|
[About Us] [Guestbook] [Contact] [Info] |
A R T I C L E S
When should I change my strings?
by Bruce Morrison
Strings take a beating. All at once they're put under 20 to 30 pounds of tension, mashed against frets, corroded by humidity and acid perspiration, and vibrated vigorously, assaulted by fingernails and flat picks. When they've lost their tone and intonation, when they're dirty and corroded, or if they haven't been changed in a while, replacing them will bring your guitar back to life. Some players change strings every week, some every other week, while others change strings monthly or every 6 to 8 weeks. Many professional players change their strings daily. Use your own judgment as to how often you need new strings.
What kind of strings should I use?
There is no definitive answer. Many string gauges and alloys are readily available. For any acoustic guitar you'll do just fine using light or medium gauge strings. A set of light gauge strings exerts around 135 pounds of tension on a guitar. Not only are they easier on the fingertips, but they put less stress on the instrument. Exerting around 175 pounds per set, mediums should give you a little more volume. Try both gauges. Stick with your preference. Do not use heavy gauge strings!!! Because they exert well over 200 pounds of tension, they can damage your guitar. As 12-string guitars bear so much tension, use only light or extra light gauge strings on them. Which alloy should you use? Again, this is a matter of preference. Try them all. See what sounds best on your guitar. Just because all of your friends are sold on one thing, doesn't mean that you won't be happier and sound better with another.
Do you break a lot of strings?
If you find that you're breaking a string in the same place over and over, there are three probable causes. If the break occurs near or at the nut, the string is probably being pinched in the nut slot. If the break occurs at or near the saddle, it's most likely that there's a burr somewhere in the bridging. If an unwound string frequently breaks at or near the tuning post while you're tuning it, using a better stringing technique will solve the problem.
Back to Top of Page Return to Articles by Bruce Morrison index page]
[About Us] [Guestbook] [Contact] [Info]