Changing strings

[powerpopper]

Ok, now that I've ascertained Mediums will work on my babies, here's a question for you guys about string changing technique.

 

I got into a discussion with a buddy of mine who removes all of the strings from his guitar, gives the fretboard and those hard to reach places a good wipe, then proceeds to re-string his guitar. I was taught a long time ago that removing all the strings at once causes an undesirable decrease in the tension (followed by an increase as the strings are replaced) and ultimately putting unnecessary pressure on the neck.

 

So I change them one at time...what's the consensus here?

[rar]

I was taught a long time ago that removing all the strings at once causes an undesirable decrease in the tension (followed by an increase as the strings are replaced) and ultimately putting unnecessary pressure on the neck.

 

According to the experts, people like Frank Ford and Dan Erlewine, taking them all off at once won't cause a problem. And that's the way professional string changers -- people like Gibson Product Specialist Glenn Franzen (hey, Glenn!, if you're out there), who goes around to local music stores to change strings on Gibsons (among other things) for a living -- do it. On the other hand, if it makes you nervous because of something you heard somewhere, and you don't mind gunk buildup on your fretboard, do 'em one at a time -- it couldn't hurt!

 

For those of you who like compromises, what I usually do is take them off three at a time. This offers most of the advantages of taking off all six (viz., easy access to the posts and reasonable access to the fretboard for cleaning), one of two main advantages of one-at-a-time (viz., it's easy to tune new strings to pitch without a tuner), and only reduces string tension by about 50% as a bonus.

 

-- Bob R

[Todd Wilson]

One, or two at a time.

 

Clean the places your talking about as you go, or detune one or two strings at a time in order to reach those spots, I mean how dirty does it get really?

[nolongermike@gibson]

I take them all off, clean my fretboard really good and then restring it. Hasn't seemed to cause me any issues.

[LesLawrence]

I change them one at a time also out of an obsessive fear of flexing the neck and an unbalanced torque on the bridge. I'm sure I'm in the minority and it is an unnecessary fear with a well built guitar.

 

Cheers,

Les

[L5Larry]

One at a time is always best, but there are times when other maintenance is required that you will need to pull them all at once, such as fretboard cleaning and conditioning, fret polishing or dressing, etc. It will not hurt the guitar to have it completely unstrung for a reasonable period of time.

[ajsc]

You're supposed to change the strings?

[TWilson]

It takes me 6 months as I only change one string per month! I'm kidding!! If I want to give the fretboard a good clean, I take 'em all off. If not, I do one at a time. No scientific reason I just do it this way.

[Rosewoody]

If worried abput tension change why not just loosen the strings in turn, and when they're all slackened, take them off. No sudden or extreme changes in tension this way.

[gearbasher]

I remove them all at once for two reasons.

1) I sometimes have a hard time removing one or two bridgepins, so with all the strings off the machine heads, I can reach into the body and push the bridge pin up from inside.

2) I put all the strings into the bridge first. I seat the bridge pins. Then I reach into the body and make sure all the ball ends are properly seated up against the bridge plate.

 

Just my method.

[Hexeir]

I just loosen each string a little at a time so that I slowly let off tension, and so that there is never unequal tension from left to right, I don't think you should worry about tension the other way. I'd say be more worried about "Twisting" the neck!

[TWilson]

Gearbasher- I like it! Makes a lot of sense.

[ballcorner]

Taking the strings off to clean the guitar has no impact on the instrument. While you are playing, tension constantly goes up and down through strumming, picking and bends. The instrument is built with flexibility.

 

The most important tip I can offer is wash your hands before you play. This alone can reduce build up and crud on your fingerboard by about 95%.

 

When you are changing strings, remove all of them and dispose, then clean the fingerboard if it needs it or polish the guitar because you want to - then wash your hands before touching the new strings.

 

If you wish, you can bring the tension back up with the new strings gradually, perhaps do your original tuning two steps low etc. - but I have never seen a tech, factory or luthier use this kind of caution to install the strings. For about 30 years now, I have just put them all in the bridge holes, then started winding them on the tuners and I bring them up to pitch starting with the low E. None of my guitars (34 at the moment) have any neck problems whatsoever.

 

There are many good threads here about cleaning the fretboard and polishing the guitar. There are other threads about string brands and installation techniques. Have a look around, because you have found the right place for this sort of information!

[magnucifer]

I change them all at once, and as ballcorner wrote, if you wash your hands before playing, you'll probably only use a little lemon oil on the fretboard once a year, or something like that.

 

-Magnus

[Taylor Player]

+1 on all at once on any fixed bridge guitar. I use a little automotive mirror that extends to peak in the sound hole to make sure all the ball ends are seated correctly as I string it back up one at a time. I have big hands and don't like trying to get them inside the soundhole, except when putting a new 9 volt in the Taylor due to the "active" pickup. (That is another reason I put a K & K Western Mini in my Gibson... no 9 volt needed!)

 

On a floating bridge type archtop guitar it is best to remove 3 strings at a time, clean the fretboard if needed, restring, then remove the other 3 strings, clean and restring. That way the bridge would stay fixed in the proper position (assuming of course it was in the proper position for intonation prior to re-stringing.

 

I have been doing it this way for over 30+ years and my 15 year old Taylor is still in perfect condition. Never have any problems taking all off the Gibson AJ either. With the glossy finish, it gives me a chance to give it a nice buff and get any dust off from under the string area on the guitar.

 

I find changing strings is a great time for doing a proper cleaning on the guitar, get a look at the inside with my mirror to make sure all looks good etc. Using Elixir Nano Phospher Bronze can last me 1-2 months or more depending on how much a particular guitar is getting played. At that point a good wipe with a well washed baby diaper is usually all my guitar needs. But with all the strings off, it gives you a chance to make sure things like the tuners are all tightend properly, swap out a battery on a pickup if it is cased inside the guitar and take a quick peek at the inside with my mirror without having to deal with strings on the guitar.

[John Lee Walker]

Totally agree with mike and ballcorner. I take them all off at once simply because when it's time to change the strings it's also time for a good guitar bath, and I totally detail the guitar and clean those hard-to-get-at places. In all the years I've been doing it like this it has never affected the neck or tone or string setting or anything. Very important to wash your hands before playing, reduces crud on the frets 95%, and always wipe doen the fingerboard and strings after playing. I do my fingerboard with Dunlop 65 lemon oil, with the applicator on the end. Nice to give it a little scrub at the same time. I apply a few squirts of Gibson polish now and then, but do a full polish with virtuoso when I change strings. Nothing nicer than a squeaky clean guitar with a mirror polish and crisp, new strings...ahhh

[jeff5341]

I also change them all at once, it just makes cleaning so much easier. Cleaning is important to me, I mean even if I can't play very well at least I have a clean guitar ;)

[TommyK]

Take them off.. take them all off.

 

I would, however not use the very dramatic 'cut-them-with-side-cutters' removal method as this, in my mind, causes a shock load as the tension is suddenly removed. Simply de-tune the strings one at a time until the strings release enough to allow you to unwind them at the top. I could be all wet about this though.

[stkustom]

one string at a time is for vib. trem. type guitars if you dont know how to do setups i use a elec. screwdriver with a tuner fitin (stew mac) all strings off then polish fretboard with 0000steelwool an wipe with boiled lindseed oil i then take a fret spacer(stew mac)an polish each fret check me out at www.myspace.com/kustomst

[Thermionik]

All at once.

 

If particularily paranoid, just slacken each a turn at a time 'till all loose. Tighten the same.

 

With the humidifiers and the one-string-at-a-time - its a musical tool, not a museum artefact.

 

Unless you are the owner of the Stradivarius dragon's tooth strung with unicorn gut.

Or maybe this Belchior Diaz circa 1590 from Portugal.....