Oudbedis
Oud Addict
Posts: 34
Registered: 8-6-2012
Location: Tunisia
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What's the lifetime of your strings ?
We all play ouds ^^ , and we all exercise everyday 
That's what "irritates" strings most .
Thus , I was wondering how often do you change your exercise strings ( which are in my case a mid or low-range price strings ).
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Oudbedis
Oud Addict
Posts: 34
Registered: 8-6-2012
Location: Tunisia
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Actually I am using now my first set of strings since I've got my latest oud , for some reasons I was not able to change them till now , both set and
oud celebrated a month ago their first year . I feel a horrible need to replace my string set 
A year seems to me a long period ,I am even unable to exercise my self on tricky "fast" pieces ^^
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SamirCanada
Moderator
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Registered: 6-4-2004
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If you play everyday... I think 6 months is about the limit you can take them.
@samiroud Instagram
samiroudmaker@gmail.com
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Oudbedis
Oud Addict
Posts: 34
Registered: 8-6-2012
Location: Tunisia
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Thank you
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Mood: Stringish
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I agree. Cheaper strings may not last quite as long; in my experience the good strings from Pyramid and Savarez can be changed about twice a year.
If you play with your fingernails, you might need to change them more often.
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DoggerelPundit
Oud Junkie
Posts: 141
Registered: 7-28-2010
Location: Pacific Northwest
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Mood: Odar
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Your ear should tell you when to change. Once you have found the string type and brand you like best for a particular oud, the time to change them is
when you can hear that they are sounding below their best voice. John Bilezikjian practices 5-7 hours a day and changes strings once a week!
Brian is right about fingernails, they wear the windings much quicker than do finger pads. Even so, nails or pads will gradually "fill" the windings
with skin oils and residue. After playing, some players wipe down their strings with a soft flannel cloth.
-Stephen
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Oudbedis
Oud Addict
Posts: 34
Registered: 8-6-2012
Location: Tunisia
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Sometimes , strings may loose their "best voice" , but they can still playable , guaranteeing a good flexibility for a correct smooth training .
I remember a oud teacher that told me once that if you have found the tonality in nylon strings , there is no hurry in changing them , just change the
rest , which they tend to loose their efficiency faster then nylon strings , considering also that nylon strings take much more time to fit in the oud
with the right tone then the rest of them.
Indeed , sweating and daily playing increase "strings melting" , they become thinner and leave green residues on the fingerboard .
changing string every week !! I'll spend the whole week tuning rather then
playing :p :p :p !!
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suz_i_dil
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1064
Registered: 1-10-2008
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Mood: No Mood
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Depending on the sound you are looking for and of course the use
My criterias is the type of sound i wish (loose of brightness with time), playability (less smooth with time) and of course tuning (older strings can
get untuned in higher positions).
So for me: 1 month...up to 1 year ! 1 year for my exercice strings. I'm very surprised, but yes they are still in tune in higher position. Of course
no brightness any more, but ok for practicing
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Jason
Oud Junkie
Posts: 734
Registered: 9-17-2005
Location: Louisville, KY
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Mood: Loving my oud
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I actually like the way very old Aquilas sound on my floating bridge oud
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fernandraynaud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1865
Registered: 7-25-2009
Location: San Francisco, California
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Mood: m'Oudy
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I forget who it was who said that old strings sound best, easily a year. Unless you crave that zingy sound on the basses like with D'Addarios. Wiping
the strings hard against the fingerboard after every playing with the rough side of a chamois really keeps them good for a long time.
I hate changing strings. I finally got locking tuners for a couple of my guitars. They're fantastic, gets it down to literally under 5 minutes: stick
the string in the tuner hole, tighten, and pull up to pitch. No windings on the post. Stretch the strings a bit and that's it. But what do you do on
the oud, it always seems to take a long long time, and a lot of agony. Has anyone figured out a fast procedure, a specific order?
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