When was the last time you changed your strings? Like doing the washing up or any other household chore for that matter, changing your guitar strings is something we all have to do, but precious few of us actually enjoy. Presumably, that’s why D’Addario has created World String Change Day, to get us to do it more often. To give you a little push in the right direction, you can now get 25% off D’Addario’s XS-coated guitar strings over at Guitar Center.
To take advantage of this awesome deal you’ll need to move quickly, as it’s only available until June 11th. It includes electric guitar stringsas well as sets for acoustic, mandolin, and banjo – sorry bassists – and if you’re an electric player you should definitely take a look at the deal on the three-pack for $31.99, as you’re getting better value when you buy in bulk.
If you’ve not tried a coated string set before this is definitely a good opportunity. Coated strings are more expensive, but you’ll change strings less often, so they tend to save you both money and time in the long run. D’Addario’s XS coated string is the longest-lasting coated set they offer, and it features an ultra-thin polymer coating that keeps them feeling as close to traditional strings as possible. Of course they will feel slightly different, but in my experience you get used to that pretty quick.
If you’re not changing your own strings, it’s something you should definitely try because it’s a lot easier than you think. It’ll save you money taking it to a tech, and it allows you to experiment more easily with different string gauges without the cost adding up. I’ve been changing my own strings for well over 20 years now, and I can get a change done with a good clean in less than 15 minutes now, and even less than that if I’m dealing with a guitar that has locking tuners!
It’s also a great time to clean every little part of your instrument from those bits around your pickups to the intricate parts of the bridge and bridge saddles that are magnets for dead skin and other detritus. You can wipe down the guitar, polish any metal, buff the body back to a nice shine, and check for any issues that might be developing. You can also condition the fingerboard if it needs it, and clean off any of the gunk that gathers near the frets.
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