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I'm sure this must have come up before, but I couldn't find a thread on it in my search?
In the past I've always changed strings one at a time; in the belief that one should always try to maintain the tension on the guitar face.
But recently I've tried taking off all the strings at once, cleaning the fingerboard and polishing the face of the guitar before replacing the strings. Makes changing faster than my old "one-at-a- time" procedure.
Is there any valid reason to do it the "one string -at-a- time" method?
RE: Changing strngs - remove all or ??? (in reply to Stephen Eden)
quote:
I personally can't think of a reason why it should be done
Actually, I could not either. But I've seen it recommended in more than one publication. The reason given being that it takes the guitar face several days to 'recover' from the 6-string tensions being released all at once?.
I posted hoping to get a luthier's opinion on this.
Does it really take that long for the face to recover it's normal tension/stress, whatever?
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: Changing strngs - remove all or ??? (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)
I dont think it makes any difference at all , except that when its string changing time it gives me a good chance to have a 'spring clean' . . I get some spray and clean any build up of gunk on the fretboard. and all the dust under the stings , give the whole thing a good polish , check for any problems .
restring ,, and voila .. like new .....
For some reason , i always tune it a bit flat for the first day or so , until the strings stretch in , then tune it concert . but thats just my own foible ....
Posts: 898
Joined: Dec. 6 2012
From: Lisboa, Portugal
RE: Changing strngs - remove all or ??? (in reply to El Kiko)
quote:
For some reason , i always tune it a bit flat for the first day or so , until the strings stretch in , then tune it concert . but thats just my own foible ....
I do exactly the opposite, I tune all the strings at least one whole step up and leave them like that for the night. The next day the strings have stretched almost all they could and I practically don't have those new strings detuning problems. Never had any problems with this but I only have a cheap 100 euros guitar, so I have nothing to lose.
Posts: 3438
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Changing strngs - remove all or ??? (in reply to FredGuitarraOle)
quote:
ORIGINAL: FredGuitarraOle
I tune all the strings at least one whole step up and leave them like that for the night. The next day the strings have stretched almost all they could and I practically don't have those new strings detuning problems. Never had any problems with this but I only have a cheap 100 euros guitar, so I have nothing to lose.
I do the same on my guitars, but maybe just a half step sharp. No trouble over the years.
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: Changing strngs - remove all or ??? (in reply to FredGuitarraOle)
no its just i like the bassy sound for a while and then when I come up to pitch , the strings move a bit on the fret and get a new brighter sound ...but as I said its a foible
and then for the first few days I sound exactly like Carlos Montoya ,, who did a low tuning a lot ....
RE: Changing strngs - remove all or ??? (in reply to Richard Jernigan)
quote:
quote:
ORIGINAL: FredGuitarraOle
I tune all the strings at least one whole step up and leave them like that for the night. The next day the strings have stretched almost all they could and I practically don't have those new strings detuning problems. Never had any problems with this but I only have a cheap 100 euros guitar, so I have nothing to lose.
Yeah I do that too.
In fact, I loosen the strings with a hand help winder handle, make them slack and then clip them with a finger nail trimmer a few inched in front of the bridge. Then it makes it easier to gently remove them from the tie block.
RE: Changing strngs - remove all or ??? (in reply to FredGuitarraOle)
I would often have to change strings right before playing a gig (electric), such as that evening. So I tune to pitch and then pick up one string at a time at about the midpoint and lifted it straight up above the fingerboard. This stretches the strings of course and detunes them and after a couple of times doing that and then tuning back up, new strings were ready to play that day. Nylons take a little longer but I do the same thing with them. This is the fastest method I have ever found to get them stabilized the quickest. Sometimes a string breaks while playing a gig, so after taking a break and putting on a new string, it is absolutely required to pre-stretch it in this same manner, otherwise switch to another guitar. Regarding the need to remove one string at a time, I have read the same advice, and I think that is ridiculous, guitar necks are built to withstand full six string tension for year after year, decade after decade, and you say that I must only change one silly little string at a time or else I will damage the neck? no way Jose.
RE: Changing strngs - remove all or ??? (in reply to britguy)
My only experience of changing one string at a time would be when a string has broken and I've just changed one instead of all of them. It still displays the usual charateristcs of putting a new set of strings on. I usually find the trebles I use to be a bit weak on the first day. The same as when I have just strung up a newly build instrument.
I would think that under the same tension the top would immediately return to it's previous loaded state with no problems.
RE: Changing strngs - remove all or ??? (in reply to britguy)
I have also heard that this stems from movable bridge instruments. If you take all of your strings off the bridge falls off then you may find it hard to get it back in the right place. It would make sense to change them one at a time in that case to preserve the posistion of your bridge. This however, does not translate over to the fixed bridge guitar.