RE: Changing strings

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Morante

Posts: 2179
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Changing strings (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

quote:

One thing that I do, not mentioned in Ramzi's links, is to melt a blob on the bridge end of the treble strings. It takes more time, but it's insurance against string dings.

Stick a small strip of golpeador behind the bridge.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2021 22:17:25

El Burdo

Posts: 632
Joined: Sep. 8 2011

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Dec. 21 2022 20:45:07

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2021 23:15:44

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Changing strings (in reply to El Burdo)

Couple of things I didn’t mention. If you do the morante “tie” at the roller/peg after pulling up slack on the headstock side, it probably holds as well as my “shoelace tie”. By that I mean I only do one knot like step one of a shoelace. I have not done a timing test to see if that holds better or not, but one thing is with trebles, if you have any oil on the fingers the string will slip. Even at the tie block, so make sure you have dry fingers working with trebles...(yes jamon iberico right before stage is what I am referring to...good for tremolo bad for string changes). Just wanted to add that I try NOT to change full sets if I can, usually basses only or trebles only together, always the higher pitch first. If you do change a full set, always do one at a time (someone mentioned that before) the reason is not “top tension” but rather, keeping the thing in tune and further, keeping the nut and bone from sliding accidentally. I have seen people lose the darn nut from doing a full set change and transporting the guitar with no strings to where ever they were headed with the new set.

With the tie method I use, I am not afraid to change any string or group of strings minutes before a show. I have noticed that basses can die prematurely if you don’t let them settle over night at least. But that was when I was young. Folks that kill bass strings fast, it is the PH level in your fingers. As I got older I kill strings less and less, but I notice young people that play my guitar kill the basses like I used to. So last thing stretching...I used to do what Burdo does above until I saw the results of two nice guitars that this was done on religiously. The basses especially SAW into the tie block roof every time you pull that way. Eventually the break angle is decreased to the point one guitar had an angle of ZERO because the string hole at the tie block was so elongated from that sawing action over the years. The fix was pricy but not too difficult. Wood dowel was glued into the string holes and then they were re drilled at an angle facing downward in the direction toward the head stock...this allowed for the needed downward pull across the bone (break angle)...but as you can see, it would be a good idea to avoid this procedure for stretching strings.

I propose the alternative that I have adopted of simply tuning the strings SHARP of pitch (normally half step sharp all 6 or which ever the new strings are). I suspect this is how Nunez came up with his solea por buleria...having tuned the trebles sharp of the basses and letting them “stretch” by playing some cool falsetas. But it is not necessary to play, just let the strings gradually pull DOWN to pitch. As I said I can get away with this minutes before a show.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2021 23:43:06

rombsix

Posts: 7808
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Changing strings (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

quote:

I absent mindedly forgot the blob.

_____________________________

Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2021 4:07:27

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Changing strings (in reply to Morante)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Morante

quote:

One thing that I do, not mentioned in Ramzi's links, is to melt a blob on the bridge end of the treble strings. It takes more time, but it's insurance against string dings.

Stick a small strip of golpeador behind the bridge.

I have seen quite a few guitars protected that way. I started doing the blob more than fifty years ago, when I didn't know where to get golpeador material in the USA, nor had I seen a guitar protected with it behind the bridge. I'm sure someone must have shown me how to melt the ends of the treble strings.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2021 18:53:21

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Changing strings (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo
<....>
I propose the alternative that I have adopted of simply tuning the strings SHARP of pitch (normally half step sharp all 6 or which ever the new strings are). I suspect this is how Nunez came up with his solea por buleria...having tuned the trebles sharp of the basses and letting them “stretch” by playing some cool falsetas. But it is not necessary to play, just let the strings gradually pull DOWN to pitch. As I said I can get away with this minutes before a show.

I tune a half tone sharp after replacing a string or (usually) strings. I put the guitar back in its case to sit overnight, and pick up another one.

You can tell your Significant Other that's why you need two guitars. I haven't come up with a credible argument for more than two....

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2021 19:02:28

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Changing strings (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

quote:

You can tell your Significant Other that's why you need two guitars. I haven't come up with a credible argument for more than two....

I don't have a credible argument for more than two, but I do have a failsafe comeback to the question of why I need more than one [or two] guitar/s: "you can only wear one pair of shoes at a time, carry one handbag at a time or wear one coat at a time."

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2021 20:09:31

El Burdo

Posts: 632
Joined: Sep. 8 2011

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Dec. 21 2022 20:45:27

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2021 21:35:28

bahen

Posts: 378
Joined: Mar. 4 2006

RE: Changing strings (in reply to El Burdo)

quote:

quote:

I have seen quite a few guitars protected that way.

I saw one that wasn't, in the London Guitar Centre in the 80s. They were stringing it as we had a chat. Abruptly, the string snapped at the bridge, spun round like a scythe and gauged out a trench the size of a finger nail in the top. It was a Reyes and had been going for £3000.

I'll be installing a small strip below the bridge in the coming days but was wondering where most of the accidents actually occur. Is it right where the string holes are (in which case the small strip is actually protective) or further away (where the protective strip is pointless)?

Also, just saw that some luthiers are cutting out nice shapes with the bridge-strip golpeadors (a new Jesús de Jiménez):