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how to restring A guitar & make it stay in tune
step 1.
one string at a time
Begin the restringing process by loosening the sixth string (low E string.)
Note: Loosen, remove from machine head (tuning peg) and replace each string individually one at a time.
Note: Loosen, remove from machine head (tuning peg) and replace each string individually one at a time.
STEP 2.
Removing the Old Guitar Strings
Once the string is completely loosened, you can unwind it from the tuning peg
or you can snip it with side cutters, and then remove the string from the guitar entirely.
Remember to only remove one string at a time. Removing all six strings at once will alter the pressure exerted on the truss rod and neck of the guitar due to the resistant pressure setting of the truss rod set when the strings are on...
Relieving this pressure, and then quickly adding this pressure back by replacing an entire set of strings all at once will affect the truss rod of your instrument... If you're unsure, have your local guitar technician restring it for you ;)
Clean the now exposed area of your guitar neck with a slightly damp cloth or use a professional guitar cleaner / conditioner.
A good guitar neck cleaner / conditioner containing minimal lemon oil will help to remove dirt and grit. Apply and allow the conditioner to penetrate, then remove with soft cloth.
Note: Conditioners containing lemon oil are fine for darker woods such as ebony or rosewood, however do NOT use on Maple.
If you're not sure how much lemon oil is present in your cleaner, play it safe and find a non-lemon oil fret board cleaner / conditioner.
or you can snip it with side cutters, and then remove the string from the guitar entirely.
Remember to only remove one string at a time. Removing all six strings at once will alter the pressure exerted on the truss rod and neck of the guitar due to the resistant pressure setting of the truss rod set when the strings are on...
Relieving this pressure, and then quickly adding this pressure back by replacing an entire set of strings all at once will affect the truss rod of your instrument... If you're unsure, have your local guitar technician restring it for you ;)
Clean the now exposed area of your guitar neck with a slightly damp cloth or use a professional guitar cleaner / conditioner.
A good guitar neck cleaner / conditioner containing minimal lemon oil will help to remove dirt and grit. Apply and allow the conditioner to penetrate, then remove with soft cloth.
Note: Conditioners containing lemon oil are fine for darker woods such as ebony or rosewood, however do NOT use on Maple.
If you're not sure how much lemon oil is present in your cleaner, play it safe and find a non-lemon oil fret board cleaner / conditioner.
step 3.
Feeding the New String Through the Back of the Guitar
From your new set of guitar strings, find the sixth string (this will be the heaviest-gauged string in the pack.) Remove it from the packaging. Feed the new string through your guitar. This can vary from instrument to instrument - for some electric guitars, you'll simply feed the string through the tailpiece on top, similar to that of stringing an acoustic guitar. For some fixed bridge, and Strat style tremolo bridges, you may need to feed the new string through the body of the instrument from the back. Turn the guitar over, and locate the appropriate tremolo bridge holes or solid body string furls to feed the new string through. Slowly feed the new string through the back of the body, and out through the bridge and saddle piece on the front side of the guitar.
step 4.
Pulling the New String Through the Bridge
After you've successfully fed the string through the body of the guitar, turn the instrument over, and pull the entire length of the string through the bridge.
step 5.
Leave Extra String Length for Wrapping Around the Tuning Peg
Turn the tuning peg for your sixth string, so that the hole in the tuning peg post forms a right angle to the neck of the instrument. Bring the string up the neck of the guitar. Pull the string fairly taut, making sure it doesn't twist. Measure about 35mms (approx one and a half inches) past the tuning peg you'll be feeding the string through. Crimp the string at this point, so the end of the string points out at a right-angle.
step 6.
Crimping and Winding on the New Electric Guitar String
Slide the string through the hole in the tuning peg, up to the point where the string is crimped. The end of the string should point outwards, away from the center of the head-stock. Crimp the other side of the string emerging from the tuning peg to help hold the string in place. Begin turning the tuner in a counter-clockwise direction to wind the new string, using your string winder (if you have one). As it tightens, keep an eye on the string to make sure it is sitting properly in the notch on the saddle.
step 7.
Holding Tension to Control String Winding
By creating tension on the string as you're winding it on helps to remove slack in the string. As you continue to slowly wind the new string, take the index finger of your free hand and push down slightly on the string, against the fret-board of the guitar. With the remaining three fingers of that hand, grasp the string, and, using your little finger, gently pull upward and back. The idea is to eliminate any slack near the tuning peg, allowing the string wrap to be more precise.
step 8.
Wrapping the String on the Tuning Peg
Rotate the tuning peg with one hand while, with your other hand, push up on the string with your little finger and guiding the string wind by pushing down on the top of the string with your index finger. Pause winding to bring the extra string length over your index finger holding down the string, making sure the string is under the excess. There should be several full coils of string wrapped around each tuning peg. Try to make your coils as neat as possible, making sure they're tightly stacked next to each, but not wrapped on top of each other.
step 9.
Cutting the Excess String from the tuning pegs (or machine heads)
Once you've successfully wrapped the string around the tuning peg, stretch the string several times before bringing it into approximate tune. Once this is done, use your pliers to snip off the excess string protruding from the tuning peg. Leave about 1/4" of the string, to prevent slippage.
step 10.
Stretching New Guitar String to settle it in
Initially, this new string may have trouble staying in tune. You can help correct this problem by stretching out the new string. Grab the string, and pull it approximately one inch away from the surface of the guitar. The note will probably go flat. Re-tune the string, then repeat the process, until the string no longer drops out of tune. Once you've completed changing the sixth string, repeat the process for each additional string.