Some string manufacturers recommend every 1-2 years, but there are bassists out there that swear to changing every 4-5 years.
How long do your bass strings last?
Ordinarily, under normal usage, steel strings can last for 3 months or 100 playing hours in optimal conditions (bass strings could last a bit longer due to their density). Nylon strings, while not rusting, will lose considerable quality after 80 hours of playing time.
Why do bass players not change strings?
They purposely don’t change the strings because they don’t want to lose “that sound” or because they’re superstitious or nostalgic about the instrument. There’s nothing wrong with any of these approaches.
How long are upright bass strings?
The current standard size is the 3/4 size, which corresponds approximately to a vibrating string length of 103-106 cm. For a 4/4 double bass, a vibrating string length of 106-110 cm is usual, but there are also instruments outside these standards.
How do I know if my bass strings are dead?
When they get old, you’ll also notice a pronounced lack of sustain and they will sound extremely dull. Many bass players describe the sound of dead bass strings as muffled or muddy. They look funky. Another telltale sign of strings gone bad is rust, dark spots, or other discolorations along the length of them.
Do old bass strings sound better?
All else being equal, new guitar and bass strings sound brighter that their older counterparts. That is to say, restringing a guitar with a new pack of the same strings (same brand, type, gauge, etc.) will provide a brighter tone than the old strings that are being replaced.
When should I change upright bass strings?
You don’t want any nasties affecting you or your instrument. For the double bassists: You can breathe easily: your strings don’t need replacing nearly as often as your counterparts do. Some string manufacturers recommend every 1-2 years, but there are bassists out there that swear to changing every 4-5 years.
How do you rejuvenate bass strings?
Just soak your bass strings for 12-24 hours in the denatured alcohol, wipe them off and they’re like new. You can clean them as often as you like. Each time they are like new. Over time they will wear out from frets chewing into them.
Why do bass players get no respect?
Bass players are generally criminally underappreciated as they have the crucial role of providing rhythm to a band’s performance. Bass players are overlooked because the bass is a support instrument compared to the guitar, drums, or vocals. The lead instruments are generally heard more than the bass.
Is bass for failed guitarists?
Bassists are not failed guitarists in any way. Many famous bass players did start off on guitars, such as Paul McCartney, John Deacon of Queen, and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath. But they switched to bass due to the necessity in their bands and not due to being failed guitarists.
Why do old basses sound better?
Wood dries out and resonates more, pickups age and become warmer, more organic sounding. The entire instrument fuses as one whole entity instead of just a jumble of parts. These are just some of the things I’ve heard over the years about why vintage basses sound, play, and feel better than newer axes.
Why are upright bass strings so expensive?
Bass strings are more expensive than ones for electric guitar, for example, as they require more raw material. Bass strings require more raw material because they are thicker than regular ones. Also, bass strings are about 30% longer than those for guitars.
How much should I spend on an upright bass?
For an average lower end, playable, well setup instrument, you should plan on spending $1600 and up. Anything cheaper than that probably will be a huge mistake.
How hard is it to play upright bass?
The Upright Bass is a very physical instrument – you will need to play much harder to create the sound. This may feel very unnatural to begin with especially if you are used to playing electric / bass guitar. Over time you will build strength in your hands and your ‘sound’ will get better and better.
How much does it cost to restring a bass?
You also then need to consider the cost of your new set of strings. Standard guitar strings for a 6-string guitar should cost you around $5 to say $30. Bass guitar strings will cost more from $10 at the very least to as high as $150 depending on the brand.
Why does my bass stop buzzing when I touch the strings?
If your bass hums once you touch the strings (but is otherwise quiet), you have a grounding issue. If your instrument hums but becomes quiet once you touch the strings, you have a shielding issue.
Do bass strings ever snap?
Broken Bass Strings Make for a Broke Bassist
Breaking a bass string every so often can be normal – especially if you play aggressively, do a lot of slapping or use light gauge strings. If you break your bass strings regularly, you need to figure out what is weakening the string and causing it to break.
Why does heavy bass feel so good?
Cognitive scientist Tecumseh Fitch at the University of Vienna says that louder, deeper bass notes help people to feel the resonance in their bodies, not just hear it in their ears, helping us to keep the rhythm. When it comes to the human brain, the Auditory cortex plays an important role in processing sound.
Do old bass strings cause fret buzz?
He says, it’s probably because the strings have tiny wear-marks from contact with the frets (although they’re only a couple of years old and BARELY played) and, if you don’t replace them with the same side down, it causes wierd buzzing.
Should my bass strings buzz?
The neck of your guitar or bass should have some ‘bow’ in it. In other words it really shouldn’t be perfectly straight. Fret buzz is generally caused by some combination of not enough bow in the neck, the bridge string height being set too low, and possibly a warped or irregular neck.
Can you reuse upright bass strings?
It is perfectly fine. Different gigs require different things. Toss on the flats when you need that particular sound. Toss on the heavier strings when you need to de-tune and the lighter ones when you don’t.