Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

[regan]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

Be cautious when changing strings. There are those who do it differently. Use caution when watching videos on changing strings its like any other info on the internet not everything you see or read is correct. I do not loosen off all strings at once then cut them then start restringing. I loosen one string at a time cut it then replace with a new string then tune it then slightly stretch the string by pulling up at the twelve fret and fifth fret you might have to do this 3 or 4 times till it tunes. Then continue to do same with each string. Removing all six strings at once dramatically changes the pressure exerted on the neck of the guitar. Relieving this pressure and then quickly adding pressure back by putting on new strings can cause some serious problems for the instrument. To keep the guitar from going out of tune, put the string through the eyelet bring it underneath back towards you then pull up top then turn the key, adding a little pressure to the string as you slowly wind. Then the cable is locked and won't slip causing it to go out of tune.


This is how I do mine. Then once a year it goes in for cleaning and full setup.

This 'do not remove all the strings as changes in pressure is bad for the neck and guitar' is utter nonsense
We are on a pickup forum at some point the vast majority of us have removed all the strings to change a pickup, bridge or machineheads not once have I heard of any real world ill effects.
It's an urban myth perpetuated by the ill informed don't believe everything you read

 

[Jackylope]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

Kind of like tying a shoe (but not at all like that), come through the hole in the machine, make a loop that passes under the string from the nut, loop it around above the string from the nut, tuck the end in to the loop under the loop. Take a pair of pliers and pull it tight, snip, and tune. I don't know if this is right, but how I learned to tune my first guitar, and used it even for the guitars I've had with Floyds befre tightening down the nut. Has always worked for me.

 

[EDX]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

i just take my wire clipper, put it a the height of the 12th fret and start to cut string by string as i take a beer, i pull the strings out of the bridge by the ball ends, and then untangle and pull the strings outta the tuning machines.

then i take the new strings, bend them a little by the tip (so they go easier through the hardtail strat bridge) and insert them on the bridge, all of them, then i take the tips and pass them through the holes in the pegs.

then i measure a distance of 2 pegs for the wound strings and 4 pegs for the plain ones, at said distance i bend the string like a fishing hook, then i pull the string from the first fret, so that the hook bend keeps the string on place, this is when i start to wind the string (i use an electric screwdriver with a homemade hex base acrylic cup that fits onto the tuning buttons).

while i wind the string i guide it by hand, so the first winding goes over the peg hole and the rest of the windings goes under the peg hole like they would normally do, this is so that the tension if the windings will pull the over wind against the part of string that goes through the tuner hole, clamping the string on place as you add tension.

while the strings wind i keep the pulled tightly so they gather as much tension as possible before getting to pitch, each time i wind a string i tune it to pitch and bend it with my right hand, resting my middle (badmother) finger at the height of the 12th fret, the tips of my middle, index and ring finger rest under the string while my pinky and thumb rest over the string, then i proceed to pull with my fingers, i stretch them like tris a couple times and then tune them to pitch.

this is where i go to the next string, also i don't wind the strings on an inline pattern, i string them on a outside to inside pattern, so first it goes the 6th string, 1rs, 5th, 2nd, 4th and at the end the 3rd string, somehow this happens to distribute the tension better as when they all are on a couple bends and re-tunings are needed to get them in proper pitch and stable enough to don't detune as i play

 

[Leon Of Late]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

It's a tradition in my home that my wife brings me beer whenever I change strings, but she does so in the nude. It's served us both well for many years.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

change strings ..

well.. since I have mainly floyded guitars..
1) take rectangle eraser and put it under the bridge
2) loosen the 3 string blocks
3) detune the strings until there is no tension
4) take a wire cutter and clip the strings by the tuners
5) loosen the saddle string locks
6) take of the strings and wrap them so they stay together, then trash them
7)unwrap the tuners and trash the little pieces

now to restring
-------------------
1)clean/whip down the board with a fretboard conditioner
2)clean all the dust that accumulates in between the 'pups. also add some lubricant on the knife edges if needed
3)if available, use compressed air for the 'pups,pup routs and bridge
4)start on the 6 E string .. clip the ball end off
5)insert cut end in saddle and tighten
6)thread other end through tuner and leave enough slack for around 2 turns on the 6string..3 or 4 on the 5th and 4 strings, upwards of 4+ on the others.. really depends
7) tune up the string, keeping the strings under tension the whole time. Tune initially ~1/2 to 1/4 step lower that intended pitch..
8)continue 4-7 with the next string 5A,4D,etc
9)NOW tune up to full pitch
10) remove eraser
11) stretch strings 1 at a time and tune until the strings stay i tune
12) quick intonation check with a strobe tuner.. and check to make sure the action hasnt moved
13) lock the nut down
14) really wail on the wammy bar to make sure it will behave

OK that was a mouthful

 

[Kleegort]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

This is my 10 Point Restring Procedure for Telecasters/Broadcasters/Esquires

1. gather supplies/tools. This includes: new strings (removed from outer package, layed down with low E on top). String winder thingy. Diagonal wire cutters. Headstock tuner. lip balm.
2. unwind low E string enough to remove it from the post, keeping the post hole parallel to the neck. Using wire cutters I cut the string below where its curled up. Remove string.
(I cut it because when it goes through the body when removing, the curled up part can get stuck and rip out the ferrule)
3. feed the new low E through the body. On safteY post tuners I straighten the string, and measure *2.5 posts past the low E post and cut the string there and stick in into the hole, making sure
it goes to the bottom. On trad tuners, I feed the string through
the tuner hole, straighten it, then measure *2.5 posts past the post Im using and pull the string back than much and make a Z crimp.
4. using winder thingy, I wind the string up while pressing down on the string right up against the post, this ensures the wraps stay lined up on top of each other neatly
going from the bottom up. Before string is taught I ensure its seated in the ferrule, on the saddle, and in the nut slot.
5. using headstock tuner I tune to pitch.
6. I push the string down next to the post a few times to get the slack out. retune to pitch.
7. I pull gently up on the string while fretting every dot fret. retune to pitch. - with trad tuners I now cut off the extra string. retune to pitch.
8. repeat process with A, D, G strings.
9. before replacing B and E strings I put a small bit of wax or lip balm under the string tree groove, and actually on the string where it will be under the tree groove.
10. Let guitar sit, unplayed for 24 hours. This increases life of the strings. This also eliminates the need to stretch the strings. Stretching them places untoward stress on
them that only causes damage that shortens the life of the string.

*I measure 3 posts for unwound strings

 

[Mincer]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

I should just admit I have a problem and go buy a harp today.

I actually own a harp! A 22 string rosewood harp, and I can play it (have done it professionally) too. Really fun. Goes well with my goat leggings.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

It's a tradition in my home that my wife brings me beer whenever I change strings, but she does so in the nude. It's served us both well for many years.

You go through a lot of strings then ?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

You go through a lot of strings then ?

I thought the obvious response was "how have you been playing on the same strings since the disco era?"

 

[HotHead]

Re: Explain in detail the procedures you use to change electric guitar strings.

I have locking tuners, so that makes everything so much easier. Remove all the old strings, make sure all tuning heads are perpendicular to the headstock (so my fingers have extra room to move), pull the strings as tightly as possible with a pair of pliers, lock the strings, and tune up. Most strings only need a quarter or half turn to be in tune.

For old-fashion tuners, I'd just make sure that I had at least a good 3/4 wraps around the post for each string. When I started playing, I didn't wrap the strings that well, and many times they'd just slide out and lose their tuning. If you have a Strat and DON'T use the whammy bar, I recommend working the string down the tuning post for the wound strings as opposed to up it, like it normally does.