My tips on how to restring a guitar correctly

[311boogieman]

1. Make sure you make a nice 90 degree bend on that string once its in the peg leaving an inch or two of slack.

2. Use those few inches to stretch the stings several times and then again at final tune.

3. Graphite lube is better than a pencil.

4. Don't restring your guitar drunk


I missed that last one last night and created a lot of extra work
Then, I had left the pick on the guitar neck like I usually do and it was not until this morning that I realized WHY I was getting this weird pinging sound and the tuning just wasn't right. That and I need a truss rod adjustment evidently. LOL

 

[7704A]

Adding to that, don't overdo the 90° bend on the thinner strings. 90° is just fine, and don't bend it back and forth if you didn't get it just right. I've had a number of strings break there because I bent it so much it weakened the string.

 

[IHateRap]

Make sure you have a first aid kit handy when it's time to undo that at the next restringing.

 

[7704A]

Make sure you have a first aid kit handy when it's time to undo that at the next restringing.

Needle nose pliers or even string snippers work fine for unstringing it. You're not tying a knot, just bending up the end of the string.

 

[RaceU4her]

 

[romanianreaper]

I don't do any of that anymore. I leave two frets on the lighter strings and one on the heavier. I just start turning the peg and then just make sure the string goes under the string with each turn. Then I push the end upward and cut it. Saw it in a Gibson video. My strings stay in tune so well now.

 

[napalmdeath]

Locking tuners. That's the correct way.

 

[Beyond Black]

Been doing this for years, it’s a game changer.

 

[saxxamafone]

I don't do any of that anymore. I leave two frets on the lighter strings and one on the heavier. I just start turning the peg and then just make sure the string goes under the string with each turn. Then I push the end upward and cut it. Saw it in a Gibson video. My strings stay in tune so well now.

pretty much same here, i just wind it on and do the 90 pull up at the end and cut

 

[BeZo]

I cut the strings to the right length (usually and inch or two past the tuner) and then put the end in the hole in the middle of the post. Then I bend it 90° out one of the sides and wind it up, making sure the next wind goes under the last.

You guys and your "locking tuners" and "techniques" to try to mimic the tuning stability of spit shaft tuners. That's why bass is superior to guitar. Why don't we all just use split shaft tuners,

 

[7704A]

Why don't we all just use split shaft tuners,

'Cuz then the bass guys wouldn't have anything to feel special about.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Taking all the strings off at the same time is often a pretty good way to have to adjust the truss rod too.

 

[311boogieman]

^ Floyd - I used hear that all the time, but I think it is mostly debunked now.

I know for some guitars doing one at a time is preferred but I just hack 'em all off with a wire cutter. Actually, the tuning peg tool I have has a string cutter built in. That way, I can clean the fretboard real good while I'm at it. '0000 steel wool, after coving the neck pick up, with extra time and attention on the frets.

https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/c...ok a bit deeper,strings depends on the guitar.

Thanks for posting. I have not seen that one before. It seems generally correct at least directionally, but I don't see any 90 degree turns. But as you know, if you wrap it right, you should never have more than 2 full turns of that peg. For me, the 90 degree bend and the stretching is the key.

 

[Floyd Eye]

^ Floyd - I used hear that all the time, but I think it is mostly debunked now.

I know for some guitars doing one at a time is preferred but I just hack 'em all off with a wire cutter. Actually, the tuning peg tool I have has a string cutter built in. That way, I can clean the fretboard real good while I'm at it. '0000 steel wool, after coving the neck pick up, with extra time and attention on the frets.

https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/can-i-remove-all-strings-at-once-from-my-guitar/#:~:text=Let's look a bit deeper,strings depends on the guitar.





Thanks for posting. I have not seen that one before. It seems generally correct at least directionally, but I don't see any 90 degree turns. But as you know, if you wrap it right, you should never have more than 2 full turns of that peg. For me, the 90 degree bend and the stretching is the key.

?

Didn't you literally just do this yesterday ?

It can be debunked all it wants brother. I've had it happen.

 

[JerEvil]

I’ve not seen this but am definitely gonna try it

 

[FourT6and2]

Locking tuners. That's the correct way.

Yep. Hipshot open gear lockers are the best I've ever used.

Put the string in, pull tight, lock it, clip it, tune it.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I don't do any of that anymore. I leave two frets on the lighter strings and one on the heavier. I just start turning the peg and then just make sure the string goes under the string with each turn. Then I push the end upward and cut it. Saw it in a Gibson video. My strings stay in tune so well now.

Bingo!

 

[311boogieman]

?

Didn't you literally just do this yesterday ?

It can be debunked all it wants brother. I've had it happen.

So true. But in this case, that guitar has needed a truss rod adjustment for some time now. Next time I will try one at a time.

 

[japetus]

But what about vintage Fender tuners

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I just opt to not change my strings.