The best way to install guitar strings?

[guitarrob]

First, I know there is no real "best" way as it would be a personal thing.
I just wanted to hear what people think is good ways of installing strings, how many wraps etc? I used to just get the shop to install them to save time adjusting floating bridges but lately I have been doing the changes myself...

Opinions, suggestions?

 

[Mosher Zone]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

On Floyd Rose guitars i feed it in so the ball end is at the tuning pegs then wind it up til it looks right then cut the string, lock it in then tune up to pitch.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

I normally bend a new string around 1 1/2" beyond the string post it's going in. First wrap goes over the tail, all the others go under, neatly stacked under one another. The number of wraps is largely determined by how accurately I put that first bend in and the thickness of the string (you get slightly more wraps as you go down in gauge).

 

[guitarrob]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

Do you think more wraps are better?

Just trying to get a general idea of the procedure most tend to use when installing new strings.
The way I do it, I sort of wrap the string backwards after the first turn and go under and over the string so it locks the string to prevent slippage.

 

[CTN]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

Yell at them until they're strung up and tuned to pitch.

Then yell at them some more so they stretch themselves out.

Finally one last cuss out will stabilize them.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

Wrapped around the posts and under themselves, turned as few turns as possible, but as many turns as it takes to get close to equalizing their break angles over the nut. That means that on a Fender style headstock, the low E, and sometimes the low A, actually wrap up the post, not down.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

Hmm, interesting, I never considered the break angle. Might have to look at that the next time I install strings.
I learned my new install techniques from the techs that work at the Martin Guitar factory.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

Hmm, interesting, I never considered the break angle. Might have to look at that the next time I install strings.
I learned my new install techniques from the techs that work at the Martin Guitar factory.

Far more important on Strats/vibratos than on Teles/hardtails, but I do it on both.

Here is a quick computer pic that is not the best, but it sort of shows what I am talking about. The break angle is fairly consistent for all the strings; not perfect, but close. (I don't use the string tree any more.)

 

[Bludave]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

First, I know there is no real "best" way as it would be a personal thing.
I just wanted to hear what people think is good ways of installing strings, how many wraps etc? I used to just get the shop to install them to save time adjusting floating bridges but lately I have been doing the changes myself...

Opinions, suggestions?

On my 3 per side guitars I usually put one wrap above the hole & one(sometimes two) wraps below the hole. On wound strings like Phosphor/bronze or nickle, the wraps on the strings core pull tight against the string coming out of the hole & naturally lock the string in place. I have been stringing my guitars this way for many years now & once the strings are stretched they stay in tune & hardly ever give me any tuning issues. On the unwound string I usually pull the string through the hole with some slack, then wrap the string into the headstock, under the string & lock it in. Then take up all the slack. Once the string is stretched they stay in tune well.

On Fender style guitars (I prefer the "vintage" Kluson style tuners) I just push the string all the way down & tighten it up, once they are stretched out we are good to go.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

The way I do it now seems a great way but I am open to new ideas and insights from people that have been stringing guitars for a long time.

 

[hermetico]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

I'm following D'Addario's method, since I've seen the video some years ago:



It works really good.

 

[MojoMonster]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

Giorgio!

I have been a horrible string changer for a good part of my life and usually relied on locking nuts to keep my guitars in tune. I've been buying too many guitars without locking trems in the past several years, so I decided to figure out the best way once and for all.

Out of all of the youtube videos I like this guy's the best... he is a REALLY good teacher and his accent makes the lesson go down more smoothly.

 

[constant mesh]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

I usually go with 2-4 full winds depending on the string thickness. I like to put 4 winds on the plain strings because they are a bit slinkier and smoother so they slip really easily. This is just to eliminate any possible tuning post slippage. Fortunately it usually compensates for the difference in string thickness too.
I usually go with the first wind over the string, then under it. With this technique you can get at least 1/2 wind, depending on your initial hole position more than just going straight under. Some guitars can be problematic, especially some Fender knockoffs that have ridiculously recessed headstocks so this helps alot.

Overal I just try to keep all of the strings falling to the tuning posts roughly at the same angle, of course in acceptable margins. Too much wind might bind the string at the nut and possible give springy effect, because the amount of wind (especially on the wound strings) goes out of the tapered portion and sorta acts torsionally and before there's any real movement of the string the bundle squeezes just a tiny bit before it pulls.
Not enough winds will generate sympathetic buzzes, especially in the higher register.

I really like the winding technique explained by Seymour Duncan himself in one of the SD videos, where he first winds the string with his hand and then threads the end through the hole. This way you get just the right amount of winding with minimum slack. The only serious time I use a pegwinder is when taking the strings off.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

I usually go with 2-4 full winds depending on the string thickness. I like to put 4 winds on the plain strings because they are a bit slinkier and smoother so they slip really easily. This is just to eliminate any possible tuning post slippage. Fortunately it usually compensates for the difference in string thickness too.
I usually go with the first wind over the string, then under it. With this technique you can get at least 1/2 wind, depending on your initial hole position more than just going straight under. Some guitars can be problematic, especially some Fender knockoffs that have ridiculously recessed headstocks so this helps alot.

Overal I just try to keep all of the strings falling to the tuning posts roughly at the same angle, of course in acceptable margins. Too much wind might bind the string at the nut and possible give springy effect, because the amount of wind (especially on the wound strings) goes out of the tapered portion and sorta acts torsionally and before there's any real movement of the string the bundle squeezes just a tiny bit before it pulls.
Not enough winds will generate sympathetic buzzes, especially in the higher register.

I really like the winding technique explained by Seymour Duncan himself in one of the SD videos, where he first winds the string with his hand and then threads the end through the hole. This way you get just the right amount of winding with minimum slack. The only serious time I use a pegwinder is when taking the strings off.

Yup, I only use my Ernie Ball motorized string winder when detuning teh strings for removal.

E - 3 wraps
A - 3-4 wraps
D - 3-4 wraps
G - 3-4 wraps
B - 4 wraps
E - 4-5 wraps

The wraps are decided at which point your crimp the wire.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

I don't use a string winder either. Don't have that much slack in my strings.
I usually put them on with a lock method. Tighten them up a bit, pull on them to get the stretch out of them and proceed to tune them up.

The tech at the local shop uses a modified power screw driver with a winder end on it.
I guess if you installed strings all day long though, you might want a power winder also.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

String winders are Ok for fast removal of old strings, but are more trouble than they're worth for installation, IME.

If you have them, center the fine tuners before you start, then back them out slightly. The strings will stretch over time, so fine tuning almost always trends in one direction over the life of the strings. Proper centering avoids the need to ever unlock the nut again.

I use about 3 or 4 turns on the post, *neatly* stacked downward. If you stack the coils upward, you risk having the break angle end up too flat. I don't usually bother with the first wrap over the string, but it's not a bad idea. If you end up with too many wraps, unwind the string and take up some slack before re-tightening. If you end up with not enough wraps, you may need to discard the string and start over. With a bit of practice, you'll get the hang of where to post the string so you end up with the right number of turns. This is most critical for the low, thick strings.

When winding the string onto the post, keep it under tension with your other hand to get a tight, clean wrap. As it nears full tension, make sure it is routed properly through the nut and saddle.

Tune the strings, low E first, then give each string several good stretches and retune as you go. I grab the string near the octave and tug it about 1 ~ 2 inches away from the body. Then play the guitar for a few minutes and retune, lather rinse repeat.

Do not lock the nut until the guitar stays in tune under moderate bending.

Last, either trim the strings near the post, or leave them hanging like wild crazy long hair. I see a lot of guys who coil the extra string length at the headstock, but once you've kinked the string at the tuner post you can't use the extra length anyway, so it's better to just trim them with wire cutters. Carefully discard all old strings and trimmings for the safety of your pets.

I do not believe that locking tuners are ever necessary. If you wind the posts correctly, the string will not slip. I am also moving away from guitars with locking nuts because the strings don't feel as slinky. A locking nut is really only needed if you're doing extreme dive-bombs.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?



Before you knock it, try this method. It's easy to do and it works really well. I used to hate stringing up guitars, but this method simplifies things. Never had issues since. The three finger method sets you up for just the right amount of winds every time.

 

[jacksontrader]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

All but 2 of my guitars have Floyd trems so I run the string through the tuning peg first so the ball is stuck right by the peg and I then turn the peg to a specific angle. Then I pull the string down to where it's going to be locked into and just measure a distance past it, the width of my index finger then lock them in and tune to pitch. Wound strings go straight in and plain strings get the end bent over. I like to have all of my strings to have roughly the same amount of string on the peg. Not sure if it makes a difference in sound but, if it does they're all even-ish.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: The best way to install guitar strings?

Three fingers and an "S" bend is all you need. Anything else is a waste of time and energy.

Floyd guitars, ball end at the tuner and snip off at the back of the trem.