Just got a set of EB Beefy Slinkies in the mail to replace the stock strings on my electric. I've never changed strings before and evidently I fucked up. After doing everything in Cyberfret.com's guide I still didn't manage to do it right... I had already made the first string wrap above the hole in the post, and 2 other wraps underneath. I started tuning it up and then pop... the apparently indestructable 6th string broke inside the hole of the post.

What was I doing wrong? Was I pulling on the end of the string too much? If I let go of it it would just coil up into a mess around the post. Just ordered another pack cause they don't sell single 54 guage strings... but I still don't understand how to change strings correctly. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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read another tutorial super carefully next time. It's really not hard at all once you figure it out.

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Before the new strings arrive, should I tighten the other strings up just to compensate for the lack of that string's tension? I don't want my neck to bow on me...

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do u have a tremolo??

did u put on al the strings and then tighten them??
or did u put 1 string on and starting to tune it up??

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I only changed the 6th string and tried to tune it up. No it's a string-through with a fixed tune-o-matic style bridge.

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i restring like this:

i take off all the string (i usualy clean and oil the fretboard when im goan restring so)

then put em all on (the new ones)
and then tight them, but all at a time, i mean, dont tight 1 string to much.

and ur neck wont bend that fast, ive left my guitar string less for a few days and the neck was still set the same, so dont worry bout that.

also, put the string through the hole, and while tightening, make sure the end goes under neat the string once, and then wind up under the the string hole in the tuning thingy. (dunno if thast makes sence to ya)

did u pull the string tight when winding it up??, maybe that broke it.
man i suck at explaining but this is the best i can

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Pick up the August 2005 issue of Guitar World with Tom Morello on the cover, they have a string changing tutorials in it.

i was awful at string changing but i read a tutorial about how to restring acoustic guitars and applied it to electric guitars and now everything is fine.

I would reccommend what K13M says by cleaning the fretboard etc. I always start with the lowest strings. Put the string through the whole (with a little slack) and then bend it the string right. Then tune up to the note you are looking for. Normally takes about 3 revolutions around the nut to get it into the tune. Snip off the remaining bit of string with wire cutters. Then repeat for all 6 strings. This way the strings get slowly tighter and so there is less strain on the neck. I used to have a huge problem with my strings just unwinding while playing (i used to just hold the strings tight and wind the nut until it was in tune. this meant after about half a revolution it was in tune and was loose). I will find the link if it is helpful but i am wasted at the moment and cannot be bothered to look

i should mention i tune each string before re stringing and bend and play it a lot to make sure its ok.

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What is this? All my wraps (and if memory serves me right, all I have seen) are below the hole. That wrap on top probably cut the string.

methodlessman - that is a good article. It shortened the time it takes for me to restring. The worst part of the article was the microscopic pictures of the most critical part (loop and lock).

ACF - is this the site you were referring to?
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/stringing.htm

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[QUOTE=Donzi]What is this? All my wraps (and if memory serves me right, all I have seen) are below the hole. That wrap on top probably cut the string.[QUOTE]the wrap on top of the whole if kinda to make sure the string stays in place nice, its not necesary but i personaly think its nicer, and ive been told its better (dont ask em y) u kinda lock the string from moving or sutim

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at my local guitar store they have a shit load of lose strings, from 26 plains to 56 wound, all kinds of. have u asked at ur local store??

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not the one i looked at but pretty much the exact same technique

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Yeah. Looking at a Floyd two years ago, I was shocked at how much you had to do. Then I realized that its not bad at all, and really just sort of easy.

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I would have thought that it would increase the chances of cutting the string. Like I said, I’ve just never see it before – until now. I was searching the net when I found this site.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/f...ons/lesson2.htm

Look at the picture under the third bullet – a wind with the first one on top.

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Ok, next time I'll follow the guide in that page someone just mentioned. But I'm still confused. I don't know what to do after step 4...

There's 1 wrap below the hole, do I now have to wrap above the hole in a counter-clockwise manner? (see attached pic) Or do I have to slip it below a counter-clockwise manner?

I'd like to see a better description of how to do it. Maybe someone would be kind enough to record a video of him doing it. Tried searching for some videos for changing strings on eMule but all I could find was porn.

Attached Images

step-4.jpg (3.2 KB, 79 views)

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here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...01/untitled.jpg

i made a quick tutorial.
its a fairly simple method i use, im sure its widely used

should help you out, its fairly basic and easy to understand.

haha wtf? Its not rocket science changing strings, especialy on a tune-o-matic bridge should not give you problems, for a lot of people, it is natural. Yeah, I suck, I can't give you any real advice. How old is the fucking 'tar annyway if the strings are stock? You should replace strings best each 2 weeks, once every month at least.
Just try shut out, and if you fuck up, just buy a new string. It shouldn't cost you more than a dollar!

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The guitar is brand new and so were the strings. I appreciate the tutorial someone made, but it only served to confuse me even more. I've read about 4 different guides and I still don't grasp the main procedure well... I mean I know what's being done, I just don't know how to wrap it so it wont uncoil into a fuckin mess. Excuse me for me retartedness.

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Do you have a guitar shop near you? Or know anyone who plays?

I know trying to learn off the net is fucking confusing most of the time. You need to be shown how to do it and you will pick it up straight away.

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Heh lol, I've been trying to call the only mate that plays but he's on vacation. There is no guitar shop in my area and using public transport to get to one is more expensive than a set o' string lol. I guess I'm on my own...

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ok, heres the key:

YOU dont wrap the string around the machinehead

the MACHINEHEADS do that

so just thread it through the hole (dont wrap it around the machinehead with your hands) and turn the tuning peg.
thats all.

if the "excess string" keeps sliping outta of the hole in the machinehead then just hold on to it whilst turning

thats all

Heres how I do it.

1. Thread string through bridge.
2. Thread it through the hole in the machine head and pull it tight.
3. Now give the string about 2-3 cm of slack (thats an inch). This will give you about 3 coils.
4. Now, like user01 pointed out, turn the machine head and the string will wrap around it.

Ok now I understand. I took some lower guage string for the 6th just to practice before the other set arrives. Thing is, when I let the machinehead wrap the string around itself, I barely got more than one coil. So I clipped the end but I still can't get it to look neat...

You're saying to leave 1 inch of slack in the area between the nut and bridge right? I assume this helps in getting more wraps around the machinehead before it's actually tuned?

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yep thats right

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Thank all of yaz for putting up with my stupitidy. I thought there was some sort of trick to this but I guess not.

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I don't know if you alread are aware of this, because it is kinda obvious, but you don't have to wrap the whole string around your machine head.Let it coil for a bit, then cut the excess string. Don't cut it too short tough, and make sure the strings are already in a good tension.

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Yeah, I just wanted enough of it to coil so it won't suddenly slip out or something, and so it looks tighter/neater.

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i guess the only was to teach someone how to string their guitar is by physically showing them