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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

How long do you take to change a set of strings on your guitar

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CoolCatCoolCat Frets: 158
edited November 2022 in Acoustics
Personally, I like to take my time, enjoying the process whilst drinking a beer or two.

Saw this video on Youtube - a set of strings changed in 2.08 minutes and tuned to concert pitch!

How Fast Can Rob Change a Set of Strings on a Taylor Guitar? - YouTube
'Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend' - Lennon & McCartney (We can work it out).
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3178
    Since I've had locking tuners on most of my guitars, pretty quickly and even at a gig
    Feedback - http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57885/
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  • TanninTannin Frets: 4394
    Never timed it. 10 minutes, maybe? I take my time and use the opportunity to clean and polish, do any other little jobs.
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  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    What @Tannin said.

    Take your time. It's a great opportunity for a wipedown, maybe some Fast Fret on the board,*then* put your new strings on.

    Going AFAP? The good Lord alone knows. But I never do that, I like to take my time.

    :) 
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  • stufisherstufisher Frets: 612
    @Tannin is on the money :+1: 
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  • dindudedindude Frets: 8409
    It seems to take me longer on a Gibson type rather than a a fender type. Have to stop and think about the wind direction on the lower strings, can’t lay the guitar flat due to the back angled headstock, either taping the stop tail bridge or correcting for movement afterwards. Fenders I can do in minutes but do take the opportunity to feed the fretboard and polish.
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  • BillDLBillDL Frets: 5615
    About 4 days for a classical, but that includes 3 hours to remember how to tie them off at the bridge, and another 3 days and 20 hours for the strings to eventually stay at pitch.

    i don't like to blow my own trumpet too much, but I can restring a Fender style in about 4 minutes:


    restring.jpg 78.4K
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  • Danny1969Danny1969 Frets: 9752
    The quickest I can change and be ready to gig is on a guitar with a double locking trem. When I was in a band doing 4 gigs a week I used to change the strings after soundcheck, before the first set. 
    On a standard Fender these days I reckon maybe 15, 20 minutes typically but if I wasn't watching telly at the same time probably no more than 10 minutes. 

    www.2020studios.co.uk 
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  • RocknRollDaveRocknRollDave Frets: 6075
    As quick as I can, given that it’s a job I have grown less and less fond of as the years have gone on.

    10, 15 mins? 


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  • bertiebertie Frets: 12145
    "Locking tuners"   "double locking trem"  


    these are some werid fucking acoustics I can tell you
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    I haven't timed it on an acoustic, but I did time (and video) doing a Bigsby-equipped guitar once when someone said it couldn't be done quickly or easily... five and a half minutes.

    I normally like to clean the guitar as well when the strings are off so it's not really a time-able thing.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • blobbblobb Frets: 2600
    From the moment I have a pack of strings in one hand and guitar in the other: about 10 minutes.
    From the moment I think 'I really need to change these strings' to having new strings on: about 4 months and 10 minutes.
    Feelin' Reelin' & Squeelin'
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  • MusicwolfMusicwolf Frets: 3376
    On an electric with locking tuners it’s less than 10 minutes.  On an acoustic, I couldn’t tell you.  I’ve only be playing for about 45 years, so I’ve not felt the need to change strings yet.
    https://www.starbelly.me/


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  • DavidRDavidR Frets: 595
    About 10 mins. Longer if I give instrument a bit of a clean.
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  • Benm39Benm39 Frets: 606
    About 9 months... 

    A few minutes playing before I think "hmmm? Maybe get some new strings on this?"

    A few weeks to then read every forum post on every string type,  tension, material etc

    Another few weeks to find a stockist who actually supplies said unicorn hairs

    Add link to Birthday/ Xmas list


    Wait expectantly for said Birthday/ Xmas

    Open presents only to find some other random shit


    Find link to original supplier to buy them myself

    See they're completely out of stock

    Buy new guitar

    Wait for new guitar to arrive.... and when it does...

    Play for a few minutes and think "hmmm? Maybe some new strings....


    ...

    Go back to playing piano...

    Play for a few mins...


    Phone piano tuner. 
    Trading feedback is here https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/196513/benm39
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  • KittyfriskKittyfrisk Frets: 16332
    Usually takes me longer to stop the bleeding, find the right size elastoplasts & put the bloodstained clothes into the washing machine ...
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  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    edited November 2022
    Just timed it. 

    11mins  to  restring and tune to pitch. That's as fast as I can do it and I hated it, so back to how I've always done it. 

    There was no time to  pencil the nut slots, clean, polish, check all is well, all the things I  enjoy. 

     
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  • BigPaulieBigPaulie Frets: 733
    Yeah, like others have said, 10 mins or so.

    Not the kind of process I consider enjoyable or that I could tease a beer or two from.

    It would just spoil my enjoyment of the beers.

    You're a masochist?
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  • slackerslacker Frets: 2093
    It varies
    Strat with locking tuners very quick
    LP probably 5 minutes but longer when I put the bridge on backwards
    Archtop about 5 minutes 
    Gretsch first time about 20 minutes and most of it taken finding the right tools. Settled on my blue handle long nosed pliers to get the pre bend right. Easier now.
    Ric took ages to do it the first time. Did the person who designed this set up go on to do a bigsby?  My method is to pull the string up with my right hand whilst  turning the key.
    Acoustics easy
    Nylon don't have one but string them one at a time so you have a pattern for that wiggly knot.

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  • droflufdrofluf Frets: 3144
    bertie said:
    "Locking tuners"   "double locking trem"  


    these are some werid fucking acoustics I can tell you
    My Furch has locking tuners makes it really fast to restring. For regular tuners about 10 minutes if I have an electric winder, a little longer for the sloth heads. But I usually take my time, clean the fretboard and hard to reach places. 
    Trading feedback thread:https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/172761/drofluf
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 12145
    drofluf said:
    My Furch has locking tuners makes it really fast to restring. . 
    and to assist them staying in place when you pack it down I assume :) 
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • droflufdrofluf Frets: 3144
    bertie said:
    drofluf said:
    My Furch has locking tuners makes it really fast to restring. . 
    and to assist them staying in place when you pack it down I assume :) 
    Spot on!
    Trading feedback thread:https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/172761/drofluf
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  • LestratcasterLestratcaster Frets: 1024
    Depends which guitar it is but usually about 15-20 minutes, longer if the fretboard needs a clean.
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  • streethawkstreethawk Frets: 1628
    CoolCat said:
    Personally, I like to take my time, enjoying the process whilst drinking a beer or two.

    Saw this video on Youtube - a set of strings changed in 2.08 minutes and tuned to concert pitch!

    How Fast Can Rob Change a Set of Strings on a Taylor Guitar? - YouTube
    IIRC Taylor recommend the very simple stringing method that I was taught as a kid.
    I find doing the knot wrapping thing more time consuming. Always forget how to do it.  :s

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  • BowynMadleyBowynMadley Frets: 146
    Depending on which guitar I'm restringing I'd say 15 minutes.  However every 3 or 4 sets I'll clean and condition the fingerboard (montys stuff is ace) and run some micrmesh over the frets. Even then it's sub an hour
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  • hollywoodroxhollywoodrox Frets: 3605
    It’s my least favourite job , I’m absolutely kak handed at it , especially the high strings 
      It’s ok on most of my guitars which are locking tuners or double locking .
      But . . On the other it’s a pain in the ass . I’ve got worse with having not to do it 
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  • TeetonetalTeetonetal Frets: 7708
    Depends. 

    If for some reason I have to change all strings and that's it, then it takes about 5 mins. 

    But normally if I'm going to all the bother of changing all the strings, then I'm going to use the opportunity to do some other stuff for the guitar. Such as a good clean and oil.

    These days with gigs being few and far between, I generally change strings the week before a gig.


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  • fastonebazfastonebaz Frets: 3775
    I change mine every couple of gigs. I like to take my time given the guitar a lovely clean, light fret polish and check setup. I like to think my guitars are always in tip top condition and playability. So prolly about 1.5 hrs, but I do it in front of the telly and enjoy it.  
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  • usedtobeusedtobe Frets: 3841
    CoolCat said:
    Personally, I like to take my time, enjoying the process whilst drinking a beer or two.

    Saw this video on Youtube - a set of strings changed in 2.08 minutes and tuned to concert pitch!

    How Fast Can Rob Change a Set of Strings on a Taylor Guitar? - YouTube
    I like to take my time over it, too, but two beers?? Do you drink really fast, or change strings very slowly..?
     so if you fancy a reissue of a guitar they never made in a colour they never used then it probably isn't too overpriced.

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  • tomjaxtomjax Frets: 59
    It used to take me about 10mins on an acoustic, but now with the joys of aging eyesight it takes me about 5mins just to find each tuner hole and thread the string!!!
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  • CoolCatCoolCat Frets: 158
    edited November 2022
    usedtobe said:
    CoolCat said:
    Personally, I like to take my time, enjoying the process whilst drinking a beer or two.

    Saw this video on Youtube - a set of strings changed in 2.08 minutes and tuned to concert pitch!

    How Fast Can Rob Change a Set of Strings on a Taylor Guitar? - YouTube
    I like to take my time over it, too, but two beers?? Do you drink really fast or change strings very slowly..?
    Ha ha, I'm not that fast a drinker. I take my time and, as others have mentioned, I too spend it on cleaning and polishing. I have a second guitar, an old classical, which I sort out at the same time.
    'Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend' - Lennon & McCartney (We can work it out).
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