How quickly do bass guitar strings "die"?

Question

Something's up with my Fender Jazz bass. Originally I thought it was the amp, bought a new amp but it doesn't sound like it did in the shop. So I think it must be my guitar but I only changed the strings 3 1/2 months ago. I'm a busy player and have played an average of about 3-4 hours a day since then but even so surely strings don't die that quickly do they? I don't have particularly sweaty hands and they were a decent set of D'Addario strings. Any one have any experience like this?

Answer 1

How quickly strings "die" is a function of the construction of the strings, how much you play, and your body chemistry. It's also a function of what kind of sound you're wanting. If you go for a darker, bassier tone then you can leave 'em on a lot longer. Heck...I know a guy here in town that plays in a Motown cover band and goes for a real string-bass kind of sound. He's got a 1974 Fender Jazz bass that he bought new, and it still has the original strings!!!!



I kill bass strings left and right. After 8-10 hours of play time...they're gone as far as I'm concerned and they get changed. But, I'm going for a really bright, ringing tone (think Chris Squire or Geddy Lee).



I really like D'Addario strings (I use them on almost all of my electric guitars), but for some reason I got no life out of their bass strings.



I've been using Dean Markley Blue Steels for years now, and I can get maybe 3 shows out of them (that's 9 one-hour sets). I just tried some new Ernie Balls on the last change...and they seem to be holding up pretty well so far.



If you've got 3+ months at 3 or 4 hours a day on the strings...that's a lot of playing time.



The only other thing I would add is to make sure that you wash your hands before you start playing, and wipe the strings down as soon as you're done.



Greetings from Austin, TX

Ken

Answer 2

The oil in your skin attacks strings and the finish of the instrument. I used to play bass professionally and could get a year or so out of a set of Rotosounds. If your bass strings sound bad after only a short time, I would suggest you wash your hands before playing and wipe each string top to bottom with a soft clean cotton cloth (a piece of an old T-shirt or flannel) after you play (while you're at it wipe down the entire bass with another similar cloth). You should find the life of your strings extended significantly just by keeping them clean and not allowing a bunch of crap to build up on them.



A quick fix for totally dead bass strings is to boil them for a few minutes and let them dry thoroughly overnight before putting them back on. You might get another day or another two weeks out of them that way. The boiling trick really works only once or twice; after that, they are not reclaimable. The boiling trick does NOT work on guitar strings...



HTH

Answer 3

They die quick if you play a lot..

3 1/2 months is about the time i change mine, i'd suggest if it has a really dry sound getting some new strings, i recommend DR colored, but just my opinion. I read an article that said to make sure to wash your hands before EVERYTIME you play.. I tried it, and it didnt help at all.. Bass strings are expensive, but i think you should try and change them out about every 3-4 months. If its not your strings, it may be internal problems which is a hassile, especially pick-ups.

Good luck! hope this helps!

Answer 4

Try wiping them with Lemon oil or Ax Wax - it loosens up the crud that accumulates in the windings.



Giving new strings a dose when fitting helps stop them absorbing unwanted gunk as well.



(Presumably as a long time guitar player you have both these essential maintenance supplies? - if not it could be something as daft as your fretboard needs cleaning..)

Answer 5

Let's say you practice every day and gig once a week for a whole year, at the end of that year, I'd be surprised if you didn't have to replace them anyway, because they break, because your action is outrageous and berserker.