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Post subject: changing flatwound strings
Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 4:20 pm
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I'm sure this has been discussed before, but... I have started using flatwound strings. I love the way they sound and feel. I've been told they need to be changed every 20 years? Or never? How often do you guys change flatwound bass strings?


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Post subject: Re: changing flatwound strings
Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 12:44 am
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I've been using flats on most of my basses for probably 6 or 7 years now, but I think it's really a personal thing on how long you want to keep them on. I don't think there's necessarily a set "rule" to do that, and every string is different, as well as each bass, and player. They do or can get to a point where they get too dead, but some people might like that, and that even depends on how much playing wear and tear they get. I guess when you feel like you need a new set, that's the time to do it.

I would actually change strings a lot more often than I do, but since the things aren't cheap (especially flats,) it varies on when I can afford to get a set, since buying strings isn't top on the list for purchases. I'd like to get a new set for a bass at least once a year for a bass that gets a lot of use, but I have a few basses that they've been on for a few years, especially the one's that I don't play that much on.

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Post subject: Re: changing flatwound strings
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 4:36 am
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As a former flats player I can offer a small bit of info here.
When new, the flats have own their sound and their own feel.
As they age the sound may get a little bit duller due to grease and sweat from your fingers getting into the windings but the feel still remains fairly consistent for about a year or so.
In that period of my life I was a poor student with little to no disposable income and strings were expensive so I would boil the strings in a pot of water on the stove every 3 or 4 months or so to melt and dislodge the finger grease crud and liven them back up.
I noticed that at about the 1 year point the cores had stretched enough that small gaps developed between the windings.
Very small gaps.
Not anything I could see ... but you could feel it.
At that point I would change the strings.
I left a set on for 4 or 5 years one time and that was when I switched to rounds.
The gaps got wide enough that the sharp edges exposed in the gaps were chewing up my fingers, particularly on my right hand since those fingers were not simply pressing but were actually sliding across the windings.

I think your strings will tell you when it's time.

My two cents.

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