On 06/15/2012 11:10 AM, DEREK LOFTHOUSE wrote:
was going to stay out of this, buts Ruth's comment that she doesnt often change
strings is the perfect lead in.
I don't know where I picked this up, but apparently gut strings do degrade over
time, something to do with the oil
they are treated with. Therefore, you dont want to sit on spare strings for too
long, at most a year or so. If you change strings yearly, using your spare set,
you should be okay. Of course this could just be a rumour the gut string makers
started to sell more strings, who knows.
I havent used gut for about 7 - 8 years, i use wound metal violin and viola
strings and change them at least yearly.
I'm something of an extreme case in that department. In general, I
change my strings when they break, and sometimes not even then. On a
viola da gamba I had a top d break right at the tailpiece a month or so
ago, and just tied a new base knot in it and refitted the same string.
A couple of years ago I replaced all the strings on that instrument,
realizing as I did so that I'd last replaced the bottom three strings in
1977. I have to say that the sound improved dramatically; using the
same gut string for 30+ years has no virtue beyond thrift. But I still
can't bring myself to discard a usable string.
Decades ago I used to play with a classical guitarist who changed her
strings weekly.
- Martin
--
Martin Lodahl of Auburn, California
UNIX Pro, Musician, Motorcyclist
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