It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:48 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Question about Strings
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:37 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:33 pm
Posts: 891
Location: Vermont
This may be a stupid question but... :oops:

How soon after buying a new guitar would you need to change the strings? Right away? After awhile?

Secondly, are any special tools needed? Is it easy/wise to do as a beginner?

Thanks for your time! :D

_________________
"There is more to life than increasing its speed." Mahatma Gandhi

Owner of:
-2008 American Standard Strat in Candy Cola Red
-Vibro-Champ XD
-Fender CD-60 Acoustic (Sunburst)


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:45 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:30 am
Posts: 366
Location: Denmark
I would change strings immediately and do a set-up while I'm at it to make it meet my prefs

It's easy to change strings and the sooner you start doing it the sooner you will master it
Tools aren't really required but most players use a cutter to cut the strings, u can also get a string winder to make it a bit faster to wind the strings onto the tuning peg
There's different methods used for different set of tuners, check what is on the guitar and find a guide that describes how to properly mount the strings so that it won't slip on the tuner, in my opinion fender 'vintage tuners' is the best design available

You should only change strings yourself, when you have good knowledge of the guitar you can either try to change action yourself or have a luthier do it


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:10 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:56 am
Posts: 2766
Location: metro Chicago USA
Most Fenders seem to come with .009 sets of strings, in this experience. And oft they are shopworn or 'noty right.'

Personal preference is .011 with wound 3rd, so the bridges and neck need adjustment as well when changing out.

'Use Third Coast Guitars in Chicago to do the setup; a pro setup and user -appropriate strings makes a decent guitar into an excellent guitar.

Money is well-spent as well on a book like "The Complete Guitarist" or "The Guitar Book, "which tells you how all the parts fit and work together.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:35 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:02 am
Posts: 8609
Location: Vacaville, CA USA
Whenever I get a new (or new to me) guitar the first things I do are: Put on Schaller Straplocks, Put on new Strings, Do a complete setup.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:07 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:05 pm
Posts: 733
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
I have, after years of playing, figured out exactly which strings I like. One of the first things I do when I get a new guitar is change the strings to .10s -- most people seem to use .09s -- and then set the guitar up for the type of strings I use.

I'm fanatical about my strings though. On any guitar that I play regularly, I pretty much have to change them every two weeks. For whatever reason, my sweat is particularly corrosive and just eats them up. A 2-hour jam or an hour long show spells doom for my strings.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:22 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:01 pm
Posts: 3261
Location: Halls of ikea
something I learned after some time , try keeping strings clean , give them a good wipe , strings will last longer


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:33 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:47 am
Posts: 15336
Location: In a galaxy far far away
I read somewhere although i cant remember where that strings should be changed after every 36 hours of play. So if you play an hour a day once every 5 weeks should be fine.
I also side with changing strings immediately upon buying a guitar. You know that duff strings arent going to be stopping your full enjoyment of the new guitar then.

_________________
No no and no


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:14 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 1:35 pm
Posts: 2303
Location: DC
nikininja wrote:
I read somewhere although i cant remember where that strings should be changed after every 36 hours of play. So if you play an hour a day once every 5 weeks should be fine.
I also side with changing strings immediately upon buying a guitar. You know that duff strings arent going to be stopping your full enjoyment of the new guitar then.


+1


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:26 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:05 pm
Posts: 733
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
ripitup555 wrote:
something I learned after some time , try keeping strings clean , give them a good wipe , strings will last longer


+1

It's true -- a good wipe after playing will give me an extra hour or two from a set. For some tragic reason, I'm doomed to change my strings often. It's a combination of my corrosive sweat and the fact that I beat them mercilessly for more than an hour every day.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Question about Strings
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:54 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:13 pm
Posts: 19026
Location: Illinois, USA
Fenderseeker09 wrote:
This may be a stupid question but... :oops:

How soon after buying a new guitar would you need to change the strings? Right away? After awhile?

Secondly, are any special tools needed? Is it easy/wise to do as a beginner?

Thanks for your time! :D

F09 , bro , here if you click the support tab are all of the manuals and set up guides for your guitar , everything from how to change strings to recommending when to change them , i wipe down my guitar after playing and my strings stay in good condition for months .

_________________
you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:57 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:33 pm
Posts: 233
Location: Mass.
One other piece of advise. Buy two sets of the same strings. It is very common for a novice to accidentally not install one or two strings properly. Then your stuck running back to the store. Before you know it, changing strings will be a piece of cake...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:20 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:30 am
Posts: 505
Location: Southern IL
if you aren't happy with the strings that came with the guitar, like if they're too hard since you are a beginner, i'd suggest getting some ernie ball slinkys. they are pretty soft and easy to bend.

you change your strings if they get too grungy or dirty, or if they have dents or things in them.

take your guitar to a shop and ask them to change your strings. watch how they do it and pay attention, so you can do it yourself the next time.

-Jake :P

_________________
"I don't care how good you are, how fast you are. You ain't good enough no lessin' you got the soul." -Hubert Sumlin


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:24 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:34 am
Posts: 384
Location: UK
Your questions are very common... so I made a website just for people like you!

Check out beginners guide and guitar string faqs

I hope you find them helpful. :)

Strings have a MASSIVE effect on both sound and playability, so better to change "too often" than keep on old manky strings. Changing strings can be a pain, but gets easier the more you do it and is worth the effort. And always wipe them down after playing (even if you don't use Fast Fret or similar) - it'll make your strings last longer.

It amazes me how many people pay huindreds (or thousands) for their dream guitar then spoil it with old tarnished dirty strings!

_________________
Guitar Collector Forum | Guitar hand trainer | Play Power Chords
Guitar string FAQ | Compare Guitar Tuners


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: