Strings - Gibson 1934-L5 Owner's Manual

25

Strings.

Fresh strings are a vital part of that "new instrument" sound. When strings
begin to go dead, a guitar loses its edge, and as the strings undergo further wear and
tear they go "dead." Your Gibson will sound its best with new strings.
How often should you change strings? That depends on how much you play your gui-
tar, how hard you play and also on your individual body chemistry. Some professional
musicians change strings before every show in order to maintain the brightest edge on
their sound. More casual players may only need to change strings every month or two.
For some players, even light perspiration shortens the life of their strings. The sound
of the strings is the only sure way to judge whether or not they need to be changed.
And if one string needs to be changed, the others can't be far behind. To maintain tonal
balance, change the whole set.
When changing strings, we recommend changing one string at a time in order to main-
tain tension on the neck and bridge. The pressure of the strings holds the bridge and
saddles in place, and removing all the strings could necessitate a new setup.