Changing Strings Joy or Chore?

maltingsaudio · September 2023

Bit busy at the moment but have a gig on saturday and strings needed changing on the Silhouette (meant to have it done by tuesday!) so found quarter of an hour last night to do the job.

But it got me thinking, when you change strings do you find a quiet place and enjoy the journey ( which I do like to do if possible) or is it get the job done as quick as possible and move on.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

I quite like it. In fact I quite like doing most types of work on a guitar. Rewiring semis is probably the one exception...!

Sassafras · September 2023

I try to find pleasure in everything I do.
I'm very "zen" like that.

RaymondLin · September 2023

I don't mind it, providing i am not doing multiple at once.

I put on a movie and do it in front of the TV in the afternoon.

CasperCaster · September 2023

Definitely a chore, but one that's appreciated once it's done, because I like the feel of fresh strings.

octatonic · September 2023

If it is a sensible bridge then I don't mind.
Floyd Rose can fuck off though.

jasonbone75 · September 2023

I hate it. Always have. had to do it last night and will do again tonight and my soul is missing tiny little chinks with every change. I should have a tech

Chris.B · September 2023

I really enjoy it, a good chance to clean the fret board and around the pickups etc. There's something quite satisfying seeing neatly wound strings on the tuners - it has to be 1 over and 2 under - or is it just me?

Fishboy7 · September 2023

octatonic said:

If it is a sensible bridge then I don't mind.
Floyd Rose can fuck off though.

as can Bigsbys

Tannin · September 2023

I quite like it. It can be a bit tedious sometimes but mostly I just relax and take the time to clean and polish as I go, and then there is always the excitement of trying out the new ones to come.

(I am three parts though the self-appointed task of trying out at least one set of every acoustic string I can get my hands on. So far I have tried 62 different sets with 14 new untried ones here waiting their turn and an estimated couple of dozen not yet ordered.It's fun! Not as much fun as having a new guitar, but the next best thing.)

soma1975 · September 2023

I like doing it.

Don't like the added pressure of fitting nickel roundwounds and having to crimp them properly but still...

thecolourbox · September 2023

It's an absolute chore for me definitely, especially on acoustic because the nut inevitably falls off, the pins at the other end are annoying to remove, and that awful tuning up pitch noise is triggering to me (much louder on acoustic than electric). I don't even like the sound of new strings, I tend to prefer them after a couple of weeks or so. I also don't like the constant feeling that the higher strings are going to pertoinnnng and break while I'm tuning up so I have to sit slightly side on and look back like i'm looking at some high school magnesium reaction and I don't want to look at it straight on.

As such I rarely change my strings until I absolutely have to, but I don't sit there for hours on end playing so although every 6 months might sound a bit long, in playing time it's probably not that different to others who play more often

Voxman · September 2023

Bit of both really but it's not something I rush (unless it's just changing a broken string). On the one hand changing strings is physically a bit of a chore and takes up time, but on the other hand its kind of cathartic, therapeutic and even ritualistic that further 'connects' me to the guitar. This is because I never 'just' change the strings; I clean the fretboard, stretch the strings in, cut the ends off and bend down the protruding bit from the tuner so it doesn't catch my fingers, I check & adjust the intonation, action, truss rod if necessary, and tune up and give the guitar and neck a general wipe down - kind of like servicing a car. And when its done you have your guitar back up to 'peak performance' as it were, and its always nice to hear that brighter tone and have that new strings feel.

Thereafter I always try to keep my strings in good shape by wiping them down, especially under the string, after every use and also periodically using Fast Fret, particularly after gigging, as it keeps them brighter and feeling smoother for longer. When gigging I'll change strings more frequently not just for tone, but to mitigate the chances of string breaks, although I'll always take a back-up guitar.

drofluf · September 2023

I don't mind although a 12 string with a slotted headstock tests my patience somewhat.

imalrightjack · September 2023

Locking tuners - fine.

Non-locking always results in frustration and pricked fingers. Every bastard time. For some reason, I can’t get it right - and I’ve been doing it for over 30 years.

Tannin · September 2023

drofluf said:

I don't mind although a 12 string with a slotted headstock tests my patience somewhat.

A 12 string with a slotted headstock was my main guitar for over 20 years.

I'm still having therapy.

GoFish · September 2023

I find it tougher and much more annoying now my vision is worse. Glasses certainly help but having a fixed focus point is tricky for me - it's not like reading. This has meant that I now go longer between changes but I do get to play all my guitars before starting over...

axisus · September 2023

It's a bit of a chore (although I don't hate it), plus I don't like zingy new strings, I like old worn in ones. I rarely swap a whole set though, I just replace the one that breaks!

crunchman · September 2023

thecolourbox said:

It's an absolute chore for me definitely, especially on acoustic because the nut inevitably falls off, the pins at the other end are annoying to remove, and that awful tuning up pitch noise is triggering to me (much louder on acoustic than electric). I don't even like the sound of new strings, I tend to prefer them after a couple of weeks or so. I also don't like the constant feeling that the higher strings are going to pertoinnnng and break while I'm tuning up so I have to sit slightly side on and look back like i'm looking at some high school magnesium reaction and I don't want to look at it straight on.

As such I rarely change my strings until I absolutely have to, but I don't sit there for hours on end playing so although every 6 months might sound a bit long, in playing time it's probably not that different to others who play more often

The nut shouldn't fall off.

Tune-o-matic style bridges falling off on electrics can be a problem.

Unless I want to clean and oil the fretboard, I change one string at a time, then nothing falls off anyway.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

crunchman said:

thecolourbox said:

It's an absolute chore for me definitely, especially on acoustic because the nut inevitably falls off...

The nut shouldn't fall off.

Yup, You want one (literally 1!) drop of this:

Image: https://media.algurgstationery.com/catalog/product/cache/c6dc77b8a7a307a66ec6605862e404f4/3/7/37tm035-1_3.jpg

Roland · September 2023

I quite like changing strings. It’s just one part of looking after my guitar. It takes less than two minutes. If I’ve got more time I’ll check the action and intonation too.

DoctorX · September 2023

I used to quite enjoy it years ago but it’s definitely a chore now. I’m another one who prefers strings once worn in a bit, I think it must be over a year since I last changed any (probably 2 years on some of them).

Kilgore · September 2023

Chore. I've got a slotted headstock acoustic that's in dire need of a string change. I keep putting it off.

beed84 · September 2023

A bit of both. Electric is pretty straightforward but restringing a classical can be a pain. However, both can be quite rewarding when I’ve done a tidy job, especially the latter. The prospect of playing fresh strings can make it more of a joy too.

bluecat · September 2023

When I was gigging regularly in the early seventies I used to change my strings on a weekly basis giving time for them to stretch in before my next gig.
Strings were a lot cheaper then but I guess everything is relative, I just loved the sound and feel of new strings. No I never considered it a chore.

flying_pie · September 2023

I enjoy it. It's not a chore unless my life is so hectic that I'd rather not use the 20-30 minutes doing it, but that's rare.

I'll often get my young children to join in as they like helping, although their interest has usually disappeared after 3 or 4 strings

Sassafras · September 2023

Roland said:

I quite like changing strings. It’s just one part of looking after my guitar. It takes less than two minutes. If I’ve got more time I’ll check the action and intonation too.

For a full set of strings?
Are you Steve Austin?

Tannin · September 2023

flying_pie said:
I'll often get my young children's to join in as they like helping

Do you have shares in the companies which sell bandages and disinfectants then?

CampbellH · September 2023

Now that I have found 'my' technique for fitting strings I fall into an auto-zone and get it done with a calmness I never knew I had. I get them just overtuned and leave them sit, usually over night, and then tune in the morning and all is good in the world.

flying_pie · September 2023

Tannin said:

flying_pie said:
I'll often get my young children to join in as they like helping

Do you have shares in the companies which sell bandages and disinfectants then?

No need. They've got enough callouses on their remaining fingers

Tannin · September 2023

DoctorX said:

I used to quite enjoy it years ago but it’s definitely a chore now. I’m another one who prefers strings once worn in a bit, I think it must be over a year since I last changed any (probably 2 years on some of them).

Um ... that's not "a bit". That's A LOT!

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Changing Strings Joy or Chore?

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