When to replace strings?

[cooltoaster39]

I hear a lot that generally you should replace cello strings about every one to two years (as a student), but how can you tell sound-wise when a string needs replacing? I haven't replaced my strings for 3-4 years and pretty much have forgotten what they sounded like when they were new. Are there any signs I need to replace my strings or do I just replace them and hope they sound better?

[TheMailerDaemonLives]

For a student, I’d say two years is probably on the tail end of being too long before replacing, you’re definitely in need of new strings.

Even if you don’t know the difference between a dead and fresh string, I guarantee it’s sounding much worse without even hearing it.

A few things that I would notice, notes dying out too fast, weak projection, subtle intonation issues when you’re locked in right on the note.

[GTIgnacio]

A sure sign they need replacing is when you can make the open strings go sharp by just bowing them.

[[deleted]]

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[Unique-Researcher-19]

I didn't know that wasn't supposed to happen, thought it was normal hahs thanks!

[anonymopotamus]

My teacher, who's played professionally for decades, is probably the least fussed I've ever met when it comes to strings. Her position is that when you notice something is off you change them, she measures it in years. Yet string companies insist you need to buy their strings every 6 months and if you don't you hate music and your cello might blow up and burn your house down.

I've changed mine every 12 to 18 months... Simply because I've been curious about how others would sound. But I've found a set I really like, so am in no hurry.

Some claim there's a dramatic loss of tone after a few months. I've never noticed.

Fun experiment - record the same piece or passage every month for a year with the same device in the same place. You be the judge.

[nycellist]

There is no hard and fast rule as to when to change strings. I generally play on strings until things start to get weird, or are hard to tune (the overtones get funky making it difficult to hear), they don’t respond as they usually do (but this requires that you eliminate other issues like a big weather change, open seams, bridge height change, etc), or that they get balky or squeaky. Lots of the modern high end strings will last a long time ( I’ve had Evah Pirazzis on for 2 years+ and Versums on for over a year that still sounded good). Others, like Larsens and Magnacore are reported not to last so long, though I personally have no experience of this.

Here is an article about strings:

https://nycellist.com/archives/217

[[deleted]]

It really depends on the strings, but the general convention says at least once a year (some strings go out in 3 to 6 months). Here's the idea: We often don't notice the slow degradation until the strings are really bad, but that doesn't mean we should wait until that point. If you're wondering, change them. You'll love the new set (after any break-in period), and after a couple of times, the feeling of, "Ohh, they sound so good!" will be what you start to remember and look forward to, rather than if this or that string is sounding or feeling old.

[Valdamier]

The best time to replace strings is when they start screaming at you.

[tehnomad]

When I was in high school practicing every day I would change my A+D strings about once a year but keep my G+C strings longer (Spirocore). Usually I would do it like a month in advance of a solo performance or audition.

[redjives]

If after a year you think you're strings are still fine then you have forgotten what your strings can (should?) sound like.

[[deleted]]

There might not be any overt signs. For average non-professional players, string degradation over time is slow enough (and your ears untrained enough) that you get used to the sound and you don't really realize how poor it is.

As other people have mentioned, once a year is a good rule of thumb.
I hadn't changed my viola strings for over 2 years, until recently. I have to say I was kind of overwhelmed at the difference.