Guitar Stringing Made Simple
By Max on Jan 7, 2008 in Guitars
Your guitar needs strings. Again. A trip to the repair shop is going to cost you, and it just does not seem right to fork over $30-50 to have a $10-15 set of strings put on. How hard can it possibly be to attach a few strands of metal to a big piece of wood?
Truthfully, it is not that difficult to string a guitar. If you have ever watched somebody do it, the task can normally be completed in just a few minutes. The stringing concept is similar for electric, bass, and acoustic guitars. Once you have collected the following pieces of equipment, you are ready to begin:
- New set of strings
- String winder (optional)
- Wire cutters (optional)
That’s right, the only thing you absolutely need to change your guitar strings, is a new set of strings. The other two tools will come in handy, and save you a great deal of time and physical exertion. There are several precautions you should take to ensure that you are not endangering the wellbeing of your instrument. Follow these simple steps in order to save time, and money, while treating your guitar right.
Out with the old
First thing is first - you have got to get rid of those old strings. The best way to do this is by starting with a string winder. A string winder will save your fingers and wrists from having to work so hard. It is a little crank that fits over the machine head and simplifies the winding process (making it more like rolling up a car window than unscrewing a bolt). Otherwise you can loosen the machine heads with your hands.
A word of advice, if this is your first try, start by loosening just one string, probably the lowest one is the most accessible. Once the string is loose at the head of the guitar, unwind the wrapping around the machine head post, and pull it out of the hole.
For acoustic guitars, at the bridge of your guitar, you will find some pins holding the strings in. These are called bridge pins, and generally they can be pulled out with the fingers. Sometimes bridge pins get swollen and stuck in the wood. Again, the string winder will come in handy, as they contain a component that slides under bridge pins and loosens them easily. If you do not have a string winder, you can put your hand in the sound hole and push it loose from the inside. For electric guitars, there are a variety of bridge configurations and this step may vary. Generally, it is easy to see how the string is anchored to the bridge.
At this point, you should have one string removed, and you’re ready to replace it.
In with the new
With the new string in hand, your first step will be to install it at the bridge. This probably means threading the new string through a hole for electrics, and inserting it into a hole and replacing the bridge pin for acoustics. Pull the string through and bring the end to the appropriate machine head.
I recommend starting with the removal of just one string at first, so that you can look at the remaining strings to make sure that you are winding your new string in the right direction, and placing it in the correct hole. Use the machine to adjust the hole so that it is in line with the neck. Insert the string into the hole, and pull it all the way through until there is no slack in the string.
Pull the string back through the hole, 1 to 1.5 inches, and create a loop around the post with the part of the string reserved in the slack. Wrap the slack around the post several times. The strings on the left side of the head are wrapped counterclockwise, and those on the right are wrapped clockwise (assuming the guitar is facing you). Now use the string winder (or your fingers) to tighten the machine heads just a little, for now.
Repeat the above actions for every string. You do not have to tighten them all up very much until you are ready to start tuning.
A tune up
Tuning your guitar for the first time with brand new strings can be tricky. It is important to use care and caution, move slowly so you do not break a string. If you are new to guitar stringing, I highly suggest that you use an electric tuner, rather than your ears or a tuning fork.
Tighten all the strings so that they have just a little tension, then place your finger underneath one string and run it up and down the length of the guitar, stretching the string slightly. Repeat this action under each string, and then continue the tuning process.
Do not be afraid to ask a friend who already knows this process to go through it with you. Or if you’re just uneasy about over tightening your strings when you’re done (a common mistake), consult with your friend to avoid first-time mishaps. This simple process will save you a great deal of time and money, happy stringing!
