More of the laziness :o

I need roadies! :p :D
 
I have a bag, I will start putting it back in it at night. Pity tho, its really nice to be able to pick it up and play without having to hassle first.
 
I last put new strings on my guitar about 3 years ago, that was also about the last time I played it.
When I was playing alot then I used Martin SP's awesome strings those, I found the d'addarios went dull quite quickly.
 
Madman88 said:
I have a bag, I will start putting it back in it at night. Pity tho, its really nice to be able to pick it up and play without having to hassle first.
Click to expand...

urgh and retune it everytime! bags are terrible for moving machine heads.
 
Gotta say - my hollowbody and my acoustic are on their stands in my room all of the time.
And only the hollowbody's strings have to be tuned evertime I pick it up - but those Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinky's I've got on there - its to be expected.
My acoustic impresses me everytime - goes slightly out after perhaps 72 hours.

Bags - only use them for traveling.
 
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