How often do you/should you, change your strings?

[Dick Glasgow]

Well, I've had my H-D for four years now & I was wondering if it was about time I changed all the Strings?

I change my Fiddle Strings fairly regularly 3/4 times a year, likewise my Mandolin Strings but I am under the impression that H-D Strings last, much, much longer - true or false?

So, to get a handle on this, often asked question, I thought I'd ask you all:

How often do YOU change your strings?

[jt3d]

That was one of the first questions to Dulcimer Dan Gilvary and Jeff Sebens when I first got my HD, Dick - How often should I change strings (I was a guitar player, and when I was playing every day, I changed them about every 2 weeks). Almost to a word, they both told me separetly that I should never have to change them, unless I break one. Dan has played his with the same strings for over 18 years and recorded 9 CDs with it. I played it when he was here, and it sounded great.

I do wipe mine down with a cloth, and if I see grit building up on the strings, I take a very fine grit emory cloth and basically sand the grit off. This also returns the shine to the strings.

Just my 2P worth! lol

[Dick Glasgow]

I should never have to change them

Ah Ha Wonderful! Thanks Jim. Just the answer this "Scotsman" wanted to hear!





.. metallic clicking sound is heard in the background .... as padlock goes back on wallet! ;D

[jack]

Well, I changed mine after ten years. For no other reason than it seemed like a good idea at the time.
It made absolutely no difference and wasn't worth the time and effort.

[Dick Glasgow]

Thanks Jack, that's good enough for me.

That suits my purse ...... & the little amount of spare time I have, too. ;D

[dulcimike]

James Jones said you change strings whenever they break and otherwise every ten to fifteen years. Even if the dulcimer was not invented in Scotland, it certainly has a bit o' Scot blude in it! ;-) I remember changing my 12-string strings once a month when I was playhing regularly. Thanksfully, I don't have to do that with my HDs, of which I now own 5! Let's see, 90 + 80 + 46 + 46 + 58 = no, I don't want to know!

[ceadach]

<<Thanksfully, I don't have to do that with my HDs, of which I now own 5! Let's see, 90 + 80 + 46 + 46 + 58 = no, I don't want to know!>>

NO doubt! 320 strings!!!! Yikes!!! That's as bad a stringing a pairof harpsichords!!! Well, if you ever have to do penance for a horrible deed...you know what to do!!!

James Jones would be the man to know. John McCutcheon is quoted as saying something " I change 'em ever ten years or a hundred thousand miles, which ever comes first!"

I recently restrung my santoor..for about a week. 31 courses times 3 strings each. I've heard if one is supposed to change bronze/brass strings and wrapped string more often, if you have them in your low end. This makes sense to me, when I played brass strung harp I had to change strings about ever 2 years. 30 strings were enough!

Chad

[jt3d]

LOL Mike - know what you mean about the 12 string. I finally have settled on 2 times a year with a once a month through cleaning with my secret cleaning cloth. Definately glad not to have to change strings on the HD - I think I might have had 2nd thoughts about keeping it heheh!

[dulcimike]

jt3d said:

LOL Mike - know what you mean about the 12 string. I finally have settled on 2 times a year with a once a month through cleaning with my secret cleaning cloth. Definately glad not to have to change strings on the HD - I think I might have had 2nd thoughts about keeping it heheh!

Yeah, changing them every month got expensive. I was using D'Addario strings, and had to get a box at a time since they didn't keep them in stock at the local music store. Cost me about $100 a box! And that for only ten months! ;-)

A secret cleaning cloth, eh? I hate to tell you, but you just told us about it, so it's not a secret any longer. ;-)

[gypsy]

Er, you are supposed to change them? I change 'em when they break. As for rust.......i am on the ocean, so EVERYTHING is rusty, i just don't worry about it. Made friends with a piano tuner years ago, he sold me enough harpsichord wire then (Ron died, and the world is a smaller place now) so i would NEVER have to purchase dulcimer strings again. It is pretty easy to make your own strings, and harpsichord wire by the 1/4 pound is cheap.

[dulcimike]

gypsy said:

Er, you are supposed to change them? I change 'em when they break. As for rust.......i am on the ocean, so EVERYTHING is rusty, i just don't worry about it. Made friends with a piano tuner years ago, he sold me enough harpsichord wire then (Ron died, and the world is a smaller place now) so i would NEVER have to purchase dulcimer strings again. It is pretty easy to make your own strings, and harpsichord wire by the 1/4 pound is cheap.

Change 'em when they break, or every ten to fifteen years, whichever comes first.

[Nikita]

It's about the same thing with hackbretts and cymbalum : you change them when they break, or - maybe - every ten years ! My hackbrett was made in 1995, and most of the strings are there since then ! the good thing with HD, hackbrett or whatever, you don't touch the strings with your fingers too often, and one of the makers told me you don't put a layer of sweat or finger grease (yulk !)on them, as you'd do with guitar or fiddle... it's a bit like piano strings...

[gypsy]

Yeah, my beach dulcimer has thoroughly punished me.........i have GOT to put some strings on it before my market on Wednesday, or i will be missing courses. This is the dulcimer that resents being cased in the winter time. I now have some treble strung courses down to a single string.........

[lynngehringer]

I was told to clean my strings with those platic rectangular dish scrubbies cut in smaller pieces. Works fine for me.