| For a newbie, this may seem a little intimidating. But | | | | remove the clamps completely and work with just the |
| with the right tools, a little knowledge and some | | | | nut until the restringing process is done and the strings |
| practice, you'll be able to restring an electric guitar like a | | | | are stretched and tuned. Then replace the locking |
| professional guitar tech. When I was gigging regularly, I | | | | clamps and fine tune using the tuners on the tremolo |
| would restring my guitar every week. My body | | | | bridge. |
| chemistry is acidic and the sweat and oils from my | | | | · Use your string winder and loosen the string until |
| hands would tend to dull the brightness of the strings | | | | there is enough slack that you can unwind the string |
| as well as make them feel "dirty". For me, the bright | | | | from the tuning post by hand. |
| sound and smooth feel of a new set of strings would | | | | · Use your wire cutters to cut off the curled end |
| inspire my playing. It became a ritual for me the night | | | | of the string and discard. Do this to minimize the |
| before the weekend's gigs started. I would sit in front | | | | chance of scratching the finish of your guitar. Push/pull |
| of the TV and restring my electric guitar; my acoustic | | | | the string back through the bridge slowly making sure it |
| was much less frequent. | | | | does not drag across the body. You don't want |
| OK, so you've decided you don't want to pay the guys | | | | restringing your guitar to result in refinishing your guitar! |
| at the music store and you want to know how to | | | | · Next, unwrap the appropriate new string. Insert it |
| restring an electric guitar yourself. Here is the list of | | | | through the bridge of the guitar, over the saddle, up the |
| tools and supplies you will need: | | | | neck, over the nut and into the hole in the tuning post. |
| · A new set of strings (naturally!) Click here for | | | | Again make sure the trailing end of the string doesn't |
| info on string sizes | | | | drag across the guitar body. |
| · A string winder (not required but very handy) | | | | · Start turning the tuner by hand making sure the |
| · A pair of wire cutters | | | | string wraps over the top of the tuning post. Ideally you |
| · A guitar tuner (again, not required but helpful) | | | | want to have 3-4 wraps of the string around the tuner, |
| You will need to set aside about an hour of time to do | | | | but this in nothing to stress over. |
| this correctly, but like I stated earlier, with practice you | | | | · Turn the tuner until the slack is out and the string |
| will know how to restring your electric guitar in about | | | | is properly seated in the nut and over the bridge |
| 20-30 minutes. | | | | saddle. |
| First thing to remember, do NOT remove all six strings | | | | · Next clip the excess string off close to the tuner |
| at the same time. The guitar neck is designed to | | | | and use your string winder to bring the string up to |
| withstand the tension of the strings and if all of the | | | | pitch. |
| tension is removed for any significant amount of time | | | | · Use your digital tuner and tune to pitch. |
| you could damage your guitar. | | | | · Next, grab the string with your picking hand |
| Also, there are some guitars that are literally held | | | | halfway between the bridge and the nut and lightly tug |
| together by the string tension. I remember reading a | | | | the string away from the fretboard. Do not pull real |
| story about a guy who had recently gotten hired as a | | | | hard, just hard enough to pull the stretch out of the |
| guitar tech for the Ramones. Wanting to make a good | | | | string and tighten it around the tuner post. |
| impression on Johnny Ramone he decided to restring | | | | · Tune to pitch and repeat the stretching process |
| his guitar for him right before the show. He removed all | | | | until the string stays in tune. |
| six strings and Johnny's Mosrite guitar literally fell apart | | | | Now repeat the entire process for the remaining five |
| in his hands. The string tension held the whole guitar | | | | strings. Know that the pitch of the new strings may |
| together! What's worse, the bridge of the guitar | | | | fluctuate as you work on the remaining strings. This is |
| bounced across the floor and fell down the air | | | | especially true with a Floyd Rose or similar type |
| conditioning duct. | | | | floating bridge. When you have replaced and stretched |
| If I remember the story correctly, they spent quite | | | | the last string make sure all six strings are still in tune. If |
| some time using a coat hanger and chewing gum | | | | you have a locking tremolo system, replace the |
| trying to rescue the bridge from the duct. He retrieved | | | | clamps for thelocking nut, tighten, and use the bridge |
| it and managed to keep his job, living to restring the | | | | fine tuners to get the proper pitch. |
| guitar another day. But not all six strings at once! | | | | The final step is the best one; sit back, crank up your |
| But I digress. Some people work in pairs of strings at a | | | | amp and enjoy. Make sure you play something with |
| time, I prefer to work on individual strings. You will | | | | lots of note bending in it and make sure the stretch is |
| quickly decide what works best for you. Use this | | | | all played. |
| article as a guideline to get you up to speed quickly. | | | | Take satisfaction in knowing that you now know how |
| OK, let's get down to it. I always start with the high E | | | | to restring an electric guitar. |
| string (personal preference); it helps keep me | | | | A life long guitar player, I now spend my time teaching |
| organized. | | | | guitar and researching the best guitar resources on the |
| If your guitar has a locking nut tremolo (whammy bar) | | | | web. Check how to play guitar for more tips. |
| system you will have to unlock it. It works best if you | | | | |