How to Prolong the Life of Guitar Strings?

Views：1707 Time：2022-03-01Writer：Alice

Whether you're a professional guitar player or a regular guitar lover, you always need a new set of strings that are tight and functional. The new guitar strings sound clear and stay in tune. Unfortunately, if you don't maintain them well, the strings only take a week or two to start to wear out. Worn guitar strings sound dull, have less sustain, and lack tuning stability.

One of the main reasons strings lose sound quality is human sweat, which makes the strings prone to rust and corrosion. In general, dirt tends to accumulate mainly under the strings. By gently rubbing your fingers under the high E strings, you will know how worn the strings are.

For value for money, you need to take steps to prolong the life of guitar strings. In this article, we will mainly talk about the lifespan of guitar strings and how to prolong it.

How long can guitar strings last?
How long do guitar strings last in daily use?
The average lifespan of guitar strings is about 90 days. On the other hand, frequent playing requires frequent string changes. However, rarely played guitars will also have rusted strings because of humidity in the air. 

How long will guitar strings last in the package?
There is no specific expiration date for guitar strings. However, most guitar string manufacturers state that guitar strings can last for years before being opened and used. Here you can check out high-quality Alice Strings Guitar Strings.

Tips to extend the life of guitar strings

Use coated strings
Coated strings have a coating that helps reduce the effects of corrosion. The main purpose of the coating is to prevent the strings from rusting, which will extend the life of guitar strings.

Boil guitar strings
Boiling guitar strings is an effective way to remove grime and dirt, which can increase tone and playability. However, this tip will only extend the life of guitar strings to a certain extent, and the strings are still not as good as new ones. The following are the steps:

1.Fill the pot with water. Distilled water is the best option, as most tap water contains too many chemicals.

2.Wait for the water to boil, and then place the coiled strings in the boiling water.

3.For acoustic and electric guitar strings, boil for about 3 or 5 minutes. On the other hand, boil the bass guitar strings for 10 to 15 minutes.

4.Remove the guitar strings and dry them with a towel, but don't use paper towels.

5.Preheat the oven to the lowest temperature (200° to 235°). While waiting for the oven to heat up, wrap the strings in aluminum foil.

6.Once the oven is heated, place the wrapped guitar strings in the oven for about 15 minutes.

7.Remove and unwrap the strings, wait for them to cool, and then restring the strings.

Clean hands
The natural oils on the skin can erode the outside of the guitar strings. Therefore, please remember to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before playing to prolong the life of strings. In addition, avoid putting perfume or lotions on your hands before playing, as their ingredients can damage guitar strings.

Wipe guitar strings regularly
Hands can still be sweaty and greasy even after cleaning, especially when playing guitar for long periods. Therefore, regularly wiping the strings with a clean rag will help remove any grease or grime built upon the strings.

Use guitar string cleaner
Wiping guitar strings may not be good enough. Guitar string cleaners will not only prolong the life of your strings but also smoothen the fretboard. However, you don't have to use a guitar string cleaner after every performance. Instead, we recommend using the cleaner once a week or depending on how many times you play the guitar. 

Clean the fretboard
The fretboard is the other main point of contact for guitar strings. Therefore, cleaning the fretboard is essential to prolong the life of the guitar strings. On the other hand, we recommend against using fretboard oil every time you change guitar strings.

Use a guitar case
Keeping your guitar in the case will help extend the life of the strings. Guitar cases do not expose guitars to a mixture of air and other elements that can cause strings to rust or fray. On the other hand, hard guitar cases offer more string protection than soft cases. For example, you can choose one well-fitting guitar case with a cushioned interior.

How Alice Strings can help you

Alice Strings was established in 1999. After 20 years of development, the company has become one of the world's most influential manufacturers of musical instrument strings and accessories.

We are a technology-based enterprise integrating R&D, manufacturing, and sales. In addition, we have won many industry honors such as high-tech enterprises, ISO9001:2015 certification, and more than 50 invention patents.

Alice Strings supplies more than 2000 products, mainly classical guitar strings, acoustic guitar strings, electric guitar strings, and other accessories.

Classic Guitar Strings include Silver Plated 90/10 Bronze Winding, Silver Plated 85/15 Bronze Winding, Alice AWR Series, etc. On the other hand, we have nine types of Acoustic Guitar Strings, including Phosphor Bronze Wound, Nickel Phosphor Bronze Wound, and 85/15 Bronze Wound.

If you are looking for a reliable manufacturer, don't hesitate to contact us.