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Guitar String Installation Tips

awdz | Jun 25, 2010 |

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The main construction material used in making guitars is wood. Being hygroscopic, wood is subject to movement caused by changes in the temperature and humidity. Usually, small tweaks will compensate for any changes in the instrument. From time to time, more so on electric guitars, strings will break, like all things do.

String changing methods will vary according to the make of the guitar, but overall, it's a fairly straight forward and simple task. Here are some tips on installing guitars strings.

Tools needed to re-string your guitars:

Small pair of pointed-nose pliers

Wire cutters

A string winder

Never put steel or steel-core strings on a guitar designed for nylon or gut strings, if in doubt seek advice.

Always remove old strings. With great care, because the shape ends of the old strings can damage the finish of the instrument.

Do not wind too much string onto the capstan. Allow just enough slack to achieve approximately two to four turns when the string is turned.

On guitars with slotted headstocks, wind the turns around the capstan in the direction that results in the smallest angle.

Hold the string taut while winding to the capstan and avoid making any sharp bends or kinks in the string.

Wind out all of the slack, ideally with a string winder. Do not wrap the string around the capstan by hand…this can distort the string wrap.

It is not necessary to thread the string through the capstan hole more than once: this only makes future string-changing difficult.

Where the string needs to be cut to length before fitting, make a 90 degree bend and cut the excess string off approximately 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) from the bend. This prevents string wrap slippage.

Changing string gauges might lead to adjustments on the truss rod, string slots at the nut, and tremolo tension to compensate.

Avoid stretching new strings too much because this can also distort the string wrap.

A string that breaks suddenly can be dangerous. When bringing strings up to pitch, keep your face well away.

As a safety precaution, snip off excess string close to the capstan. This will avoid sharp-ends protruding from the headstock.

New strings always take a little time to settle; gently pulling the tuned string away from the fingerboard or stretching-in will help tuning stability. Most players have their own string changing style. Adopt a method that's suits you in terms of speed and convenience. You can change them one at a time or, you can change them all at once , its up to you