Restringing techniques

[hilikus533]

I absolutely hate restringing guitars.

Does anyone have a technique of tying the string down, so you can just put it in the bridge and peg (leaving some slack), and start winding. I hate how when I'm winding, I constantly have to work the excess string so it doesn't get overlapped when tension gets greater, if you know what I mean.

I know this is a light issue, but it could make that 20 minutes of guitar tuning a lot more pleasant one.

[Strangedogs]

Originally Posted by hilikus533

I absolutely hate restringing guitars.

Does anyone have a technique of tying the string down, so you can just put it in the bridge and peg (leaving some slack), and start winding. I hate how when I'm winding, I constantly have to work the excess string so it doesn't get overlapped when tension gets greater, if you know what I mean.

I know this is a light issue, but it could make that 20 minutes of guitar tuning a lot more pleasant one.

I Second that one - I HATE IT - I've had new strings sitting here for a month now and I'm too friggin' lazy to change em' cause it's a pain.

[String7th]

You people are crazy. When I was touring with my old band, that was fun time!
I played twin seven strings and alternated a weekly changing between the 2. Every week I played on a new set. And I had Floyd Rose, so it took about an hour.

But I felt more confident in my playing, my tone sounded awesome every show, and there was never a worry about if I break a string on stage, how reliable my back-up was.
Look at it differently, and it will be less of a chore.

[banjobkp]

regardless of what one feels about doing maintenance, it must be done.

I have a tedious method of cutting everything 3 fingers( width wise) above the tuning peg to get a 4 times around the pole wrap.

So, to make it quicker, get one of those auto screwdrivers with an adapter to turn the peg. I even think they make one with a built in tuner in it.

There is a tie technique and it is impossible to describe without a diagram, where you go through the peg and in the opposite way you are turning the peg, you cut back go over the string where it entered the tuning peg, down under and underneaath the string and pull tight, then wind the string. You still need a couple of winds, so you need to make sure you have slack to get you around the post at least twice.

And there is always Fast Fret, Rub it on, whip the strings down good, and they play pretty good!

I hate changing them too and there are lots of pros that feel the same way, but you have to have a standard as to the sound you need.

Also, you don't necessary have to change all the strings. On banjo, changing the low D string is often all that is required. Then fast fret and clean the strings and your back in action after changing just one.

Bottom line, you have to keep your strings clean. Fortunately my perspiration does not corrode strings. There are guys out there that have that majc touch where anything they handle, turns to rust! Now that sucks!!

[brandondrury]

I hung out with Zakk Wylde's guitar tech for an entire day once. He showed me how he did it. Run a string through the peg, pull it tight. Then pull it back through the length of the first fret. Put a bend in the string at that point and start twisting.

Done!

Brandon

[Strangedogs]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

I hung out with Zakk Wylde's guitar tech for an entire day once. He showed me how he did it. Run a string through the peg, pull it tight. Then pull it back through the length of the first fret. Put a bend in the string at that point and start twisting.

Done!

Brandon

hmmmm... lemme try - these strings are dead I'm sure and my new ones are gonna get rusty sitting here...

I my Young Days I was a Folk Singer (traveling the USA by thumb) and played a Framus 12-string - I restrung it but I must be getting lazy in my old age cause these 6 seem to be a chore lately in my old age. I NEED A "BOY"...

course - every 12-string I owned (3) always became 6-strings eventually cause I was broke and tuning was such a job - in the 60's we had crappy tuners...

[sthebluesman]

Hopefully you are using one of those handy tuning key crankers so you can go real fast. No matter how you attach the string to the tuning peg, I always take my free hand to pull and hold string tension against the tuning peg while I crank it with the cranker. I hold the string low close to the headstock so that the string coils from the top down with no overlap. It ends up being a perfect coil with 2-4 wraps on the coil.

One thing I think that is the greatest invention ever is the vintage Fender tuning peg with the hole in the center of the post. You just stick the end of the string down into the post and it locks it in place. This way you never have those nasty sharp string ends poking your fingers and ripping up your new polishing cloth. It sounds like you are talking about stringing an acoustic which I have never seen with this type of tuning peg. For sanitary measures, I would look into getting some for your guitar. For many years I used to push the string through the post hole and do a wrap around/overlap lock until a saleman at a music store showed me how the tuning pegs where designed to work. I thank him every time I change strings which is at least 2-3 times a week because I have 3 electric guitars I play on a regular basis. I have done it for so long that if I was in a hurry, I think I could change a set in 5 minutes.

[Strangedogs]

LP here... not an acoustic kinda guy