Guitar strings are an essential part of every guitarist’s tone. Along with guitar picks, changing strings is one of the most cost effective ways to tweak your sound. The other reason to change your strings is if they are worn out. In this article, we’ll answer the question of how long do guitar strings last, talk about the the signs of worn out strings, and offer tips on how to get the longest possible life out of your guitar strings. Understanding how long guitar strings last will help you maintain optimal performance, and save money on string changes when they aren’t needed.
How Often Should You Change Guitar Strings?
The lifetime of a set of guitar strings lasts varies, and depends on several factors. Some of these factors are in your control, while others are not. On average, guitar strings tend to last between one and three months before they start to lose their tone and playability. However, this is a very general guideline, and there are several factors that influence how long you should keep a set of strings on your guitar.
Here are 5 factors that influence how long your guitar strings will last:
1. Frequency of use
If you have a guitar that sits in its case, and you rarely play it, your strings will last a looong time. This does not mean they’ll last forever, though. Environmental factors, which we discuss below, also play a part in how fast a string ages.
2. Playing Style
Playing style is a huge factor with regard to how long your strings will last. If you are a heavy handed strummer, or love to do bigtime string bends frequently, you will wear your strings faster. Strings that see a lot of bending will get stretched out faster over time, resulting in poor intonation. Players who exert more pressure when fretting will wear strings faster than those who play with a lighter touch.
The other aspect of playing style is what type of tone you are looking for. I find that worn out strings don’t typically sound very good on acoustic guitars, because it robs them of the richness and overtones that make them sound good in the first place. On the other hand, a metal player who plays with high gain tones is generating more of their sound from the amplifier, and benefits from tone controls that can be used to compensate. As a result, this type of player may get more life out of their strings.
3. Body Chemistry
This is a factor that is important, but often overlooked. This factor has to do with both how much a player sweats, and the chemistry of that sweat, and skin oils. Sounds a bit gross I know, but it’s a real thing. Have you ever played someone else’s guitar and felt a film on the back of the neck? That’s dried sweat and skin oils, and you can bet that if it’s on the back of the neck, it’s on the guitar strings too. People that sweat a lot should make it a priority to wipe down their strings and neck after every playing session.
The other relevant factor is body chemistry. I’m far from an expert in biochemistry, so I won’t pretend to say I know the chemical reactions that occur with guitar strings. However, like the quantity of sweat, this is a very individual factor. Put simply, some people’s sweat and skin oils wear strings out faster than other people’s.
4. String Type
All guitar strings fall into one of two broad categories: Coated or Uncoated. Uncoated strings were the norm for most of guitar string history. However, with the advent of advanced coating materials, it was inevitable that these high tech coatings would make their way onto guitar strings. String coatings extend the life of strings by reducing the accumulation of debris from the grooves in between the windings. Think of these grooves as small valleys, the coating seals these off. As a result, the string stays cleaner. Elixir is the most well-known coated guitar string brand, but there are quite a few others.
5. Environmental conditions
Environmental conditions include the amount of temperature and humidity of the surrounding air. Hot and humid climates contribute to string wear. This is because humid air makes strings less likely to naturally dry out after playing, making them retain gunk that gets on them. This results in an increase in the rate of corrosion.
Signs of String Wear
String wear is interesting in that it can be subtle or sudden. For example, there are times when I’ve thought, “these strings are going off a little bit, and I’ll need to replace them soon.” There have also been times where a set of strings will sound great one day, and the next day will sound horrible! Some common signs of string wear are:
1. Dullness of Tone
Strings go through a lifecycle: When you put them on they are jangly and sometimes overly bright. They soon settle into their stable sound, which they will retain until they begin to show signs of wear. At the end of their life, they will exhibit a dullness of tone. If you’ve been playing a set of strings long enough, sometimes you won’t notice it, but the contrast is significant as soon as you string up a new set.
2. Intonation Issues
Intonation is always a concern for guitarists, because even on the best guitar with the best strings, the guitar’s tempered tuning makes intonation a compromise. So, the last thing we want to deal with is strings that don’t intonate. If you feel that your guitar either won’t get in tune, or won’t stay in tune, it’s a sign that it’s time for new strings.
3. Reduced Sustain
Along with dullness, worn out strings will have reduced sustain. This will be noticeable on both chords and single notes. Depending on your style of playing, this may be more or less of an issue.
4. Visible Wear
If you look closely, you’ll see visible color differences on worn out strings. Often, the part of the string that touches the fret will be worn in areas of the neck that see frequent playing. Also, visible corrosion (darker, rusty looking) can appear at any place on the string.
5. Sticky Feel
Worn out strings will often feel sticky to the touch, instead of smooth. This is due to the accumulation of sweat and skin oils.
Varying Opinions on String Life
While most people will agree that newer strings sound better than worn out strings, you will find that there are widely varying opinions as to when it is advisable to change your strings.
Intonation is perhaps the most universally agreed upon issue with old strings. This is because nobody, no matter their style of music, wants lousy intonation.
Reduced sustain of old strings affects some players more than others. If your playing style isn’t sustain heavy, you may not notice it, but if sustained chording is a good part of your sound you’ll want to slap a new set on.
Dullness is debatable. Some players actually like the reduced brilliance of worn out (aka heavily broken-in) strings. If you are a player who routinely rolls off the treble control on your amp or your guitar, you’ll most likely not be too bothered by the reduced brilliance and harmonic content of old strings.
Electric vs. Acoustic String Life
The lifespan of a set of strings depends on the factors we’ve discussed, and these factors apply to both electric and acoustic strings. That said, depending on the instrument and materials used for the strings, your perception may differ. For example, I find that acoustic guitar strings tend to visibly corrode faster than electric strings. Or it could be that worn out strings on an acoustic guitar bother me more. This has as much to do with the instrument as the strings, however. Since I play my acoustic guitars without an amp, I don’t have a tone or volume control to compensate for old strings. I have read that Monel strings, due to their composition, offer superior life over conventional bronze strings, but I cannot verify this (I haven’t used them enough yet).
How to Maximize String Life
It’s in your best interest to control the factors that you can control. So, take these steps to maximize the life you get out of your strings:
1. Wash your hands before you play.
2. After you play, do a quick wipedown of the strings with a soft rag.
3. In hot/humid climates, keep your guitars in a case.
4. If you have multiple guitars, rotate them. Like a pair of shoes, it will make them all last longer.
5. If you are prone to sweating when you play, consider coated strings.
How Clean Are Your Hands?
One of the biggest factors is the personal habits of the guitar player, i.e., the cleanliness of their hands when they play. If for example, you alternate between picking on your guitar and helping yourself to oily, salty snacks, your strings will suffer. That oily cheese, while it tastes great on your Doritos, does no favors for your strings. The Steak and Cheese grinder you just chowed down doesn’t either. I can say from personal experience that one of the best ways to keep your strings in good shape for longer is to wash your hands before you play.
Conclusion
Guitars sound best with a great set of strings that are in their prime. However, it’s up to you to prioritize which aging factors are important, and decide when exactly you need to change your strings. Some pro players change their strings after every gig, while others are known for preferring the mellow sound of heavily broken-in strings. One’s thing for sure though: Life is too short to play bad sounding strings!