Changing strings you don't like

[roadbiker]

Curious... How long do you wait before changing strings that you're not crazy about? Do you waity a while to see if you will come to like them or do you change them instantly or with a few days? I just hate wasting strings. I usually like to wait until i think they're dead, but I think I'm ready to call it quits on some strings (because of the gauge, not the string itself) that I only put on a guitar a few weeks ago.

Jim

[DennisG]

There's no way I'd wait until bad-sounding strings are dead before changing them. since, in my view, strings are a consumable.  I'd give them about four hours, and if they haven't revealed their better nature by then, it's in the trash heap they go.

[SMan]

I'll usually give them a few days to a week.  However I took flatwounds immediately off of my Tele.  They just didn't work.

[sthompson]

When I was experimenting with various strings for various guitars,
there were times that I knew immediately that the particular set that
I had just installed was NOT going to make me happy.  They came off
while I still had the tools out and got restrung.  Others that I wasn't
sure about got the two week patience treatment before yanking them.

I'd have to say that if I wasn't happy with them within the first hour,
I was really never satisfied and they eventually came off early.  I know
most will say that we need to let them settle in, but even after giving
them a chance, if I didn't like them initially, time did not change that
perception.  I know what I like and what I'm going to like, so I don't
like to waste time playing guitar/string combos that don't please me.
st

[sachi]

Strings can change quite a bit as they settle in, so I prefer to leave them on for a few days at least before I make up my mind.

[S MS Picker]

For me, they're off within 30 min.If time permits, I restring,tune, and allow the strings to stretch overnight.They seem to last&stay in tune longer.
Steve

[dkoloff]

At least 6 hours of play time.......enough time for them to settle in and show thier nature. And even if I am not sure of them on one guitar I maty try a similar set on another guitar.