re: Changing guitar strings

I play semi-professionally and change my strings once a week to maybe every ten days. I don't practice as much as I should. When I'm in a good routine of practicing (like I have been since school let out last week), I'll change every 2-3 days. That includes ~2-4 hours of playing per day including a gig about once a week that lasts 2-3 hours.

I can get away with older, worn out strings in a band setting pretty easily, but I like the feel of new strings when gigging.

Back when I was a full time musician, I'd change every day (and always before a gig) but had a sponsorship from D'Addario, so it was cheaper. What I loved about changing every day was that it becomes so fast and routine that you don't think about it.