You might have bought yourself a guitar a few months ago and you have been learning some songs on it.
But now your guitar starts to sound a bit different than before, and you’re wondering… Should I put some new strings on my guitar or are these old ones still good?
We’re here to figure that out.
Is It Better To Use New or Old Guitar Strings?
The first thing we need to know is that there’s no definitive answer. It all comes down to personal preference.
Some guitarists prefer the sound of new strings, while others prefer the sound of old strings.
It really is a matter of preference and what you think sounds better.
Now, with that being said, there are some advantages and disadvantages to using either new or old strings.
We’ll go over those so you can make a more informed decision on which type of string is right for you.
Advantages of Using New Strings
There are several advantages to using new strings on your guitar.
They will have a more crisp and sharp sound to them.
This is because the new strings have not been played as much and they haven’t been through the wear and tear that old strings have.
This means that they will be able to vibrate more freely, which gives you a sharper sound.
Seeing this as an advantage is of course, a bit subjective. There will be a lot of people out there that prefer the flatter and warmer sound of older guitar strings.
Another advantage of using new strings is that they’re less likely to break.
This is because they haven’t been played as much and they’re not as worn down.
Worn-down strings are more likely to break because the metal is thinner in certain places.
So, if you’re doing regular gigs and don’t want your strings to break when you’re on stage, consider changing your strings every three months.
Disadvantages of Using New Strings
New strings will go out of tune faster in the beginning.
This is because they haven’t been stretched out as much as old guitar strings, it will take about a week or two before your new strings are settled in.
You have to pay for new strings.
This is pretty obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. You’ll have to spend money on new strings every few months if you want to keep using new strings all the time.
Advantages of Using Old Strings
There are also several advantages to using old strings on your guitar.
Old strings have a warmer sound.
This is because the metal has been played for a while and it’s been through the wear and tear of regular playing.
The metal will also start to oxidize, which gives the strings a different sound.
Some people prefer this warmer sound, as it can be more pleasant to listen to.
Older strings are already stretched out.
Another advantage of using old strings is that they’re already stretched out. This means that they won’t go out of tune as quickly as new strings will. So, if you’re playing a gig and you don’t want your strings to go out of tune, consider using old strings.
Disadvantages of Using Old Strings
Old strings may not be tuned properly after a while.
If your strings are only a few months old they will usually stay in tune longer than fresh strings.
But when you haven’t replaced the strings for a year or more.
When the strings get really old the contact of your fingers eventually does something to the material of the strings.
Especially if you play guitar often and passionately. Eventually, this causes loss and damage of material on your strings.
The result is a false octave pitch, which causes everything you play to be out of tune. Therefore, you may find that when you play the first fret, you get the right tone but your guitar may be out of tune at the 10th fret.
Do New Guitar Strings Sound Better Than Old Ones?
Now that we’ve gone over the advantages and disadvantages of both new and old strings, you might be wondering which one sounds better.
As we mentioned before, this is a matter of preference. Some people prefer the sound of new strings, while others prefer the sound of old strings.
It really is a matter of preference and what you’re looking for in your sound.
If you want a sharper, more crisp sound, then new strings are probably the way to go.
If you want a warmer, more mellow sound, then old strings are probably the way to go.
In the end, it’s up to you to decide which one is better.
When To Change Guitar Strings
If you want to keep that sharp crisp sound of new strings on your guitar, it’s advised that you change your strings about every three months.
If you like the sound of older strings, you could just go off hearing and replace the strings if you don’t like the sound anymore.
Or change them when you get the tuning problem that I talked about earlier in this article.
How To Change Guitar Strings
The first thing you need to do is loosen the old strings. You can do this by turning the tuning pegs in a counter-clockwise direction.
Once the old strings are loose, you can remove them from the guitar by taking the strings out of the turning keys in the headstock. And after that taking out the pins in the bridge so the strings come out.
Make sure you dispose of them properly so they don’t end up in a landfill.
Now it’s time to put on the new strings. Start with the low E string, which is the thickest string.
Put the new string in the bridge with the pin and then thread it through the tuning peg. Make sure you leave about two inches of slack.
Now it’s time to start tightening the string. Turn the tuning peg in a clockwise direction until the string is in tune.
Repeat this process for the rest of the strings. Once all the strings are on and in tune, you can start playing your guitar.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using new and old strings.
It really is a matter of preference as to which one you want to use. If you’re looking for a sharp, crisp sound, then new strings are probably the way to go.
If you want a warmer, more mellow sound, then old strings are probably the way to go.
In the end, it’s up to you to decide which one is better. Just remember that if you want to keep that sharp sound, you need to change your strings about every three months.
Thanks for reading!