Danl8 wrote:Diane,
How long should a set of strings last with moderate level of use? My 000-15SM finished and strung in 10/2014 is showing some signs of degradation. This was my first steel string guitar since 1972 and I don't know what is considered the useful life of steel strings other than when they are obviously dead. Would you have a recommendation for replacements (light tension is what I would lean towards)?
-d.
This is a good question and one that I really need to address, so thank you!
8 months; WOW! I'm impressed in the fact that they've not broken. Trust me; they're dead and have gone to string heaven. It's just been so gradual that you've not noticed the difference. You will though, when you replace them.
Even with no use, bronze oxidizes, especially if they're uncoated strings; if they're coated, the coating is deteriorating daily. I've had strings go dead within a 2 month period of non-usage and I've had them break within a 1 week period of ~ 1.5 hours per day of usage. As a rule of thumb, I don't leave a set of strings on a guitar for longer than 6 weeks on a stored guitar. Even before I started reviewing strings, I was changing them at a rate of once every 3-4 weeks, with playing ~ 1.5 hours per day. Please note that I play fingerstyle and without a pick; playing style plays a huge role in longevity.
To make your strings last, it helps tremendously to wipe your strings before and after use. I keep a large microfiber cloth in each of my cases, just for the strings. Oxygen is corrosive and skin oil is naturally acidic; both will eat through any coating and will react with bronze immediately.
While we're on the subject of longevity, I should mention that I've read advise on the internet about loosening the strings on guitars while being stored. Bad idea. Guitars are built and adjusted with tension in mind, and constantly upsetting this balance isn't good. In fact, you'll kill the strings faster by loosening them, then tightening them. So unless you need to adjust them to play alternative tuning, don't go there.
Once again, we're in the realm of the subjective, but you're in luck. I built an OM and my search and testing have been on the OM, which is the same size as the 000. What are you looking for with the sound? My personal preference to date is for the Newtone Heritage Series strings. They gave my OM a unique sound. As one member of our forum said, they sound "jangly", but not to the point of sounding ragtime. Their projection blew me away and they articulated the bass, mids, and trebles. I loved playing them. I tested their light gauge, but I could have easily stepped up to the mediums since they're low tension and in fact, I'll be trying the mediums in the near future for review.
If you want warmth across the board, you can't go wrong with GHS Vintage Bronze strings; they're the warmest sounding strings I've ever heard, plus they project and have good articulation. I tried the Elixir HD strings, which were made with our size of guitar in mind. I had really high hopes when I bought them. They're nice sounding, but don't project nearly as much as the GHS or Newtones, and actually didn't seem to project at all.
I like the sound of the Ernie Ball Earthwoods, but they don't last as long as the Newtones or GHS; their articulation is good, but not as good as the Newtones or GHS. To my ears, they out perform Elixir HD and Martin bulk strings. Since they cost about the same as the GHS, I would opt for GHS.
String gauge is a mixed thing for me. I really prefer the sound of medium gauge trebles, with lights for the bass; this combo can be found with light medium strings (Elixir, D'Addario, Martin, and others). But when faced with lights vs. medium strings, I choose lights because I have hand problems; mediums will always project a bit more and have longer sustain.