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Chapter 16: Changing Strings
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benefit: a notch in the cup that allows for quick extraction of stubborn
bridge pins. Just be careful not to catapult a pin into the abyss!
Needle-nose pliers/wire cutters: Use these tools for getting the old
string off more than for getting the new strings on. These tools come in
handy when you need to dispatch the old string in a hurry and the
tightly wound ends resist quick removal. You just snip the coils in one or
two places, and the old string falls away.
Phillips and flathead screwdrivers (electric only): Electric guitars are
mechanical contraptions made of wood and wire and are put together
with screws. Many of the adjustments you make to a guitar require tightening
or loosening metal fasteners, so pack a couple of screwdrivers
that fit the screw heads found on your particular instrument.
Figure 16-1:
Three tools
that make
stringchanging
and
adjustments
a cinch.
Removing Old Strings
You can take all the strings off at once, but a better way is to replace one
string at a time. This way, the old strings keep tension on the neck, which
makes tuning the new string easier. If you’re changing strings on an electric
guitar and you have a floating bridge (balanced with springs to allow movement
by the vibrato bar), the instrument is even harder to tune with all the
strings removed.
However, one reason to take all the strings off before putting on the new ones
is if you’re going to make any adjustments to the neck or bridge. It’s sometimes
easier to make adjustments with the strings off the guitar.
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