I make new cables and strings every two years max. If I use shoot my compounds often, ill replace the string and cable about every year. My compounds havebeen shot very little, so the string I put on this year will be good for a few more years. Ive been shooting my trad bows exclusivly since the second week of bow season. So to answer your question, it depends on how many shots you have put on the string, the over all condition of the string, and how well you mantain them.