How do you stretch strings?

[Left_Hand_Strat]

I need to know because apparently it says a lot of frustration with tuning all the time.

only problem is i am now frustrated because i dont quite know how to stretch the strings? so i do it when they are on the guitar or off?

 

[John_L]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I don't, you shouldn't stretch strings as it just stresses the neck. But better quality strings and learn to put them on properly.

 

[blueman335]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

When I put on a new set I do the Dan Erlewine double lock on the tuning post, and then as I tighten them with a string winder, I pull them tight with my right hand to get slack out from the posts. I tune them, and pull on them again, and they always slip a little. This gets out the bulk of the slack.

It's important to have the nut slots lubbed, so the strings move freely and don't get caught on anything.

When tuning down at all, even a tiny amount, you have to go below the desired pitch & come up again, or you'll get a little slack at the post. I also then do a deep bend on that string, or pull on the string with my right hand.

In my playing style I constantly do deep vibrato bends during solos (far more than most players) and this keeps me in tune reasonably well.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

ok thanks for that, i get what you mean

 

[whatshisname]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I don't, you shouldn't stretch strings as it just stresses the neck.

:wrf:

pcorn:

 

[MojoMonster]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

+1 to all of what Blueman said.

Wipe the strings down with naptha to remove any machine/finish oil from them.

Don't over-stretch your strings, you can "deaden" them by doing so.
I like to use a pick flat under each string and once I get it up to tune, slide the pick from the bridge to the nut, once, as far as I can at the the height of my finger. IOW, the pick is between my finger and the string.

For lube, I've used graphite, vasoline, chapstick and currently powdered graphite mixed into vasoline.

If after all this, you hear any pinging as bring your strings up to tune, your nut needs a little work.

If you feel comfortable doing this, get some 500/600 grit wet/dry sandpaper, fold it over (once for the unwound strings, twice for the wound strings) and VERY GENTLY rub in the nut slots, arcing the paper from side to side(like a sail boat bobbing on the waves)... no more than 10-15 swipes.

Keep the sandpaper angled down toward the headstock at a slightly steeper angle than the tilt of the headstock or the string angle if you're on a Fender.

You can "flare" the headstock end of the nut slot making it slightly wider than the slot.

Then do this again with 1500/1600 grit wet/dry sandpaper. This will polish the slot, again gently, but you can use a little more pressure... again about 10-15 strokes.

Be very careful that you don't increase the depth of the slot.
I find that adding the graphite/vasoline mixture into the slot and then wiping most of it off gives me enough of a visual indicator of how deep I'm going.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I just do bends up and down the neck on all strings for 3 - 4 minutes to stretch new strings out. After that I tune up and the guitar's rock solid.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I get out one of my tools from my days as an assistant engineer in the radio business: the wire stretcher. Works wonders.

 

[lex666]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I keep an old t-shirt I use as a rag near my guitars for quick wipe downs and string stretching.

I pinch each string using the t shirt and give each string a wipe down from bridge to nut. This stretches the string and at the same time removes any dirt or grime. There's no need tp pull very hard on the string, usually getting the cloth under the strings is enuff.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

not exactly dangle the guitar by the string at the twelfth fret
but kinda in the same genre

 

[DLT]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I just do bends up and down the neck on all strings for 3 - 4 minutes to stretch new strings out. After that I tune up and the guitar's rock solid.

This is probably the better method from what I have experienced all my years of playing.

I used to grab each string with a cloth and lift up slightly, wind, do it again, wind and be all set. Now I hear it is not good to pull the string away from the fretboard, but do it the way GuitarStv suggests.

 

[lex666]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I used to grab each string with a cloth and lift up slightly, wind, do it again, wind and be all set. Now I hear it is not good to pull the string away from the fretboard, but do it the way GuitarStv suggests.

Hmmm... any idea why? I pull away from the fretboard and don't think I'm getting any negative affects....

 

[sosomething]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I grab the string and pull up on it (as in *away* from the neck) a number of times all up and down the fretboard, so that I get a nice even stretch out of it. I only ever have to do this once.

BUT - I kind of "capo" the string at the 1st fret with my other hand while doing this so I'm not applying pressure at weird angles on the headstock.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

thanks for the advice guys, it may be a case of a combination of two methods, the rag method and the bend method as i dare say their is some machine oil or something lurning around on those strings....

 

[IanBallard]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

Once the strings are locked in the tuners and brought up to tune, I give a light tug on the 12th fret and move my finger up and down the string a few times with it slightly stretched. Remember, as was said above, don't OVER-stretch... just some light tugging up and down. Works great for me. Being a drummer for 20 or so years, I've realized that guitar strings and drum heads are virtually the same thing on their respective instruments and you have to do some breaking in. I'm a LOT harder on my drumheads though.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

Now I hear it is not good to pull the string away from the fretboard, but do it the way GuitarStv suggests.

Really? I was just reading how to stretch strings for Taylor guitars and it said to use the pull method.

 

[DLT]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

Hmmm... any idea why? I pull away from the fretboard and don't think I'm getting any negative affects....

Well...from what I hear it is because of the stress on the neck. I know it sounds ridiculous, but Del Langejans of Langejans guitars told me this as I was stringing one of my guitars at his shop.

BTW...I did it that way because years before I saw him do it! :laughing:

I guess someone must of corrected him? :dunno:

 

[bluesbend]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I have a string stretcher I'll be glad to let you have for $149.95.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I base my new string stretching-in technique on a Rotosound advertisement photograph of Billy Sheehan, yanking the .110 E string about four inches clear of the top fret of his pink metallic Yamaha.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: How do you stretch strings?

I base my new string stretching-in technique on a Rotosound advertisement photograph of Billy Sheehan, yanking the .110 E string about four inches clear of the top fret of his pink metallic Yamaha.

Well, considering you could use bass strings to suspend a bridge overpass, and the fact he has endorsement deals, that may not be a big deal for Mr. Sheehan.:cool2: