How long do you use a set of guitar strings?

[Cheap Chick]

The Snake Oil thread got me thinkin'

[labratmatt]

I play 'em until they break. I use Ernie Ball 11's and try to clean them after I play them.

I hate the sound of new strings. Too clangy. Give me a nice set of several week old strings and I'm set.

[HamerHokie]

Answers aren't phrased properly. Unit of measurement should be shows/gigs, not hours.

[formula73]

Guitars are supposed to have strings?! No wonder I always get drowned out.

[zzdat]

Three sets.

Cool Beans

Gene

[wyldbil]

When one of my guitars starts sounding dull, I reach into the string drawer. The time factor varies on current use level of any particular guitar.

[RkR]

Generally, I get a couple of weeks out of a set before they get dull sounding/rusty. Here in Alabama, the humidity is usually pretty high so strings rust quickly, so I change em out before they ruin my frets. I sat in with a bud of mine's band this past weekend and played one of his guitars, and the strings were at LEAST 5 years old! (he even told me where he got 'em and I know for a fact that music store has been closed for at LEAST 5 years)

[Jem]

I try to get three gigs out of a set...doesn't always work out that way though !

Jemmiewemmie

[jwhitcomb3]

I usually use the same set of strings on a guitar through an entire New Hampshire winter. In the summer my strings go dead after a few days, so I change 'em often. Good thing summer only lasts about 12 weeks here!

-Jonathan

[RkR]

I usually use the same set of strings on a guitar through an entire New Hampshire winter. In the summer my strings go dead after a few days, so I change 'em often. Good thing summer only lasts about 12 weeks here!

-Jonathan

It's like I used to tell my friends when I lived in Massachusetts, "10 months of winter, and 2 months of poor sledding"

[Guest teefus2]

when i am playing out i usually leave them on for 9 sets or so, it works out to 2-3 gigs usually. when i am only playing at the open stage every thursday i change them when i notice them getting funky, sounding dead or not tuning up right. i use dr .010 pure nickels.

[ET_KenW]

Being a bedroom hack, I usually go a few months on a set of strings. Unfortunately, that's about the time when they start staying in tune. LOL

[pesocaster]

For gigs... a fresh set.... per guitar..

For jamming around the house / rehearsals ... they'll last about a week (aprox 1-3 hours a day)

D'Addario's 11's

[straightblues]

First of all, I like the feel and sound of old strings. I use Gibson BB King pure nickel strings 10 - 54. I play blues and do lots of bends. I play for a least an hour a day. I keep them on for about 3 months or so. I haven't broken a string in several years. I know this isn't the norm, but it works for me.

[licksville]

Previously I purchased the cheapest strings I could find and changed them once a month, regardless of how many gigs I played. I recently tried a pack of Dean Markley Blue Steel and I now believe my strategy has been wrong (strategy being buy cheap - change often). It looks like now I can spend a little more and get a little more, and maintain a brighter sound a little longer.

[Brewmaster]

I get 8-10 hours of use on average. That actually means several weeks since I spread out my playing over several instruments.

[bobbymack]

I keep 'em on until I notice them becoming more difficult to tune, and/or sounding shitty. I do wipe them down after playing, and hit 'em occasionally with lighter fluid or Fast Fret to defunk them. Humidity definitely is a factor too...

[Hamer95USA]

When one of my guitars starts sounding dull, I reach into the string drawer. The time factor varies on current use level of any particular guitar.

Hey guitar players,

I have to agree with wyldbill on this comment. I have a few guitars to choose from for gigs. I wipe down my strings after gigs, I don't sweat as much and my sweat is not acidic like other people's sweat. I can tell when my guitar sounds dull that it's time for a new set of strings to be installed. Humid climates is much worse especially and requires frequent string changes depending on rehearsal/ gig schedules. I tend to change strings more often during the summer due to the humidity and my sweating all over the guitar during gigs.

Guitar George