String changing essentials

[killdeer43]

Don't even attempt to change strings without these....

One guitar, a new set of strings, string winder, small nippers, and a lubricant of your choice. :encouragement:

Carry on,
Joe

 

[mavuser]

Don't even attempt to change strings without these....

One guitar, a new set of strings, string winder, small nippers, and a lubricant of your choice. :encouragement:

Carry on,
Joe

looks like you're missing one key ingredient, but i'm no critic (cough, cough)

 

[richardp69]

No worries Mavuser, I'll have a bottle of Robitussen in the mail for ya 1st thing Monday morning.

 

[chazmo]

Nice choices all around, Joe... especially on the brew!

 

[crank]

Lol Charlie, I changed some strings yesterday... cold rainy day, no where to go, nothing to do.... But the beverage on my table was coffee.

Also, I normally use those same strings you picture. Yesterday I put a set of Guild strings on my G37. Must have been hanging around since LMG4. They sound very bright just like Martin's.

 

[chazmo]

Best wishes, crank! Nice to see you 'round the board. Hope all's well down there in CT.

 

[davismanLV]

Joe, my setup looks fairly similar, except my lubrication was Modelo Especial and I used one of these. I like a little mechanical help!

 

[walrus]

Nice string changing tables! So, a question - I seem to have always had it in my head that is is better to never take all the strings off at once, i.e. to leave some tension on the neck. Is this not correct? Any time I have taken my guitars to a luthier, they never worry about it, and you guys don't seem to be worrying about it.

Looks like I should stop worrying, too. (insert Alfred E. Neuman photo here)

I usually only take them all off when polishing the fretboard, which is not very often...

walrus

 

[fronobulax]

Nice string changing tables! So, a question - I seem to have always had it in my head that is is better to never take all the strings off at once, i.e. to leave some tension on the neck. Is this not correct? Any time I have taken my guitars to a luthier, they never worry about it, and you guys don't seem to be worrying about it.

Looks like I should stop worrying, too. (insert Alfred E. Neuman photo here)

I usually only take them all off when polishing the fretboard, which is not very often...

walrus

I think leaving strings on so there is always some tension is one of those things that sounds like a good idea but there is no scientist, guitar manufacturer or luthier who will tell you it makes a difference. However I always do strings one at a time because if I don't I will forget which way to go around the post and there is a better than 50% chance I will do it wrong and have to restring.

 

[killdeer43]

I have always removed ALL the strings before putting on a new set. This is also the time that I clean my guitar from top to bottom, and it's much easier to clean when there are NO strings in place.
Never has been a problem in 46 years of string changing.

*The choice of lubricant changes now and then, however. :rugby:

Joe

 

[JohnW63]

I like the power winder thingy. I got one for my electric drill, but I haven't tried it yet. I don't use lubrication when I change strings. Even a 12 string. I don't want to have liquids around when I do this sort of thing.

 

[davismanLV]

I have always removed ALL the strings before putting on a new set. This is also the time that I clean my guitar from top to bottom, and it's much easier to clean when there are NO strings in place.
Never has been a problem in 46 years of string changing.

*The choice of lubricant changes now and then, however. :rugby:

Amen, Joe!! John.... the tedium of restringing a guitar is .... needing just a TAD of lubrication. I'm not saying do it drunk.... (several horrible moments in my life) but.... just maybe an adjusted temperament for the whole process. :tongue-new:

 

[killdeer43]

Amen, Joe!! John.... the tedium of restringing a guitar is .... needing just a TAD of lubrication. I'm not saying do it drunk.... (several horrible moments in my life) but.... just maybe an adjusted temperament for the whole process. :tongue-new:

Just a mild sedative will do the trick, and doing it drunk is just plain dumb.
I look at string changing/cleaning as a time to bond with your guitar and a string-changing-guitar-cleaning cordial is OK. :stupid:

Joe

Joe

 

[txbumper57]

Nice string changing tables! So, a question - I seem to have always had it in my head that is is better to never take all the strings off at once, i.e. to leave some tension on the neck. Is this not correct? Any time I have taken my guitars to a luthier, they never worry about it, and you guys don't seem to be worrying about it.

Looks like I should stop worrying, too. (insert Alfred E. Neuman photo here)

I usually only take them all off when polishing the fretboard, which is not very often...

walrus

I Mostly remove all of the strings when doing string changes. It is a lot easier to clean the fretboard and guitar as has been mentioned previously. The only time I change one string at a time is if I am trying different types of strings and have already cleaned the fretboard. Also if I am changing strings on a guitar with a floating bridge that is not pinned or fixed to the top. Some guitars like a Slot head Acoustics are just too hard to change one at a time because the strings are going under one another at the tuning pegs.

I have over the years consulted many Luthiers, Boutique Builders, and even Major manufacturers of Acoustic guitars about the age old question of taking all of the strings off when changing them. Every response I have ever received has been that there is no issue with it at all and no adverse effect on the guitar. However they do recommend to back the strings off of tension before removing them. Apparently people have been known to Cut the strings off while they are all at tension. This can severely shock the guitar and ultimately cause internal damage due to the sudden release of tension. As long as you back them off of tension before removing them you should be fine.

TX

 

[davismanLV]

Exactly Tx.... SHOCKING!! When I used to fix furniture and stuff... people would say, "These glue joints just wont give!" And I'd hit them HARD and FAST with a mallet and they'd just SHATTER! Anything fast and traumatic will usually do something.... either good or bad. :stupid:

 

[sailingshoes72]

I seem to have always had it in my head that is is better to never take all the strings off at once, i.e. to leave some tension on the neck.

I have always changed my strings one at a time as well. I seem to remember reading in a guitar magazine early on (1970's) that it is best to "leave some tension on the neck." This is probably one of those folk tales that some "authoritative" voice proclaimed and folks just kept repeating it... so it became fact! Since then, I have repeatedly read interviews with luthiers and builders that say "if the guitar is well built, it doesn't make any difference." But old habits die hard, and it still makes me nervous to take all the strings off at once!

TX's advice "to back the strings off of tension before removing them" is probably the most important thing!

Now, on to another "age old question"... if you are storing a guitar for six months or more do you leave it under full tension, back off of the tension a little or completely slack off the strings? I have several guitars that I don't play very often, and my habit is to leave them strung-up and tuned a full step down. It is probably something I read in the same article back in the early 70's. :wink-new:

Bill

 

[txbumper57]

Personally it depends for me where they are to be stored and if the temp/humidity conditions are going to be steady. If I am storing them in the case and the case isn't leaving the house I normally have them 1/2 step to a full step detuned before I put them away depending on what gauge strings and whether or not it is an Acoustic, 12 string, or electric. I play most of my guitars including electrics 1/2 step down anyway as I like the deeper tone. I just try to make sure that if they are going to be stored for an extended period of time that they do still have some tension on them. That really helps to avoid changes in geometry that can rear the head at a later date.

 

[chazmo]

I would downtune a guitar that's sitting in its case for long periods. I do that at my house. I do same when I ship guitars.

I agree with txbumper that whether it really matters or not depends on whether the conditions are correct. Of course, when you ship, you try to insulate the guitar with the packaging, but that won't stop changes from extreme weather and a multi-day trip from upsetting a stable guitar. I know plenty of folks don't downtune, but I figure the guitar is less likely to suffer harm if it *is* dropped when the neck stress is mostly off. Same reason I pull the endpin.

I do have a few guitars in the house that barely get played. 6 months in a case wouldn't be unusual. Conditions probably don't warrant downtuning, technically, in my house, but it just seems prudent to me. Plus, if we have an icestorm in winter which knocks out power/heat for a time, I don't have to worry much about the guitars.

 

[killdeer43]

Man, cutting a string at full tension is just insane!
Just thinking about anyone doing that leaves me atypically speechless. :stupid:

Joe

 

[rampside]

Myself, being known to be a bit obsessive most of the time. If I'm going to loosen or remove all the strings, I'll start with the with the center strings and loosen tension a little at a time, alternating sides and work to the outside. Same with installing and getting them back in tune. That's just to make sure the tension won't pull anything one way or the other.