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Guitar Maintenance

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Strings are often overlooked when diagnosing problems with a guitar, but modern strings are actually quite high tech and precision made. Simply put, they are the tonal source – where the sound starts on your guitar, and – as with hi-fi or PA – the sound source is the most important factor in sound quality. So it is not surprising that many setup procedures begin with a fresh set of strings and changing them regularly is essential to ensure top performance from your instrument.

String problems 

Strings which are dirty, worn, corroded or just plain cheap and nasty are more often than not the cause of tuning, intonation tonal or playability problems and caring for your strings.

 

Tuning problems Strings stretch as they age, the metal they are made from changes over a period of time, and their elasticity (ability to return to their original shape) is impaired.

 

Intonation problems If there is an excessive amount of dirt on the strings, the build-up can cause artificial node points, which can produce odd notes in alongside the note which is being sounded, causing dissonance. Node points are also often created by flat spots under the string where it has worn on the surface of the frets. The gradual stretching of the strings as they age also makes their thickness inconsistent, so the intonation changes from length to length along the string.

 

Tonal problems Approximately 80-90% of a guitar’s basic tone comes from the stings, with the guitar itself only colouring this basic tone. The grooves in a round-wound string provide most of the upper order (higher pitched) harmonics and partials, which form the brilliance/brightness of the sound and in turn this affects the attack notes (which is why flatwound string sound relatively dull and bassy with a smoother attack compared to roundwound strings). When strings are played, these grooves gradually fill in with corrosion or dirt, causing them to lose much of their brightness. Also, as the strings age and stretch, their tension lowers, which also affects their brightness.

 

Playability problems Let’s face it – a guitar with old strings is usually not nice to play. Corrosion can give strings the feel of having a sharp, serrated edge while dirt and grime both dull the attack and tone as well as feeling grimy and dragging on the fingertips while playing. 

General info

String change frequency The durability of a string depends on its type, how it is played, atmospherics and how it is maintained. But as a ballpark figure, someone who plays once a day should be changing once a month. If you play frequently or for lengthy periods, you should change more often. An important point is that even unplayed strings age once they are on a guitar, thanks to high tensions and corrosion. So even an unused guitar should have its strings changed if they are older than three months.

 

What type/brand of strings? The type of string is dependant on the type of guitar and is fairly obvious: nylon guitars such as classical or flamenco instruments use nylon strings, Steel guitars use steel strings and electric guitars use steel strings. Further than that, the most important thing is personal taste in sound and feel. There is way more information to go into depth here, but if you are not sure, stick to reputable brands like Ernie Ball, Martin or D’Addario, which generally assure you of a consistent and reliable level of quality.

 

Making strings last String maintenance is easy – simply clean them after each playing session with a soft, lint free cloth. This wipes of excess dirt and corrosive sweat which age the strings prematurely and ensures that they sound better for longer. A string cleaning product designed specifically for the purpose can also lengthen the life of strings by removing more of the corrosive elements and dirt (but sadly can do nothing for the stretching). 

 

Written  By   :   Alan Ratcliffe

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