A dusty guitar in the corner is a sad sight, but you can’t always pick it up and play it. Guitar strings do not last forever. The neck and body of a guitar can become damaged from improper storage, but those taut strings are probably going to corrode or break first. You see musicians carrying instruments in cases for a good reason. Not only will a case make it easy to carry, but a good guitar case will keep out humidity, which isn’t kind to strings. Weather, climate, and outside influences aside, those strings’ days are numbered once you start playing. While no two sets of strings are the same, you can estimate how long they will last, even from a factory. After playing for a long time, I find that most strings, regardless of the brand or materials, last around three months. Some can make it four or even five. Others break after just two. Still, a good rule of thumb is to change your strings with every season.
How long do guitar strings last? Guitar strings last about ninety days on average. A regular player needs to replace strings every three months, but you may need to do so more or less often. Sadly, even unplayed strings will eventually rust or age and become damaged, but most musicians don’t let a guitar sit that long without playing.
What Happens When Guitar Strings Get Old
You may think you know how long guitar stings last because they are still playable. However, an experienced ear and eye will know the difference. There are four main issues to watch out for with old guitar strings.
- Sound- A properly tuned new guitar string is a beautiful thing to hear. However, when strings get older, weather, moisture, and stretching from play affect the sound. Old guitar strings have a dull, lackluster tone that new stings don’t have problems with.
- Color- Guitar stings come in a variety of colors. Many are coated. However, all guitar strings change color as they age. Some changes are more subtle, but you can look for a yellowing or greyish shade.
- Breakage- Naturally, when strings get older, they are more prone to breaking. If you’ve never busted a string, then please understand that it’s more than a frustrating inconvenience. Primarily a metal string can snap and injure the player. They whip skin and hurt like you wouldn’t believe.
- Corrosion- I suggest getting corrosion-proof strings and changing them regularly. That said, one of the issues with aged strings is that they corrode. This can change the look, feel, and sound of your music. Additionally, you are more likely to break a corroded string.
You may also notice that you can’t seem to keep your strings in tune, or they may feel dirty. String-stiffness is also a good indicator that it’s time for a change. Keeping your guitar in fresh strings is a necessary part of playing.
Changing your guitar strings regularly isn’t a mere indulgence. It is necessary maintenance. Plus, it can save you a lot of pain and impact the quality of your music.
If you are forgetful, consider writing down a day once per season to change your strings on a wall calendar. Alternately, you can program a calendar alarm in any smartphone or use an app or online calendar that emails you a reminder. Don’t ‘let it go.’ Instead, make the conscious choice to treat your instrument with respect and change those strings.
Replace old guitar strings with D’Addario Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings from Amazon. These versatile strings are made in the USA. Moreover, D’Addario is a well known and trusted top-selling brand. Click here to get a ten pack of these excellent strings.
How Long Do Guitar Strings Last If Not Played
How long will your guitar strings last if you don’t play? Many new guitarists think, mistakenly, that loosening the strings when they aren’t using the guitar extends their life. However, this won’t change the working life of strings.
Regardless of how often you play or try to extend their lives, guitar strings have a finite lifespan. Oddly, that life doesn’t always depend on your fingers. It may seem like played strings would have a shorter life, but they don’t.
The average life of a guitar string is about ninety days regardless of the use. You can push it and play until your strings break months after they’re overdue for a change, but it’s not a good idea. Some pros recommend changing more often.
If you play uncoated strings, then it’s a good idea to change them six times a year. Otherwise, your coated strings are okay for three months. In rare cases, extreme heat or cold can cut down the working life of strings, but those are exceptional circumstances.
You may choose to cut down on the string-use, or the time. However, more often than every couple of months is wasteful. Few guitarists play so much that their strings need changing so often. Wait until you’re famous to change strings for every show.
Does Storing Your Guitar Change The Strings Working Life
Every guitar player should store their instrument properly. There are three great ways to keep your guitar stored when you aren’t actively playing it. Regrettably, none of these storage methods will matter much for your strings.
A guitar case is arguably the best way to store your guitar. Indeed, it is easy and makes your instrument more portable. If you have a guitar case, use it.
The other two methods involve stands. Either a stand that holds the guitar’s base or one that has a U shaped piece to hang it from the neck is OK. The downside of open-storage is that your instrument will be more affected by your area’s humidity or dryness.
How Do I Know If My Guitar Strings Need Replacing
As you learn to play, you will become more comfortable with and attuned to your instrument’s needs. Even the best guitar strings do not last forever. Spotting the subtle signs of string-wear is a little like noticing the signs of aging in your body. Presumably, you look at your face daily and your guitar at least two or three times a week, so it’s easy to ignore the indicators.
Get into the habit of doing maintenance and an inspection of your instrument every week. Merely planning to keep an eye on how it is holding up will help you see any issues. Troubleshooting, even when you don’t think there’s a problem, will allow you to take preventative steps. Hence you will avoid serious issues in the future.
The most obvious way to know it’s time for a change is when you notice a problem. Strings that don’t tune or feel weird need changing. Furthermore, strings that sound or look wrong are ready to go. Mostly though, if you change your strings every two to three months regardless, then you won’t have to wait for something to crop up.
I recommend Elixir Strings 16542 Electric Guitar Strings with NANOWEB Coating to replace old or broken strings. According to a player survey, these strings last longer than any other. Best of all, these are anti-rust and anti-corrosion so that you can use them longer. Find out more on Amazon when you click here.
How Long Do Guitar Strings Last In Package
The significant influence on how long strings last is their composition. Most guitar strings are comprised of metals like copper, steel, and nickel. Metals corrode when they are exposed to oxygen or water.
Heat and cold can also damage strings over time. As the metals expand and contract with the temperature, it changes them. Hence, you should always store your strings at room temperature or within a few degrees.
Assuming you don’t open the package, and it’s got an unbroken seal, your guitar strings could last for years. Although plastic packaging exchanges a small amount of gas (oxygen) even while closed, it’s not enough to make a significant difference. You can buy and store strings for a long time if you prefer.
A set of D’Addario EJ45-3D Pro-Arte Nylon Classical Guitar Strings will outlast all the knockoff brands. D’Addario creates consistent, beautiful sounding top of the line strings with centuries of string-making experience and advanced computer-controlled winding technology. Read the Amazon reviews right here.
Final Thoughts
It would be nice if we never had to change a string. However, until someone invents those magical everlasting guitar strings, yours will probably only make it three months of regular play before it’s time to change them. Fortunately, guitar strings are easy to come by.
Learning to change your own strings is like learning to tune a guitar. Every player should be able to do this for themselves. Maybe you will get so famous someday that roadies can handle all the small details for you, but you won’t get there until you’ve changed a whole lot of strings yourself.
Make sure you check your guitar over at least once a week. Examining the strings and the rest of your instrument will help you gauge when it’s time to replace parts.