Questions from a new 1970 S100 Owner

[Groundwire]

Just my opinion but what I just witnessed to me is horrible restringing on many levels.

A) Attacking the strings like that with a pair of dikes right over the fingerboard, YIKES! you could easily gauge the fretboard. If you must clip strings (unnecessary), do it over the soundhole on loose strings, not ever over the fretboard. Never seen it done like that before and I've hung out in a lot of shops watching guys work over the years.

B) Many owner's manuals - including Guild - instruct you to take strings off one at a time to preserve the tension on the neck. The way the strings pop when cut indicate they're still tensioned, so the neck just went from full tension to nothing in seconds.

C) If you have all the strings off despite what the manual says, wouldn't that be a great time to Gorgomyte the frets/fingerboard, and then apply Bore oil? Speed isn't everything, as most of my past lovers have pointed out ;]

D) Never EVER jumble the bridge pins like that. Ever. They need to be kept in order in reinserted in their original position.

E) Kinking the string to prevent slipping , "this way, that way" is much better explained as "on bass strings, kink the strings clockwise, counterclockwise on the trebles". This is fairly instinctive that you want to turn them against the rotation of the tuner shaft.

F) There's no way I'm ever taking a pair of pliers to my tuner shafts. I don't like using any tools around the headstock face, too much of a chance for a scratch or self inflicted boo boo that makes me want to sell the instrument so I can stop being reminded of a needless mistake.

Most pros have many many guitars, I can't see restringing a particular guitar under the gun between songs. I roadied for a really great and very popular band in the 80's, and even then everybody had a backup guitar.

To me, a string change is a time of reflective meditation and appreciation for the instrument, not a race.

I started changing the strings on my '65 Dano this morning, going back up from .009's to 10's because I'm suddenly in love with Open E again, and taking it further than before.

I got the Low E off, and then had to go do some farm chores. It's still waiting for me on the bed upstairs. It make take me all day to change them, one string here, one string there. No hurry, in fact, I like prolonging it, it's tantric ;]

To each his own, and there's a reason why I don't like letting a guitar out of my sight.

You make some good points here and I don’t think the two methods are mutually exclusive. If you need to change a string mid set, a speedy technique may be helpful. But I, like yourself, enjoy the zen of maintaining an instrument. Cleaning the frets and board, dusting, making sure at the screws are still tight, etc. It’s an enjoyable experience.
One thing I will say: I use the needle nose pliers trick every re-string, and my guitars rarely ever go out of tune at all. There is so much slack in those windings around the post. It you keep the the pliers parallel to the face of the headstock, there’s very little chance of slipping and marring the guitar. Honestly, when I do this, the wound strings may drop as much as 2 steps in pitch. That’s a lot of slack that would otherwise be working it’s way out over many hours of playing.

 

[Guildedagain]

I'll have to try it, never have but got lots of good pliers. Slipping strings are infuriating. As long as you don't contact the tuner shaft, there should be no damage.

And true, you don't have to clean the fingerboard too often, especially when you change strings like I do...

Turns out I don't like the 10's on the Dano today, too bassy?

Going back to .009's but which ones?

I think I have 4 or 5 choices, might try some Pyramid round core and see what those are like. The thing about the Dano unplugged is that it's pretty acousticky, and so I can hear the strings, and don't really like these, which is weird because they kick b¥tt on any electric plugged in, GHS Boomers 10-46 by the 6pk, about $5 a set.

I have Slinky green pack .009's, GHS Cryo Core .009's, Thin Core Boomer .009's, Regular Boomer .009's, GHS Brite Flat .009's, and the Pyramid Round Cores, I'm bummed I don't have more choices ;]

Feeling smug I didn't cut the strings yet, because I can use them on something else. I'm not much for cutting strings anymore, tired of getting stabbed...

 

[Groundwire]

I'll have to try it, never have but got lots of good pliers. Slipping strings are infuriating. As long as you don't contact the tuner shaft, there should be no damage.

And true, you don't have to clean the fingerboard too often, especially when you change strings like I do...

Turns out I don't like the 10's on the Dano today, too bassy?

Going back to .009's but which ones?

I think I have 4 or 5 choices, might try some Pyramid round core and see what those are like. The thing about the Dano unplugged is that it's pretty acousticky, and so I can hear the strings, and don't really like these, which is weird because they kick b¥tt on any electric plugged in, GHS Boomers 10-46 by the 6pk, about $5 a set.

I have Slinky green pack .009's, GHS Cryo Core .009's, Thin Core Boomer .009's, Regular Boomer .009's, GHS Brite Flat .009's, and the Pyramid Round Cores, I'm bummed I don't have more choices ;]

Feeling smug I didn't cut the strings yet, because I can use them on something else. I'm not much for cutting strings anymore, tired of getting stabbed...

I use Curt Mangan Round Core Pure Nickel 10-38 (Some call this the Hendrix gauge, but everyone used them in the early 70’s). My Dano (which is actually a Jerry Jones) has heavier strings, but that is because I have it set up in Oped D for Slide.
I like the lighter gauge wound strings because you don’t get too much output or bass on the wound strings. Much better balance IMO. I mean, it worked for Hendrix, Clapton, Duane Allman, Roy Buchanan, Rory Gallagher, etc so there must be something to it...

 

[Guildedagain]

I tried Pyramid Hendrix set on my Strat just recently, but one of the strings was dull/dead, the G I think, odd, so I took them off the next day. Need to contact Strings by Mail and let them know. I think I realized I do like lighter bass strings, but with something a little meatier than a .009 on the high E, and an easier to bend G, .016 rather than .017.

The popular flip these days is light trebles with heavy bottoms, .009-046.

Sounds like I finally need to try some Curt Mangan strings.

 

[Groundwire]

I tried Pyramid Hendrix set on my Strat just recently, but one of the strings was dull/dead, the G I think, odd, so I took them off the next day. Need to contact Strings by Mail and let them know. I think I realized I do like lighter bass strings, but with something a little meatier than a .009 on the high E, and an easier to bend G, .016 rather than .017.

The popular flip these days is light trebles with heavy bottoms, .009-046.

Sounds like I finally need to try some Curt Mangan strings.

Yeah, the slinky too heavy bottom strings are a step in the wrong direction. Boomy bass and uneven feel. I like a .015 or .016 for the G string. I like to do a lot of double stop bends and fake steel licks, and a light gaiage 3rd string is crucial for this IMO.
Curt Mangan strings are great and they let you make your own custom sets. I dig.

 

[Guildedagain]

Where do you get them?

I've always been into those bends, G up to the B, B up to the E. I've been trying to figure out new ones for a long time, but they don't come that easy. Then I discovered the B 7th fret up to E 5th Fret, very pedal steel, breaking away from Pentatonic it feels, more country.

That's the only real reason I fell for the electric guitar, slinky low action, the ability to do whole step, or even farther bends.

Bending the G at the 2nd fret in the key of G is pretty dang challenging on a stiffly strung acoustic, and the wound string...

Do you notice the round cores sounding wimpier than hex?

 

[Groundwire]

Where do you get them?

I've always been into those bends, G up to the B, B up to the E. I've been trying to figure out new ones for a long time, but they don't come that easy. Then I discovered the B 7th fret up to E 5th Fret, very pedal steel, breaking away from Pentatonic it feels, more country.

That's the only real reason I fell for the electric guitar, slinky low action, the ability to do whole step, or even farther bends.

Bending the G at the 2nd fret in the key of G is pretty dang challenging on a stiffly strung acoustic, and the wound string...

Do you notice the round cores sounding wimpier than hex?

I order them through Curt Mangan’s website. If you create an account, they email you with sales regularly. Almost every month there’s a 15% off for something.
I think the round cores sound fatter actually. That’s why GHS calls them Boomers. They have a looser low end. They also feel great for bending and vibrato.

 

[lungimsam]

Daddario pro steels

 

[Guildedagain]

What, Boomers are round core?

 

[Groundwire]

What, Boomers are round core?

Yes sir.

https://www.ghsstrings.com/pages/faq-guitar

 

[Groundwire]

Daddario pro steels

Never tried these. These are going in the exact opposite direction of the pure nickel round wounds. These I’m guessing would be much brighter overall. I would imagine they sound awesome if you set up your amp and pedals around that brightness, but probably wouldn’t want to have these on one guitar, and pure nickels on another....

 

[Guildedagain]

I've been using Boomers since the 70's, then got into Slinkies because they were more available and cheap.

Boomer's were at the pawnshop I used to frequent a lot, with a sign out front that said "Poor Selection, High Prices, Surly Staff". On the door it said "If you can get it through the door and it doesn't eat, we just may give you a loan on it" ;] Bought my 1st good electric there in about '78, a black sparkle Danelectro Amp in Case, I think it was a couple hundred bucks.

They had a whole wall of amps just to the right of the front door, a big sit down playing area, usually staffed by near homeless stoners who were never going to buy a guitar. In those days, it was Stairway, not Enter Sandman ;]

Gary the owner, the surliest one of all, says to me one day "You missed all the excitement", lol. A guy had been playing a guitar, tried to run out the door with it, but forgot to unplug it from the amp stack and they all came crashing down ;]]]

They had a Marshall JCM 2x12 Combo that was totally mint in original box. The guy hawked it when it was brand new unplayed, and then made interest payments for 20 years before he lost it by virtue of passing away.

Gary was super cool. I hawked my '66 SG Jr. when going through hard times and homeless for a bit, sleeping in car and eating at a mission with the real bums, which was actually quite fantastic, singing Amazing Grace before eating. It came due, and I didn't have the $$$ and he said "Don't worry about it, we won't sell it" and they didn't, and eventually I got it back.

He got surlier as time went on, died "in his sleep" one night, looked healthy as a horse the day before. I kinda suspected his wife did it, he really was that grouchy ;]

 

[ruedi]

I've been using Boomers since the 70's, then got into Slinkies because they were more available and cheap.

Boomer's were at the pawnshop I used to frequent a lot, with a sign out front that said "Poor Selection, High Prices, Surly Staff". On the door it said "If you can get it through the door and it doesn't eat, we just may give you a loan on it" ;] Bought my 1st good electric there in about '78, a black sparkle Danelectro Amp in Case, I think it was a couple hundred bucks.

They had a whole wall of amps just to the right of the front door, a big sit down playing area, usually staffed by near homeless stoners who were never going to buy a guitar. In those days, it was Stairway, not Enter Sandman ;]

Gary the owner, the surliest one of all, says to me one day "You missed all the excitement", lol. A guy had been playing a guitar, tried to run out the door with it, but forgot to unplug it from the amp stack and they all came crashing down ;]]]

They had a Marshall JCM 2x12 Combo that was totally mint in original box. The guy hawked it when it was brand new unplayed, and then made interest payments for 20 years before he lost it by virtue of passing away.

Gary was super cool. I hawked my '66 SG Jr. when going through hard times and homeless for a bit, sleeping in car and eating at a mission with the real bums. It came due, and I didn't have the $$$ and he said "Don't worry about it, we won't sell it" and they didn't, and eventually I got it back.

He got surlier as time went on, died "in his sleep" one night, looked healthy as a horse the day before. Pretty sure his wife put a pillow over his head, he really was grouchy ;]

Have you considered writing a book one day? No honestly, you are a good writer (as far as I can tell as non-native English speaker), and you seem to have a lot of great bits and stories to share!

When I liked your post I just discovered that we now have the possibility to dislike this might get interesting....

 

[GuildedCage]

Have you considered writing a book one day? No honestly, you are a good writer (as far as I can tell as non-native English speaker), and you seem to have a lot of great bits and stories to share!

When I liked your post I just discovered that we now have the possibility to dislike this might get interesting....

I dislike your threat to dislike Guildedagain's post, so I disliked your post to keep you humble. So dislike that Ruedinator!

 

[ruedi]

ouch

 

[ruedi]

The dislike wars

 

[Guildedagain]

No sweat on like/dislike.

Yes, I'd like to write a book, but a tell all... not sure I want to do that to myself. Maybe something more rambling like Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

I went through a lot of wild stuff in the 70's, free love... being repeatedly approached by molesters, etc. High speed car chases being in the wrong car at the wrong time, shot at by cops, hitchhiking across the country, going from BC to Quebec. Three college degrees, raising a girl by myself, she's 35 now with 4 year old miracle baby that was born premie only weighing 1 1/2 lbs but made it into a gorgeous kid.

I have 4 other grandkids from my son who was 16 when he started, and the had three more including twins, the oldest one is going on 20 and trans, life has a lot of curveballs...

 

[GuildedCage]

No sweat on like/dislike.

Yes, I'd like to write a book, but a tell all... not sure I want to do that to myself. Maybe something more rambling like Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

I went through a lot of wild stuff in the 70's, free love... being repeatedly approached by molesters, etc. High speed car chases being in the wrong car at the wrong time, shot at by cops, hitchhiking across the country, going from BC to Quebec. Three college degrees, raising a girl by myself, she's 35 now. I have 5 grandkids, the oldest one is going on 20 and trans, life has a lot of curveballs...

We all get ONE walk through the carnival, and yours has been an eventful one!

 

[ClaytonS15]

The V4B is my favorite amp in the whole world. If only it didn't weigh 75lbs...

Why Ampeg didn't surpass Marshall with this head, I'll never understand.

At one point a few years ago, I was bi-amping my SG into a V4B on top of a '73 8x10 cab on one side of the room, and a '74 JMP50 on 4x12 cab on the other side of the room.

Blackface Fender Reverb tank and 12AX7 powered SIB Varidrive into the JMP50, and thick sided Russky Big Muffsky and Mu-Tron Phasor II into the V4B.

The volume and tone were monstrous ;]

And yeah, that is a really BIG ratchet on the head ;]

I used to have the regular V-4 like that. I used it for bass with an Ashdown 4x10. Loud, awesome. And HEAVY! I loved it and do miss it now, but it had to go to someone who could use it.

 

[Groundwire]

No sweat on like/dislike.

Yes, I'd like to write a book, but a tell all... not sure I want to do that to myself. Maybe something more rambling like Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

I went through a lot of wild stuff in the 70's, free love... being repeatedly approached by molesters, etc. High speed car chases being in the wrong car at the wrong time, shot at by cops, hitchhiking across the country, going from BC to Quebec. Three college degrees, raising a girl by myself, she's 35 now with 4 year old miracle baby that was born premie only weighing 1 1/2 lbs but made it into a gorgeous kid.

I have 4 other grandkids from my son who was 16 when he started, and the had three more including twins, the oldest one is going on 20 and trans, life has a lot of curveballs...

And I thought we were just taking about strings...
For the record, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and it’s sequel, Lila, are two of my favorite books of all time. Changed my life and started me down the road of the constant pursuit of quality.
In hindsight, reading those books probably cost me a lot of money in the long run....