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Post by earwighoney on Apr 2, 2015 13:01:41 GMT
Ok, it's not the most exciting 'New [insert purchase] Day' but there's something quite pleasing about purchasing a significant stock of guitar strings for the next few months or so.
I'm sure the satisfaction will pass the moment I am forced to restring; it's something I generally don't take much pleasure in doing...
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Apr 2, 2015 14:49:01 GMT
No, not the most pleasurable thing, earwighoney, but it's got to be done (every two years or so... )
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Riverman
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Post by Riverman on Apr 2, 2015 15:15:10 GMT
Every two years? What, whether they need it or not?
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Apr 2, 2015 15:30:37 GMT
I must therefore be some sort of masochist because, although actually changing them is not a joy in itself, I love giving the old 6-ers a loving clean strings-off, and the anticipation of the sound of new strings is something which makes it overall a pleasure.(I'm also retired so no need to worry about the time it takes (which isn't that long)).
Now changing the 12-er is a bit more of a chore!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Apr 2, 2015 17:23:04 GMT
I thoroughly enjoy changing strings on my 6 string guitars, including slothead. Very relaxing, and like FFJ I give the guitar a bit of a clean (hurrrr and a cloth that is) though only every two or three changes. Tend to change every month or so on often-used instruments.
Detest changing strings on my 12 string, my mandolin and my octave mandolin - I put it off as long as possible - maybe shortly before Halifax. And although uke strings are very quick and easy to change, they take ages to settle down so I put that off as long as possible - current set on my tenor, which I use a lot, has been on 18 months now.
Keith
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Post by earwighoney on Apr 2, 2015 22:13:37 GMT
Restringing a 12 string is as appealing as a visit to the dentist (sorry Keith). Restringing a nylon string is like updating an expenditure spreadsheet with several numerical keys not working. 6 string acoustics and electrics are relatively painless, akin to a trip to the supermarket on a Saturday afternoon; a few hurdles in the way but with the prospect of a few treats in sight.
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Post by grayn on Apr 3, 2015 6:03:56 GMT
The only thing that bugs me about changing strings on an acoustic, is when the bridge pins don't stay in. I recently put some Elixirs on my new twelver and despite them only being plastic, every one behaved perfectly. I've had ebony pins and rosewood pins that rose up, when the strings got tightened up. I guess even plastic can be a blessing.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Apr 3, 2015 9:00:50 GMT
Restringing a 12 string is as appealing as a visit to the dentist (sorry Keith). Restringing a nylon string is like updating an expenditure spreadsheet with several numerical keys not working. 6 string acoustics and electrics are relatively painless, akin to a trip to the supermarket on a Saturday afternoon; a few hurdles in the way but with the prospect of a few treats in sight. Why do people keep talking about DENTISTS when I've just had, on Tuesday, a wisdom tooth pulled out by a dentist using a trowel and a JCB; took him about half an hour; held up the damned tooth like the Jules Rimet trophy claiming 'the biggest roots he'd ever seen'; then it got infected and suffered another visit yesterday where he cleaned out the area with a blow torch and concentrated sulphuric acid; off on holiday in 2 days to an all-inclusive and can't open my damned mouth very far; can't drink alcohol for a week (free!) because of the horse pills he's given me; can't exercise because I'd trip over the mouth ulcers I've got.
Good, that feels better already!!!
Fat Lip John
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missclarktree
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Post by missclarktree on Apr 3, 2015 10:47:41 GMT
Sounds like fun. A bit like the 2.75 hour ordeal I've just been through having temporary crowns put in. Now I can't talk properly on account of the full size plastic model of the Great Barrier Reef in the mouth. The day after my visit to the dentist I did something to the back of my throat. Whether the food was too scratchy or too hot I'm not sure, but a massive blood blister came up. A week later it's still sore, as is the bit under my nose where the injections went in. It's lucky that guitar strings have been invented to take one's mind off things. earwighoney if you think about your teeth whilst re-stringing it might take your mind off it.
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Apr 3, 2015 11:00:12 GMT
I do a fair bit of re-stringing as you'd imagine, everyone in the area that owns a guitar tends to drop in and let me restring their guitar for them, I do prefer re-stringing slotheads , maybe because I do more.
12 string guitars are a doddle, just try restringing a 10 course lute, (that's 19 strings) and all in gut. Then of course, when you do re-string one, you have to re-tie new gut frets.
Colin
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Post by creamburmese on Apr 3, 2015 15:09:36 GMT
Well I was almost acclimated to changing the nylon strings on my classical (which after all, don't need to be changed so often as the steel strings) when a kind luthier pointed out to me what all the extra holes in the bridge are meant for. (I thought someone had decided to move the strings at one time and drilled an extra set of holes). Nope - special stringing pattern. Now in addition to getting myself all tangled up in knots at the headstock I have to thread each string through 2 scarcely visible holes then melt the ends of the all-nylon ones in case they come loose and decide to hit me in the eye. I've been putting that string changing off..... and off.....
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colins
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Post by colins on Apr 3, 2015 15:36:02 GMT
Well I was almost acclimated to changing the nylon strings on my classical (which after all, don't need to be changed so often as the steel strings) when a kind luthier pointed out to me what all the extra holes in the bridge are meant for. (I thought someone had decided to move the strings at one time and drilled an extra set of holes). Nope - special stringing pattern. Now in addition to getting myself all tangled up in knots at the headstock I have to thread each string through 2 scarcely visible holes then melt the ends of the all-nylon ones in case they come loose and decide to hit me in the eye. I've been putting that string changing off..... and off..... Do you have the 12 or 18 hole bridge? I use an 18 hole bridge on all of the 'classicals' I make. I believe they are easier to string up than the old 6 hole bridge. Colin
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Post by earwighoney on Apr 3, 2015 15:56:10 GMT
I do a fair bit of re-stringing as you'd imagine, everyone in the area that owns a guitar tends to drop in and let me restring their guitar for them, I do prefer re-stringing slotheads , maybe because I do more. 12 string guitars are a doddle, just try restringing a 10 course lute, (that's 19 strings) and all in gut. Then of course, when you do re-string one, you have to re-tie new gut frets. Colin What are the ebony/rosewood pegs like in usage? I've come across a few pegged guitars before which were very tricky to tune. What do you mean by 're-tie gut frets'?
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Apr 3, 2015 16:30:31 GMT
Or you can do it like this ........
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Apr 3, 2015 18:41:40 GMT
Probably against my better judgement I've been persuaded by my dentist to see a peridontist. I have a feeling it's going to be as much fun as changing the strings on a piano.
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