Wiping the strings off thoroughly at the end of each (playing) set will extend their life significantly.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 16 April 2003 at 06:59 PM.]

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Playing For JESUS,LC. WILLIAMS U12, SHO-BUD PRO1,CARVIN TL60

I'll use my telecaster as an example. After what seems like a zillion years I know what I know what I know..and that is, I know what MY tone is and should be. A new set of strings that zing on the Tele' can't be beat..for me that is. When that zing is gone..so is the tone. personally if I am bewtween gigs , a week or two..I will not change strings until a day or 2 before the gig. I won't gig with the lost tone or zing of the strings. When I was giging regularly, which was every week, It was every week or at the most every other week to change strings. On the Tele the high end brightness is zero with dead strings. No more chickin pluckin tone. No more snap of the strings with the thumb...

When the tone that you are striving for is no longer possible, then it's time to change strings, not amps, not pickups..strings.

Same with the Steel. When you fully understand and are comfortable with the tone is that you are looking for and it can't be accomplished, it's time to change strings. Turning the mid knob on the amp is not the answer.

the steel is obviously much more forgiving with strings than a 6 string as you don't get near the natural finger oil and dirt transferred from your little left hand fingers.

using a cloth does not really help. What may help is this habit which I started many years ago. I do not touch my 6 string unless I wash my hands first, home or gigs. between sets etc..seems obsessive..but it really is not . Clean hands allow for better feel of the strings and frets and not to mention it's better for the neck in general. Same for the Steel.

How many times do we set up on a gig or come in from outside and just pick up the guitar and start playing ..probably a lot. After setting up a gig one can almost guarantee that your hands are filthy. Lets just transfer that filth to the guitar neck..or ..not.

just my little view..

tp

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 17 April 2003 at 03:48 AM.]

"Strgs don't sound good til they have been on there for a yr."

hallelujah! amen!

Seriously, I will never know how long an Excel SuperB model PSG can keep the same strings without breaking them, since I had to take all the strings off to replace the new ("counterforce") keyless head Mitsuo Fujii (Excel) made me.

But when I took the originals off, the guitar was a few days older than 3 yrs old. Obviously, I would never keep them on that long again. I just wanted to see how long before one broke. That did not happen* and I don't intend to put the old ones back on when I complete this counterforce install.

I can't wait to get it completed since it is suppose to have zero "cabinet drop" when adjusted properly. I must say it is a very clever way that Mitsuo did it. While it works on the same principle as the LeGrande III's, he does it differently. The action takes place at the keyless end rather than at the changer. I have further improved upon it (IMO) by makin one change.

So needless to say, I am quite excited about it.

God bless Mitsuo and all of you,

carl

* Note: The guitar DID break two string:

1. The forth string was defective and had to be replaced within a coupla days after I received it.

2. The 1st string was being asked to exceed its mechanical limit.

After I corrected both, It never even hinted at breaking a string in all 3 years. Which to me is incredible.

[This message was edited by C Dixon on 17 April 2003 at 09:48 AM.]

Great memory you have there!

I leave them on now, just for spite.

Ricky

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Boss Comp./Sustain, Ibanez Auto-Wah

If you are playing gigs, at the end of say a particularly hard 5 niter, or even a weekend, you can look down the strings under strong light, ( such as a Bill Hankey String Illuminator (tm)) or a common house light. If you see inconsistencies in the reflections, It's a good indication.

Mainly if you find one or more that have a dead "plunk" timbre.

If you don't play gigs, then just change them when they break. It'll be a good excersize in producing sustain. Nobody will hear it but you.

There are so many places online here and elsewhere to get sets for under 10$ that it's good to order three or four sets.

If you get a couple "plunkers" don't worry about it.

FOr each set, I try to have at least one extra .020, .017, and a .010. Sometimes it will just be a "bad string" right out of the box. Lately even the best brands have that happen.

I was in the middle of recording last week and had a .020 go dead, or I had been just becoming aware of it. I changed it out and was right where I needed to be.

Mind that your changers or nut rollers don't cause deadening with too much space, or boogers in them.