The average set of uncoated electric or acoustic guitar strings lasts anywhere between one and three months, depending on the amount of playing. Coated guitar strings, like the Elixir electric and acoustic string sets, are known to last and hold their tone for around six to nine months or even longer.

Changing electric or acoustic guitar strings isn’t a complicated task, but try convincing a new guitarist of that. It can seem plenty intimidating to a beginner. Strings start to sound dull, become difficult to play, and are prone to breakage. A fresh set of strings will remedy this.

Starting from the thinnest string, the strings are called string 1, string 2, and so on, up until string 6. Strings 1 and 2 are called “plain strings” and are bare steel strings (unwound). Strings 3 through 6 are wound with metal. When holding a guitar, string 6 is the topmost string.

A: The short answer is that the odds of damaging your guitar are very low. However, removing all the strings at once from certain guitars — depending on the bridge setup —can make restringing more difficult or require making adjustments to the instrument.

Even so, a seldom-played guitar will quickly acquire rusted strings because of humidity and moisture in the air. The average set of strings played by the average player may last around 90 days (about three months).

Do guitar strings have a shelf life? Unopened packaged strings will last for many years when kept in a cool and dry place combined with moderate temperatures and humidity, as they are comprised of nickel, copper and steel, an iron compound which is a durable element meaning their composition lasts for many years.

Anyway, most strings will still function and sound just fine even if they’ve got a little bit of corrosion on them.

Here are some ideas.

1. Hanging pictures Use the guitar string as wire to hang pictures on the wall.
2. Jewelry Some rock stars are having their old guitar strings turned into bracelets. The guitar-string jewelry is being sold and the profits are going to charity.
3. 3.Donation.
4. 4.Arts and Crafts.
5. 5.Cut the Cheese.

5 Signs It’s Time to Change Guitar Strings

1. Dull Tone. New strings or strings that aren’t worn sound clear and crisp, unlike strings that are worn out.
2. Feel Dirty. Every time you play you leave your finger marks behind.
3. Splotchy Strings.
4. Won’t Tune.
5. Stiff Strings.

The roughest estimation would be around 10 years for a cheap acoustic/classical guitar. On the other hand, even cheap electric guitars will be able to last a lot longer, 20-30 years. Of course, if we talk about expensive models, both acoustic and electric guitars will be able to last you for a lifetime.