Jesus, I messed up all my D'Adarrio strings :( :( :'(

[alans056]

Hello !

 

So I wanted to change the stock strings on my guitar (Epiphone Les Paul Custom) so I bought some D'Adarrio strings, which are, I have heared, quite good!

 

I have never done that before so I looked a lot of videos on youtube and it seemed pretty simple.

 

But tadaaaa, I f**** up ! :(

 

Do I absolutely need the little tool to wind/inwind the tuning pegs faster ? Because I don't have that and I had to do everything by hand. And I think that's why it didn't work.

 

The string just doesn't roll around the peg as it should!! It keeps popping out!! And I tried EVERYTHING LIKE YOUTUBE!

 

It just doesn't work :(

 

 

 

 

So now my guitar has NO STRINGS AT ALL ! (I didn't cut all the stock strings at once rest assured, I just tried one by one but messed all my trials and errors).

I am going to buy new strings tomorrow.

 

==> Do I need to buy the tool to wind/unwind the pegs?

 

Thank you!

[deflepfan]

 

This video, from D'addario, is a good one to show exactly how to string a guitar. And it shows you how to lock the string at the tuner, so it doesn't slip.

 

NO, you do not need a string winder. If you are changing strings out of a lot of guitars (such as a touring guitar tech) at a time, everyday, it's a tool; if you have a lot of guitars to restring every few months, it's handy, biut it's not needed.

 

Sheila

Edit. Sorry, the first vid I posted was not the one I meant to. Need to delete that one from my favs.

[wiggy]

Hi Alan

 

Just chalk it down to experience and don't worry about it.

 

You don't NEED a string winder but it makes life a whole lot easier and they're a couple of £/$ so well worth getting one (that's the little plastic hand things not the electric ones)

 

Best thing to do is take your guitar with you when you go to buy some more strings and ask the guy in the shop if he can fit a couple of the strings for you so that you can see how it's done. You can then go home and fit the rest.

 

After that it will become much easier.

 

Oh and buy two sets next time as you'll always need a spare set.

[alans056]

http://www.ehow.com/video_4396392_string-les-paul-guitar.html

This video' date=' How to String a Les Paul Guitar, is a good one to show exactly how to string a guitar. And it shows you how to lock the string at the tuner, so it doesn't slip.

 

NO, you do not need a string winder. If you are changing strings out of a lot of guitars (such as a touring guitar tech) at a time, everyday, it's a tool; if you have a lot of guitars to restring every few months, it's handy, biut it's not needed.

 

Sheila

[/quote']

 

 

that video is fantastic. why didn't I come across it BEFORE ??! sigh.

Thanks a lot man, I'll be sure to do all that with my new strings! That technique seems easy, and no WINDER on the video, YAY!

 

 

 

Hi Alan

 

Just chalk it down to experience and don't worry about it.

 

You don't NEED a string winder but it makes life a whole lot easier and they're a couple of £/$ so well worth getting one.

 

Best thing to do is take your guitar with you when you go to buy some more strings and ask the guy in the shop if he can fit a couple of the strings for you so that you can see how it's done. You can then go home and fit the rest.

 

After that it will become much easier.

 

Oh and buy two sets next time as you'll always need a spare set.

 

 

Thanks for cheering me up :( Buying two sets is indeed a good idea! It would have saved me the trip to the store ^^

Bringing my guitar there is a good idea but I'm not sure they would show me for free, sharks.

[deflepfan]

that video is fantastic. why didn't I come across it BEFORE ??! sigh.

Thanks a lot man' date=' I'll be sure to do all that with my new strings! That technique seems easy, and no WINDER on the video, YAY![/quote']

You're welcome, but it actually wasn't the video I meant to post. Go back up and see the right one, which shows how to lock a stsring at the tuning peg - a really good technique to know.

Sheila

[alans056]

You're welcome' date=' but it actually wasn't the video I meant to post. Go back up and see the right one, which shows how to lock a stsring at the tuning peg - a really good technique to know.

Sheila[/quote']

 

 

Oh I see the video you meant. That is actually the video I followed, and failed! It just wasn't turning around the peg correctly, not close enough, not in circle, got mixed up etc;..

[RobinTheHood]

HA! You'd have to pry my string winder from my cold, dead hands. I dont know the technically proper way to wind strings, but I ask this: Why dont they make guitar tuners like bass tuners? - with a center hole to shove the string into.

[deflepfan]

Oh I see the video you meant. That is actually the video I followed' date=' and failed! It just wasn't turning around the peg correctly, not close enough, not in circle, got mixed up etc;..[/quote']

Then use the one that works for you! Changing strings will become second nature. And I agree about always having a second set, but more important is to have a couple of spare high e strings, as they are the ones you'll break first, and won't necessarily need to change all of them.

 

Good luck and enjoy!

Sheila

[animalfarm]

Definitely get a someone to show you, or maybe the vid?

 

I wind mine by hand, just takes practice to learn how much

slack to leave before starting winding so you'll end up

with about 3 turns on post. You have to sort of "guide"

the string under the previous turn to keep it coiling one turn

under the previous.

I also use the "String-locking" technique...

(don't let pic fool you - cut the string AFTER you've finished winding).

 

[Fantana]

I remember when I had to learn to string a guitar, always made mistakes and never seemed to get it right.

Until my local guitar shop was selling off low-quality string sets at £1 each, so I bought 10 and spent all evening practicing until I got it right, I couldn't have done it without my peg winder though, it's invaluble :(

 

I've since developed my technique over the years and now have it perfect with no slippage, ever!

[brianh]

Some stores I've visited have a bowl of plastic string winders, free for the taking.

I have several and use them frequently.

 

Guitar techs actually use this, which I haven't gotten around to yet, but will eventually:

 

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/pwstringwinder.html

 

 

 

BTW, with locking tuners you only need this tool:

 

 

[Hungrycat]

Why dont they make guitar tuners like bass tuners? - with a center hole to shove the string into.

 

They do. They're called "Klusons"

[AlanH]

Stringing a guitar seems to be a three handed job which can be tricky for us human beings. I probably shouldn't say this but I use my animal instincts to sort this out - i.e. my teeth!. I string the guitar with it layed flat on its back. After the new string has been threaded through the post and then pulled underneath itself and upwards, I grab the end of it with my teeth leaving my right hand to pull up the slack across the fretboard area and my left hand to wind up. It's the only way I've managed to keep everything tight and winding neatly on the post. However, you have to be careful you don't damage your teeth - grip with your largest molars and every so often loosen slightly to let the string spin in your mouth. If you don't do this the tension can build up until it pings free inside your mouth.

 

Alan

[peeper]

I'll admit, when someone comes in with a guitar with locking tuners I spend less time restringing. But for some reason I just don't like them. They make it feel different to me because I know the string isn't really wrapped on there in a conventional manner. It feels, icky I guess is the word I'm looking for. Its the purist in me, the part that loves all the little things that come together in a musical instrument. The refined design balances with an ancient heritage in a good modern instrument. You can perfectly execute the most intricate passage, or simplistically bash out the most primal yearning of man.

 

Locking tuners and their hideous cousin the automatically tuning machine, just make a guitar feel more soulless to me. It diminishes my pleasure in playing the guitar, as it detaches me from it in a way. I am always looking for ways to better connect with the instrument, not the other way around.

[brianh]

The refined design balances with an ancient heritage in a good modern instrument. You can perfectly execute the most intricate passage' date=' or simplistically bash out the most primal yearning of man.[/quote']

Musikron! Dude! You've been holding out on us - you're a poet!

[deflepfan]

Musikron! Dude! You've been holding out on us - you're a poet!

Seriously. I read it three times as I just liked how it sounded!

Sheila

[Zork]

Here try this:

 

[Gordy01]

Locking tuners and their hideous cousin the automatically tuning machine' date=' just make a guitar feel more soulless to me.[/quote']

 

I completely agree with you on the Auto Tuning Mechanisms, like the Robot or the Fender VG Strat.

I completely disagree on the locking tuners. My opinion is that they make a regular

trem fitted guitar, playable in a way that isn't possible without going to a locking nut.

I have them on all of my guitars, except my acoustic.

[snookelputz]

When restringing, I adjust the post of a guitar stand to appropriate height, position it over the headstock of the guitar on my lap and wrap the string around the "U" neck support after threading the hole and taking the under-wrap. That way just holding the neck down on my lap keeps tension on the string and holds it upright so it doesn't interfere with anything else.

[Bender 4 Life]

My closest Guitar Center gives away a free winder with each case (10 packs) of strings..........the winders are Godsends.

When I run out and just need one set, my local Mom-n-Pop sells ALL his strings "buy 1 get 1 free"........

 

As for strings, I have the best of both worlds.

 

My well intentioned wife bought me a "String Master" electric winder/tuner combo unit that (in theory ONLY) automatically winds each string until it's in perfect pitch, BUT, the internal gearing is too weak to turn any tuner i've tried it on yet, and the electric motor only runs in fits and spurts when it DOE'S run.

The tuner is nice though........digital L.E.D.s with audio alert as well.

[Swoop]

I must be weird. I don't use a string winder. Though I did on any guitar I ever had with split shaft tuners. I actually quite like split shaft tuners. Some folks find them a pain to string, but I find it fairly easy myself. I don't own any guitars that have split shaft tuners at the moment though.

 

When I restring, I wrap the string around the post tightly, usually 2-4 times. Depends how long the post is. My Strat has quite long posts and I could wind the string around loads of times if I wanted to, but my Casino is 3 max. So yes, I wrap around, then I thread the string through, making sure it goes over top of all the wraps. I pull this through with some small pliers, and pull it tight, then start winding until I have all the strings on, then tune to pitch. Never had any issues, and I always have pretty neat wraps. I don't trim the strings too close to the posts either. I leave at least a quarter inch of material poking out. If you cut them too close, then the end starts slipping back through the post.

[Hungrycat]

But the entire point of the split shaft is so it ends up being neat. You're not supposed to leave the end hanging out the side. That's why people don't like them, they try to wind it like a regular tuner and don't realize you're supposed to stuff the string end into the hole.

[peeper]

Fender started those, they call them Safety posts or something like that.

 

Yup, string goes in the hole in the center of the split shaft.

[Hungrycat]

they call them Safety posts or something like that.

 

LOL. Because we might hurt our wittle fingers.

[Swoop]

But the entire point of the split shaft is so it ends up being neat. You're not supposed to leave the end hanging out the side. That's why people don't like them' date=' they try to wind it like a regular tuner and don't realize you're supposed to stuff the string end into the hole.[/quote']

 

I don't actually own any guitars at this point with split shaft tuners, and I know that you put the end of the string in the centre hole. That's what I like about it, the fact that it's neat and there are no sharp ends. I was talking about my restringing method in general, for regular tuners.