Difference between revisions of "Restring a Guitar"
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== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
=== Preparing to Restring your Guitar === | === Preparing to Restring your Guitar === | ||
| − | #Find a clean and quiet place to restring your guitar. Keep the area clean so you don’t lose any tools. Similarly, find a quiet area so you can tune your guitar without having to listen to any background noise.<ref>http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/for_beginners/how_to_restring_a_guitar_a_step_by_step_guide.html</ref> | + | #Find a clean and quiet place to restring your guitar. Keep the area clean so you don’t lose any tools. Similarly, find a quiet area so you can tune your guitar without having to listen to any background noise.<ref name="rf1">http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/for_beginners/how_to_restring_a_guitar_a_step_by_step_guide.html</ref> |
#Gather your equipment. You will need a tuning machine, new strings, wire cutters, and a string winder. Depending on whether you’re a beginner or expert, you may not need a tuning machine if you are a seasoned musician able to tune instruments by ear. | #Gather your equipment. You will need a tuning machine, new strings, wire cutters, and a string winder. Depending on whether you’re a beginner or expert, you may not need a tuning machine if you are a seasoned musician able to tune instruments by ear. | ||
| − | #*Choose your guitar strings based on your personal taste.<ref | + | #*Choose your guitar strings based on your personal taste.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #Balance the neck of your guitar. Find something to secure the neck of your guitar like a special piece of equipment you can buy at a guitar store. If you are a beginner, you can also just use something soft and curved like a piece of polystyrene.<ref | + | #Balance the neck of your guitar. Find something to secure the neck of your guitar like a special piece of equipment you can buy at a guitar store. If you are a beginner, you can also just use something soft and curved like a piece of polystyrene.<ref name="rf1" /> |
=== Restringing an Acoustic Guitar === | === Restringing an Acoustic Guitar === | ||
| − | #Loosen the tension of each string with a tuning key and remove. Turn the tuning key and feel the tension loosen for each string. Once loose, unwind the string off of the tuning post and remove.<ref | + | #Loosen the tension of each string with a tuning key and remove. Turn the tuning key and feel the tension loosen for each string. Once loose, unwind the string off of the tuning post and remove.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #Remove the bridge pins from out of the bridge. Use the built-in notch of the string-winder to remove each pin. Once the pin is out you can also remove the string from the bridge of the guitar.<ref>http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-eds-shed-how-restring-acoustic-guitar#slide-1</ref> | + | #Remove the bridge pins from out of the bridge. Use the built-in notch of the string-winder to remove each pin. Once the pin is out you can also remove the string from the bridge of the guitar.<ref name="rf2">http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-eds-shed-how-restring-acoustic-guitar#slide-1</ref> |
| − | #*Secure the ball end of the string against the underside of the bridge to sustain tone. Do not let the ball end sit on the tip of the pin or it will work itself loose.<ref>http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-eds-shed-how-restring-acoustic-guitar#slide-3</ref> | + | #*Secure the ball end of the string against the underside of the bridge to sustain tone. Do not let the ball end sit on the tip of the pin or it will work itself loose.<ref name="rf3">http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-eds-shed-how-restring-acoustic-guitar#slide-3</ref> |
| − | #Place the string and bridge pin rough the 6E bridge hole. Face the groove of a bridge pin toward the sound hole of the guitar and slide the pin into the hole together with the string. Simultaneously pull on the string with your other hand and as you push the pin through the hole and into place.<ref>http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-eds-shed-how-restring-acoustic-guitar#slide-6</ref> | + | #Place the string and bridge pin rough the 6E bridge hole. Face the groove of a bridge pin toward the sound hole of the guitar and slide the pin into the hole together with the string. Simultaneously pull on the string with your other hand and as you push the pin through the hole and into place.<ref name="rf4">http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-eds-shed-how-restring-acoustic-guitar#slide-6</ref> |
| − | #Take the string through the tuning post and pull. Tighten the string as you push it about 3 inches through the tuning post. The string should be pulled towards the bridge.<ref | + | #Take the string through the tuning post and pull. Tighten the string as you push it about 3 inches through the tuning post. The string should be pulled towards the bridge.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #*About 2 inches from the corresponding machine head, cut the string so that you can poke it through the machine head shaft.<ref>http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-eds-shed-how-restring-acoustic-guitar#slide-7</ref> | + | #*About 2 inches from the corresponding machine head, cut the string so that you can poke it through the machine head shaft.<ref name="rf5">http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-eds-shed-how-restring-acoustic-guitar#slide-7</ref> |
| − | #Wind up the string using a string winder. Tighten the string by using the string winder on the appropriate tuning key but don’t look to tune at this time. Just tighten the string to ensure you have set it correctly.<ref | + | #Wind up the string using a string winder. Tighten the string by using the string winder on the appropriate tuning key but don’t look to tune at this time. Just tighten the string to ensure you have set it correctly.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #Tighten the rest of the strings. Usually, it is best to tighten the strings in the order of: 5A, 4D, 3G, 2B, 1E.<ref | + | #Tighten the rest of the strings. Usually, it is best to tighten the strings in the order of: 5A, 4D, 3G, 2B, 1E.<ref name="rf1" /> Stretch your strings to ensure that they are correctly set.<ref name="rf6">http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-eds-shed-how-restring-acoustic-guitar#slide-9</ref> |
| − | #Tune your guitar. Most beginners will need to tune their strings several times with a tuning machine. Consult your local music shop if you are having difficulty using a tuning machine.<ref | + | #Tune your guitar. Most beginners will need to tune their strings several times with a tuning machine. Consult your local music shop if you are having difficulty using a tuning machine.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#Cut any excess string using wire cutters. Loose wire can be dangerous and make it difficult to play your guitar. Cut any excess wire to ensure easy hand movement. | #Cut any excess string using wire cutters. Loose wire can be dangerous and make it difficult to play your guitar. Cut any excess wire to ensure easy hand movement. | ||
