The ShadowMusic Web Community

People are probably going to think I'm a bit of a philistine, but I always buy whatever strings are on offer at the time (Ie the cheapest).
I use 10s on my electrics and 13s on my acoustic, changing them every 9 months or so (whether it's needed or not!). Maybe my hearing is not what is was but I can't tell any difference between the makes, coated or otherwise.
The strings on my basses are several years old, however & sound great!

I have a lot of guitars and some that I rarely use have got strings on them from before I was ill, which is pre 2012. My red Shadows Burns is one of them and it sounds great - though I will change them should I gig the guitar. There are several more hidden away, though the acoustics don't fare as well with longevity as the solids.

Buying guitar strings?
This is the age of recycling.
All you need is a saucepan of boiling water with a smidge of washing-up liquid.
Do it on a sunny day when your solar panels are giving max power and Mother Earth says thank you.

RayL wrote:Buying guitar strings?
This is the age of recycling.
All you need is a saucepan of boiling water with a smidge of washing-up liquid.
Do it on a sunny day when your solar panels are giving max power and Mother Earth says thank you.

That takes me back to the 60s when pocket money was tight!!

Ah yes! I remember boiling strings but it didn't fix those 3 or 4 disconnected coils on the wound 3rd

When I read threads like this I am grateful that I play bass guitar. Having found the strings that work for me, like John Rostill I shall never change them!

Flatwounds can last indefinitely...

I've had a set on one guitar for around 5-6 years, my wife's bass has had its flatwounds on for over 20 years, and my mate the bass player in my first band still has the originally fitted flatwounds on his old bass (a hand made left handed Rickenbacker copy made by our drummer....in 1966/67)!!

If we're talking bass strings, a word for Rotosound Trubass (65 - 115) which are roundwound (for tone) covered in black nylon (smoother even than flatwound). To clean, just a wipe with a damp cloth. Should last for ever.

RayL wrote:If we're talking bass strings, a word for Rotosound Trubass (65 - 115) which are roundwound (for tone) covered in black nylon (smoother even than flatwound). To clean, just a wipe with a damp cloth. Should last for ever.

Interesting. If I need to string a new bass, I'll gladly give these a try. The gauge is very heavy which would be new to me, I'm more of a 40-100 man, but if it was a new (to me) instrument then it would be interesting to set it up for heavy gauge and see what it sounds like.

Boiling strings is OK to an extent and it does freshen up the tone, but does nothing to combat metal fatigue at the bridge and tuning peg positions and once used, the strings are severely compromised and WILL break. If you're not someone who performs professionally it doesn't matter so much as there isn't the embarassment of having to delay your performance, but changing strings periodically is how I guarantee minimal breakage.
I have tried with quite a bit of success the strings that Ecca speaks of but as Roger mentioned, the reliability can be questionable, I too have had breakages just fitting them from new.