Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

[beaubrummels]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I put a minimum of 3 winds on the post for wound strings (5-6+ winds for plain strings), bring to tension, then pull the string to seat the ball end and compress the winds around the post, then retune and play hard strumming for 10-15 minutes and retune again. I don't use locking tuners. After that I've gone entire 1-2 hour gigs, soloing and bending the hell out of strings, and not having to retune. In fact, the primary reason I find I need to retune is temperature/environment change, not playing or guitar issues.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

Always. I assumed everyone did it.

 

[mrpinter]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

Sometimes I do if I want to play right away after changing strings - but just light tugs. I generally follow guidelines I got from the people at Thomastik-Infeld, who recommended not stretching = or playing - the guitar right after a string change, but to let it sit overnight to settle in. They said the strings last longer that way.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I stretch (pretty heavily) and tune over and over, until stretching no longer takes them out of tune. The same thing happens if you don't do it, but it happens over several days/playing sessions.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I stretch (pretty heavily) and tune over and over, until stretching no longer takes them out of tune. The same thing happens if you don't do it, but it happens over several days/playing sessions.

This is exactly what I do.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

Yep, always stretch mine. Forget the "pre-stretched" marketing, strings are best stretched once on the guitar.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I never stretch my strings. I deal with the issue by slightly shrinking my guitar.

 

[DarkMatter]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I never stretch my strings. I deal with the issue by slightly shrinking my guitar.

Do you have a tutorial for this?

 

[CTN]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

Meeehhhh. I stretch em/tune em up to pitch, play the crap outta them and retune a couple times that first jam, then leave it overnight. Next 1 or 2 jams i gotta retune at the start but then it holds tune pretty well. This generally goes for trem and hardtail guits of mine.

I know it's time to change atrings when the tuning starts randomly slipping out significantly while playing.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

No slack ^here^ and this is a double locking tremolo guitar. I really don't think strings stretch that much. If they did i would have more than one turn around my pegs. That guitar is almost ready for a new set of strings and i just cant see how stretching them will help when the instruments and playing naturally does it for you.

I think it is a myth thats come from nylon string guitars. or maybe its just my slinky fetish.

You guys can question me all you want but i hvve been playing for awhile now, i can build a guitar and i have refinished over 20. Not to mention i own 18 or so all of which i have never stretched the strings. I think if it as a problem i would have noticed a localized tuning problem but all is good.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

What I do is holding the strings really hard while stringing so it gets as tight as it can in the first tune. I use my right hand for that, it's hard to explain but it doesn't hurt the string at all. Then play, tune one more time after a few bends and there you go. Zero slack.

Oh, and I use EB Hybrid.

Ok so you dont pull up on the strings like these guys do? Sounds like you do what i do.

 

[Mathías Gabriel Rock]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

No, I just hold the string tight until it gets enough tension. And I don't have locking tuners. I guess the strings get stretched during the process and it minimizes the slack pretty well.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I'm like beau, I usually do 2-3 wraps on the wound strings and 3-5 on the plain strings. Then I tune the guitar, and LIGHTlY give them a slight pull from bridge to nut and back, and then a retune.

And mrpinter is correct, your strings will give you better life if you do not play them at first, but let them sit for 24 hours. I don't know why, but they do. I've been doing this for years, but of course sometimes I don't have the luxury of that 24 hours--and I always notice the difference.

And then after the gig, I like to clean off my guitars. I'll use a damp rag on the neck and body, and then buff it dry. The strings get cleaned too. I loosen them slightly, give them a quick wipe with the wet rag and then the dry one. That removes about 99.9% of the DNA and grime on the strings, and then I follow that with some of the Dunlop 65 String Cleaner. (I have also used the Luthier's Choice and the Duck's Ax-Wax for string cleaning.) I don't want to over apply it, and I wipe of any excess, but the Dunlop String Cleaner lubricates and leaves a light, protective film on the strings. That makes the next session a bit easier, with a nicer feel, and definitely promotes string life.

Bill

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I'm like beau, I usually do 2-3 wraps on the wound strings and 3-5 on the plain strings. Then I tune the guitar, and LIGHTlY give them a slight pull from bridge to nut and back, and then a retune.

And mrpinter is correct, your strings will give you better life if you do not play them at first, but let them sit for 24 hours. I don't know why, but they do. I've been doing this for years, but of course sometimes I don't have the luxury of that 24 hours--and I always notice the difference.

And then after the gig, I like to clean off my guitars. I'll use a damp rag on the neck and body, and then buff it dry. The strings get cleaned too. I loosen them slightly, give them a quick wipe with the wet rag and then the dry one. That removes about 99.9% of the DNA and grime on the strings, and then I follow that with some of the Dunlop 65 String Cleaner. (I have also used the Luthier's Choice and the Duck's Ax-Wax for string cleaning.) I don't want to over apply it, and I wipe of any excess, but the Dunlop String Cleaner lubricates and leaves a light, protective film on the strings. That makes the next session a bit easier, with a nicer feel, and definitely promotes string life.

Bill

This type of care likely means you do lots to take care of everything else guitar related. I try...but rarely complete everything supposed to be done after/between gigs. Good stuff....

 

[jtees4]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

Playing 40+ years, never stretched strings. I just play and tune a couple of times and done. I think I tried it once years ago because it was "the right way to do it" and broke a string. That was the one and only time.

 

[TIGEREYELASER]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I stretch my strings every time. I might have to put 'em on, tune it up and then wait 24 hours if it'll help with the life of my strings. Like kramersteen I am a pink slinky guy, and they don't really take much to settle in especially at that light a gauge.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I'm befuddled. If I don't stretch strings, my guitars would never come back to pitch after a dive bomb.

 

[garryspicer]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I never stretch my strings. I deal with the issue by slightly shrinking my guitar.

+1 :lmao:

 

[metlking]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I have and use one of these: http://www.stringstretcha.com/index/index.php

I had an idea for a similar product but after some time on Google I found this and bought one......

 

[stringbender11]

Re: Do you stretch your strings when installing a new set?

I assumed everyone stretched their strings. I do it and tune, then do it again and tune again. I agree with the comments about tuning post slack needing to be taken up.