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When I was a new guitar player, no one told me you had to change the strings. I just played on them till one broke and then put on a new one. This was usually after they had become so corroded with use that they were like saw blades, which frequently hampered my efforts by slicing into my finger tips.
Mostly it was the first and second string but occasionally the third went and even more rarely the fourth. The fifth and sixth were steadfast warriors and remained on the guitar for the whole time I had it. When strummed, the effect of those mis-matched strings gave the implement the sound of a wet piece of rope hitting the floor with just a hint as to what the chord might be through the treble strings.
My guitar was in reality an instrument of torture made by a Belgian company called “Egmond Freres”. It was made of sturdy plywood and had a neck with an action comparable to that of the great English Long Bow but without the accuracy. It was fairly quiet and was totally untuneable but I loved it – sort of.
My first tuneable guitar was of German manufacture and was called a Voss. I was on my way home with the instrument under my arm when a bloke stopped me and asked if he could look at my new guitar. In spite of his shabby appearance, there was something that made me trust him straight away. I think I just wanted to trust him, (some would suggest say it was my innate gullibility) Anyway, standing slightly nervously on the bridge near my home, I handed him my new instrument. He told me he was, “an old gypsy boy”, and he knew about guitars. He played a few jazzy chords on the guitar and asked me to play something for him. I performed my rudimentary flat picking style and rattled through, San Francisco Bay Blues (my party piece.) I don’t think he was unduly impressed but he did tell me what I needed were Ivor Mairants’ guitar strings and they would suit my new guitar.
Eventually when the general newness of the guitar had worn off, and the strings were sounding like wet rope, I remembered his advice and I changed all six strings at the same time. The sound from the guitar with the new strings was a revelation to me.
That old brand of string has long gone and its quality has been superseded by new techniques of manufacture and over the years I have tried just about every combination of guitar string known to man.
I have settled on Newtone strings and can state that I know of no better manufacture or sounding guitar string.
As a working musician I change strings much more often than if I were playing at home and, lets face it, string changing is a chore and a bore even though I can now accomplish the task in about five minutes. However long it takes to change them, the reward is well worth it.
New strings “wake up” your instrument no matter what make it is. There is so much bullshit talked about guitars (most of it unsubstantiated) but some of the string mythology must be true. Changing your strings (all your strings) is like putting on clean socks, an oil change in your engine or putting a new blade in your razor. Its effect is like the slap of aftershave, a clean punch, or hitting a six. It makes your guitar sound wonderful it makes the guitar feel wonderful. It puts a zing in your heart and a twang under your fingers. New strings are an inspiration and changing them regularly shows respect for your music and for your guitar. I change mine every performance when I am out on the road, it is part of my ritual and although I could certainly get more gigs from a set, it is the elasticity and clean feel that sets me up for the show.
At home my Newtones remain on my guitar for many weeks, even months and just the other day I took out my beloved old Gibson J45 and played on it after it had been rested for a couple of years since my last album National Treasure. The strings had not been changed in all that time but I could have done a gig on them. Sure it’s a Gibson but all my guitars are strung with Newtone strings and it sounded great.
In my opinion whatever your guitar, it will be enhanced by the use of Newtone strings. So go on. “Wake Up” your guitar and be inspired. Guitar players are picky by definition, and you won’t pick better.