I played mandolin in a gigging bluegrass band for around 13 years here in Georgia.... Probably why my ears hear Cello the way it does.... I'm actually thinking about getting back into the group of folks I was playing with. I had to step out because of work got too hectic. They found a multi instrument guy pretty quick that played mandolin, dobro and guitar and they kept going. They are back at it again and practicing weekly and asked me to come sit in anytime during their practices.
I was briefly in a string-band in HK; since moving back here to the GWN I've been a number of times to a weekly bluegrass jam but no nibbles on joining a band. I'd enjoy gigging again, if only I could.
I played mandolin in a gigging bluegrass band for around 13 years here in Georgia.... Probably why my ears hear Cello the way it does.... I'm actually thinking about getting back into the group of folks I was playing with. I had to step out because of work got too hectic. They found a multi instrument guy pretty quick that played mandolin, dobro and guitar and they kept going. They are back at it again and practicing weekly and asked me to come sit in anytime during their practices.
I credit trombone playing with my decent sense of pitch
For string changes, I haven’t played out in forever, but I do play at home every day, at least on the acoustic. I haven’t changed the monels on my acoustic in over a year, but I do clean them fairly often and they’re lights, which I’ve found contribute to a longer lifespan for me. They still stay in tune and sound fine to me! NYXLs in my electric and they last on the order of months.
Interesting...I always thought fifths made a lot of sense, at least at a mandolin scale length because everything falls under the fingers without much of a stretch.
When I was gigging, I changed strings on a weekly basis. Now that retirement has found me, my acoustics get strings changed far less often - typically 1 or two times a year. Haven't changed the strings on my Strat in about 5 years. I use Elixirs exclusively. Still have a couple of sets of Billy Gibbons 7s to try out on my Strat. Playing these days is primarily for personal enjoyment and testing pedals.
There’s really no definite span. For guitars that are being played a lot (say, several hours a week), anywhere from one to three months, but for some, it’s maybe eight months. Heck, my bigger acoustic, which doesn’t get that much play, has been a few years, but still sounds glorious when I do play it. (Good thing too, as I use Santa Cruz low tensions on it, and they are expensive!)
I tend to like pure nickel strings, which seem to last longer to me—they certainly have a more constant sound. I also am good about washing my hands before playing, and wiping the neck down when done,
One thing I noticed, and it’s ironic to me, is that on the two guitars I have with stainless frets, the strings loose intonation faster. I think they get worn on the harder metal (it may be smoother, but…) faster than on other alloys. But usually, it’s the sense that my lowest string is starting to have a bit of a thud rather than ringing out. This weekend will see string changes on two guitars.
I keep a log specifically about strings for each guitar. When I get a new guitar, I take an educated guess about what I’m going to want on it; gauge, materials, and construction wise, and then compare a few other options before I settle on one. Since I’m playing 11s or 12s on most guitars, it’s hardly ever even close to what was on them when bought.
My basses just don’t get string changes. Except I need to on one that has a totally dead low B string. And all the other strings sound fine… but they’re bespoke Thomasic strings, only available as a set, and cost about as much as double bass strings, so I’ve been living with the thud.
Interesting...I always thought fifths made a lot of sense, at least at a mandolin scale length because everything falls under the fingers without much of a stretch.
Theoretically, yes, but my brain was corrupted by learning 4ths first, and besides my fingers ignore my brain and go automatically to the bum notes the times I've tried friends' mandolins or cellos.
I know string-changes depend on how often the instrument is played, player's finger acidity, other factors etc...
I just think it'd be a nightmare to change mandolins, 12-string guitars, pianos... large guitar collections.
I know my uke needs new strings, 'cause it used to stay in tune better, but they're not broke... so when I pick it up I'm tuning it more than I'm playing it.
Interesting...I always thought fifths made a lot of sense, at least at a mandolin scale length because everything falls under the fingers without much of a stretch.
I have a guitar that I tuned in 5ths. I made it a 5-string and removed one tuner and covered the hole. C G D A E. There’s a sort-of familiarity, a lot of fretboard patterns can be inverted.
I have another guitar tuned in major 3rds. It’s a 7-string. E G# C E G# C E. It’s kind of alien, and you lose cowboy chords, but you can reach any note in the chromatic scale without changing positions.
Behold, The String Thing guitar string upcycling mummy, where your old strings become a piece of art. The figure comes unwrapped and ready to be customized with your strings.
so i've decided it's time to replace the 70-46-36-26-17-13 set on the goldtop.
they are quite dull, they've been on for 9 months lol.
although last night i played it through a suhr riot build (boosted w/ an ST-9) and it sounded surprisingly articulate and brutal, but I did need to dime the tone control (hadn't played it in ages, but damn it's good. if you like high gain distortion - go and build a Disarray)
over the last couple days I've been looking for better options for strings that go up to .070
wherever possible, i much prefer to use coated strings, and they're absolutely worth it. i get so much more out of a set of coated than standard nickels, in a way that easily outweighs the cost difference ( + nickel fucks up my skin, kinda need to avoid it, steel frets are a godsend)
well, you can't buy a coated .070 - no one makes one.
but this morning i just discovered that d'addario does prosteels in singles, and has one in a .070!
hell yeah. match that with 10-46 prosteel pack and it's sorted.
so i've ordered x2. keen as.
should've thought of prosteels earlier, they're probably the next best thing to using a coated set
www.fret12.com
