I play for about an hour each day. How often should I restring? I've heard anything from monthly to much less frequently.
Thanks.
Perry

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  09:04:15      

My ears tell me when. (So does my imagination) Couple hours a day playing.....my strings satisfy sometimes up to two months. More frequently when I "think" they sound less than pleasing.

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  09:13:54      

I second the "ear" test. Also, I notice that when my strings get old, they are harder to keep in tune.

I also play about an hour or more each day, and I change mine about every 4 weeks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no growth in the Comfort zone, and no comfort in the Growth zone.

"The instrument proper to them is the Banjar, which they brought hither from Africa."
-Thomas Jefferson

( )======"===::}

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  09:14:26        

It depends on the strings you use, and how well you keep them clean by wiping them down when you get thru playing. If you start losing sustain and the strings start to sound dead, change your strings. If you start noticing that your banjo seems harder to keep in tune from one chord to another, change your strings.

I personally have found that AMB cryogenic strings last much longer than any other brand I have tried. I have tried most brands, but I haven't tried them all. I use medium, .010, .012, .016, .023, .010

"The more you know, the more you kmow you don't know."

Glenn

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  09:21:07      

Wow. I am getting my first banjo soon and I was not aware of this. Why do banjos need to be restrung so often? I know guitar players who play as much as mentioned above but they go months--year+ before changing strings. I guess I incorrectly assumed that aspect was the same.

This wouldn't concern me so much but for the fact that I live in a near Banjo-free zone. Local music stores either don't sell them or only sell one begginer box type. I doubt they would know what they are doing when servicing them.

What others regular maintanance/changes should I be aware of?

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  09:22:27        

I change mine when I change my clocks

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  09:40:10        

I knew and old guy who changed his strings every year on his birthday, whether they needed it or not. When I gigged nearly every day, they lasted a week. I get more from them now because I don't get to play THAT much banjo. But they will tell you when they need changed. Just listen to them.

RobBob
Music; the best way to count time. It is a journey not a destination.
www.blueridgerounders.com

Edited by - R Buck on 10/27/2009 09:41:13

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  09:53:55  

I play quite a bit and have found that the Elixir medium gauge strings outlast any other brands I have tried. They are more expensive initially but are worth it in the long run because thet hold their sound forever and are very durable. I purchase them from First Quality Music via the internet at a very reasonable price. Try 'em you'll like 'em!

"Weee doggies, listen to that boy sipher !!

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  09:54:57        

It also depends on where you live, and the moisture and oil content of your hands. I have very dry hands, and half of the year where I live, it is very dry and cold, so I find that my strings last for months.
Other stuff to watch for, I always mark the location of the bridge so that if it moves I can get it back the correct position quickly. It might fall over, or move when you do change strings.
As far as buying strings, if you don't have a local store, find a good mail order place, such as First Quality Music and buy several sets from them, plus then they'll send you a catalog.

Ken Gerard

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  10:05:21        

quote:

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Originally posted by Cajun_Hillbilly

Wow. I am getting my first banjo soon and I was not aware of this. Why do banjos need to be restrung so often? I know guitar players who play as much as mentioned above but they go months--year+ before changing strings. I guess I incorrectly assumed that aspect was the same.

---

quote:

---

This wouldn't concern me so much but for the fact that I live in a near Banjo-free zone. Local music stores either don't sell them or only sell one begginer box type. I doubt they would know what they are doing when servicing them.

---

quote:

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What others regular maintanance/changes should I be aware of?

---

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  10:20:33          

I change a string when it breaks or when re doing a set up. I never break strings tho so. I have had the set I`m playing now on for at least 6 months and have noticed no deterioration in tone, or it`s ability to stay in tune. I do believe some people with different chemistry need to change more often. There are very few actual string manufactuers, most of the string companies buy from them and put there brand on it.

www.myspace.com/pepperlaingt...nestarkillers

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  10:23:06      

I try to get 2 months out of mine, at about 4 hours a day. They get gritty and dark dispite wiping them down after every session. I can tell the time is drawing near when the punch into a michrophone starts to drop off and the 3rd string get's harder to keep in tune. It never fails, when I finally change them, I wonder why I didn't do it sooner I buy mine a dozen packs at a time from juststrings.com

Dean

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  10:37:03    

Maybe a month. People are saying they don't notice any deterioration in their sound over 6 months, but I assure you that when you put a new set you will see how much deterioration has occurred.

Regards,

Matt

www.myspace.com/slowdeathandloneliness

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  10:42:56        

I like the tone better in my conversion after the first month on
new strings.The last set of GHS I used were on 11 months and still sounded fine.

They didn't really need changing...I was just bored and decided to change them.

That was about 6 weeks ago and they're starting to sound good now.

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  10:45:03        

I agree with most everyone that the strings will make it apparent you. I usually get a feeling that they need to be changed every month or two for me. Once you get the new set on you'll know you made the right decision right away. I'm kind of cheap, so when I change strings they're usually closer to black than silver in color. I like my strings to be a little bit played in to sound their best.

Dave

I pick for money & I pick for free & I'll pick for you but I pick for me!

( | )===='==[::/
^KatEyz ^Gumby

Edited by - DaveOmega on 10/27/2009 10:45:53

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  10:49:56  

I change mine when I can't remember when I changed them last time. My banjo teacher taught me that.

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  11:07:11      

I just love how varied the answers can get on this question and how different the time period between changes can be, from one show to the next or a few days to many months, and in some cases several years between changes. I was jamming with a fellow one time who claimed his strings were at least 5 years old. Yes, his guitar sounded like the strings died quite some time before. He almost seemed proud that his strings were ancient. At any rate, unless a string or strings break, I have learned to let my ears tell me when to change strings, and that works for me. I don't have the unusually oily hands that can be so hard on strings like some folks, but when I notice that the punch or clean sound seems to be disappearing, I change the strings. It really depends on how much playing I do with a particular instrument as to when that occurs. I use the elixir strings on my guitar and go 3 to 4 months before changing and my banjo strings (GHS or American Made Banjo cryogenics) get a change about once a year. I could be wrong, but it seems like the banjo strings last much longer before they sound like it is time to change them. Barring breakage, I believe our ears can tell us when we change our strings. Some like the crisp "new" sound from new strings and when that is gone they change, others like the "broken in" sound and keep the strings on for longer periods of time, so I believe it really boils down to personal preference. At any rate, it is very interesting to read the different replies whenever this question comes up. Welcome to the BHO, flint hill fan! Hopefully your ears will tell you when you need a change of strings!

Any day playing music is a GOOD day.

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  11:41:59        

Commenting on the remark above about guitar strings lasting a lot longer, I've found the opposite. I think it's because the strings are wound and that gives an opportunity for skin oils, moisture and "dirt" to get in between the windings and the core of the string, deadening them. On my guitars, a set of strings lasts about 4 - 6 weeks until they sound so dead I can't stand it! On the banjo, only the 4th string is wound, and I've found with the stainless steel wound strings for some reason they last about twice as long as guitar strings do - about 8 weeks. For whatever that's worth - our answers are all over the place!

Duane C.
Sullivan Greenbrier, Gibson RB-250

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  11:55:00      

Duane, if you refer to my post, I wrote: "I use the elixir strings on my guitar and go 3 to 4 months before changing and my banjo strings (GHS or American Made Banjo cryogenics) get a change about once a year. I could be wrong, but it seems like the banjo strings last much longer before they sound like it is time to change them."

It sounds like we agree on that point.

Any day playing music is a GOOD day.

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  11:56:34        

I don't have a set time limit. If I am going to record or play in public I will usually put on a new set if I know the strings are old. I can usually tell when I need to change them due to loss of tone, rust or intonation problems. Like some of the others, if they've been on a while and I break a string, I will usually change all of them at once. When I was gigging everyday I would change every couple weeks, but nowadays every season or two.

Mitchell

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  12:42:49      

I use GHS lites and have had them on for a little over 2 yrs. and they still sound great....to me.

http://www.youtube.com/Parsonbanjo1967

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  14:36:30      

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cajun_Hillbilly

Wow. I am getting my first banjo soon and I was not aware of this. Why do banjos need to be restrung so often? I know guitar players who play as much as mentioned above but they go months--year+ before changing strings. I guess I incorrectly assumed that aspect was the same.

---

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  18:24:48      

Cajun Hillbilly, regarding your question, "What other regular maintenance/changes should I be aware of?"
Check out the info in the "Learn To Play" menu. When you put your mouse on "Learn to Play" you'll see another menu pop up. Choose the "Browse Lessons" and you'll then see a listing "Instrument Set Up/Maintenance" Look through that stuff and you'll get some good tips.

Any day playing music is a GOOD day.

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  03:28:06  

In "Masters of the 5 string Banjo." Sonny Osbourne states he never changes his strings. The only time is when the fourth string becomes unwound. Ray.

It's not the notes, but the spaces between them.

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  06:17:17      

Second what Glen Tate says. If you find yourself tuning more often that usual, it is time to change. Also, when you notice that the strings seem to get a dead sound, it is time to change. I used to use GHS PF 175 Sonny Osborne strings (rated light @ .011, .012, .013, .022W, .011) and change them roughly every other month. I now use the same size strings, but made cryogenically by AMB. Get from 10 to 12 months out of them.

Froggie
"Courage is Fear that has said its prayers.

Edited by - John Allison on 10/28/2009 07:07:47

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  06:52:41        

I usually get several years out of a set of strings and don't normally change a string unless it breaks or the wrapping wears out on the 4th. To me, they sound a lot better after a few months break-in period to get rid of the new string "twang." After all, how often do you change the strings on your piano??

www.bobbythompsonbanjo.com