Lord Farquart wrote:
If I were to replace the strings on an electric guitar, and the guitar is used by a beginner, which type and/or brand of strings would be suitable? Also, how often should strings be changed? I've heard from 4 weeks to 6 months.
Coated strings will last longer. What I hear from guys who work in shops is that any coated string will give you extra life, but Elixir more than the others. The key difference is that Elixir coat the finished, wound string (thus helping to keep grime from building up in the windings) whereas with the other brands they coat the individual strands and then wind.
Generally the more you play, the harder you play, the more you bend strings, the shorter the string life. Some people also seem to be tough on strings. So it's hard to say with certainty that a set of strings should last x weeks. But 6 months is pushing it IMO, unless you get Elixirs and don't play the thing much.
With Elixirs, and especially the polywebs, you will get less string squeak. This can be good or bad. Your beginnger might switch to another brand of string and then get alarmed at some of the noises caused by his fingers on the string.
Make sure the guitar is in decent condition and especially that intonation is OK and the nut is not fouling the strings. Your beginner might give up in his disgust at not being able to play in tune when it's really that the guitar needs a setup.
