That 'Fresh String' Sound

[Rickenhands]

Cheers, everyone! Have an awesome weekend. I'll be cleaning the 'you know what' out of my strings.

[jps]

Don't forget to floss!

[Rickenhands]

I can't help you here, I like my strings to loss the zing!

I hear ya, Jeffrey. I'm the same way with my fretless. However, I believe I've figured out why I dig the zing (it hit me while tasting wine )

I moved to CA about 3 1/2 years ago. Coming from KY (and accustomed to tasting bourbon), wine was new to me. As such, it appears my first true enjoyment of red wine came from a really big-tasting Carmel Valley Pinot Noir. As a newb, those big flavors turned me on, and I'm only now appreciating the subtleties of slightly less-big French/Italian red wines.

Such is the case with my Ric. When I first played it, those bright, boingy strings coupled with the Ric sound simply blew my socks off, pasting a permanent smile to my face. Perhaps after a while of playing with strings that have lost the 'zing,' I'll appreciate the accompanying subtleties. I've yet to replace/seriously clean my strings after almost two months of non-stop jamming, and I'm still loving it.

Peace, brother.

[cassius987]

John, I have definitely experienced what you describe with your analogy (on both sides of the metaphor) and I think it is truly apt. Nice!

[Rickenhands]

Glad you got it, Joshua. I was hoping not to come across as nutty (though, one could make a case )

Cheers!

[guitfiddle]

This is why I like nickle wound stings. When you're playing within the context of a band at a gig, I'll be damned if I can can tell the difference between new strings and strings that are two months old.

[superdick2112]

This is why I like nickle wound stings. When you're playing within the context of a band at a gig, I'll be damned if I can can tell the difference between new strings and strings that are two months old.

I think a little of it has to do with how much your hands perspire when you play, and how corrosive your perspiration is. I usually change my strings after 12 sets, or roughly 9 hours of playing, and I prefer D'Addario ProSteels for their brighter tone. At home, I can usually get about 12 - 15 hours out of my strings, most likely due to less perspiration on them, and more frequently wiping them down when I'm done playing - something that often gets neglected when I play gigs.

[teeder]

This is why I like nickle wound stings. When you're playing within the context of a band at a gig, I'll be damned if I can can tell the difference between new strings and strings that are two months old.

I think a little of it has to do with how much your hands perspire when you play, and how corrosive your perspiration is. I usually change my strings after 12 sets, or roughly 9 hours of playing, and I prefer D'Addario ProSteels for their brighter tone. At home, I can usually get about 12 - 15 hours out of my strings, most likely due to less perspiration on them, and more frequently wiping them down when I'm done playing - something that often gets neglected when I play gigs.

Wow, I usually get about a year out of my strings!

[jps]

This is why I like nickle wound stings. When you're playing within the context of a band at a gig, I'll be damned if I can can tell the difference between new strings and strings that are two months old.

I think a little of it has to do with how much your hands perspire when you play, and how corrosive your perspiration is. I usually change my strings after 12 sets, or roughly 9 hours of playing, and I prefer D'Addario ProSteels for their brighter tone. At home, I can usually get about 12 - 15 hours out of my strings, most likely due to less perspiration on them, and more frequently wiping them down when I'm done playing - something that often gets neglected when I play gigs.

Wow, I usually get about a year out of my strings!

I've had the same set of Chromes on my 4001V63 for 5 years now! Still sounds great.

[superdick2112]

Oh, theres still plenty of life in them when I change them, but I'm extremely picky about my tone, and I live for the super-sparkling harmonics and grind of ultra-fresh strings.

[Prowl]

I just use fast fret. I use D'addario strings. EXL170s actually and usually after a few plays I run some fast fret on them and let it sit and they retain that crisp sound.

[antonius]

I usually keep my strings on for months (D'Addario EXL 190) but I use Fast Fret too to retain whatever brightness and harmonic overtones the strings still have. I guess I just like to keep them clean.

[Prowl]

I like clean strings as well they feel better to the touch. I also have tendency to play my bass with the polish cloth in my hand so I'm playing and wiping the neck down at the same time. I always see pics of Ricks online with worn necks. Its one of my absolute pet peeves as are wear spots on the face of the body. I don't mind surface scratches on the finish, that stuff happens but outright rashing and missing finish completely urks me. As does rusty strings lol