Re-stringing guitars successfully
February 4th, 2011
Is it really that easy to re-string a guitar? To be brutally honest… I’m useless at re-stringing guitars!
After playing the guitar for a few years, you’d expect the task of re-stringing an acoustic or electric guitar would be second nature to me. Well, it’s not – so much so, I’ve subsequently been using Elixir Strings on all my guitars as they apparently last 3-5 times as long compared to other strings (I’m also becoming increasingly lazy!).
I wish I could re-string like the pros – you know, the winds around the tuning peg that has that little “loop” and only requires the minor of windings? My tuning pegs typically consist of multiple windings, all applied with the thought of “You’ll never go out of tune! Ever!!!“.
The task of re-stringing my guitar is quite an event; from receiving the strings from a dodgy seller on eBay, to sweating thinking about the task in hand ALL DAY, through to preparing my “tools”. Typically I require:
- A quiet room – no one in the room except for me, unless they REALLY have to be there.
- No TV – the amount of times I’ve been distracted by the rubbish on TV, resulting in winding the wrong string on the wrong post. Bah!
- Multiple packs of strings. Purchasing just one pack to do the job never works – I screw up nearly every time and often need a spare string or two.
Why is something so simple, actually so hard?
Well, hope is at hand; I’ve assembled a range of videos from YouTube (all supplied by Absolute Music) and presented them below to aid you all in your re-stringing quest.
Tonight I need to re-string my Duesenberg (11′s) and my Stratocaster (10′s) and I’m going to be watching these vids (probably multiple times) as I’m determined to learn how to re-string successfully.
Re-Stringing an Acoustic Guitar:
Re-Stringing an SG style guitar:
Re-stringing a standard electric guitar… I’m actually convinved this is my SG Standard they are using when it went in for a service!
Re-Stringing a Vintage Stratocaster style guitar:
I found this really useful, as my ’79 Strat has those vintage tuning pegs.
Re-Stringing a Bass guitar:
For all you Bass players out there…
Truss Rod Adjustment Tutorial:
I saw this on the Absolute Music YouTube channel and thought I may as well add it. Adjust your Truss Rod… if you’re brave!!!
Hopefully, you’ll find these videos useful too – and if you have any re-stringing tips, please leave your comments below. Enjoy! Thanks to the Absolute Music YouTube Channel for the videos.
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The young chap who now works at Absolute Music used to work at the shop in Ringwood. He did a stellar job on setting up my Ovation when he was there. I would certainly use Absolute Music for a guitar setup if I wasn’t 12000 miles away!
Anyway, great stuff on string changing. When I was gigging a lot I used to change my strings every week. Not so often nowadays but I do still like fresh strings. But over 35 years of playing means I’ve changed strings hundreds of times.
Here’s a few thoughts:
* Always keep a spare set of strings in your guitar case. Buy a new set before you change strings so as you’ve always got a spare set.
* I keep a board in my studio with the date I change my strings (I have quite a few guitars) and what type I used. Before that I used to leave the empty packet in my case with the change-date written on it.
* Wash your hands before changing strings. You don’t want to get tonight’s KFC grease (or worse) on your new strings.
* Friction! It’s friction that holds the strings in place. Use at least 3 or 4 neat winds on the uncovered strings and 2 or 3 on the covered. I’ve seen many people blame their tuning pegs for slipping when in fact their strings were just slipping
* Stretch strings gently after fitting. Will save days of re-tuning.
* Change one string at a time unless you are doing some other maintenance on the guitar. It will help you when you tune back up and keeps the neck “in balance” and the truss rod doing its job.
* Before you snip the loose ends of the covered strings give them a little right angle bend. It will help the windings not to slip.
* If you break a string change the set. Otherwise you will have an unbalanced tone.
* Try to stick to the same brand and gauge of strings or you might need to have a setup done.
* When I change strings I lay each string out in front of me in the correct order before I start. Just helps to get the right one in the right place.
Anyway, just my $0.02