The dreaded string change

ancient1
Elite Member

Posts: 817
Playing guitar since: late 50's....always a beginner

The dreaded string change Feb 14, 2023 17:24:43 GMT -5 via mobile Derick likes this

Quote

Post by ancient1 on Feb 14, 2023 17:24:43 GMT -5

Before:https://i.imgur.com/kFUd8vw.jpg

After: i.imgur.com/KbvyuG2.jpg

Neck relief- .005"
Strings at nut - .012 to .015"
Action at 12th fret - low E, 5.5/64th ~ .080"
High E - 4/64ths, 1/8th", ~ .065"

i.imgur.com/kFUd8vw.jpg

Last Edit: Feb 14, 2023 17:27:21 GMT -5 by ancient1: show picture

Seagulls live 40 + years....so should our guitars

Derick
The Mostest Bestest Member

Posts: 7,595

Location: Staffordshire UK
Playing guitar since: Way back yonder.

The dreaded string change Feb 14, 2023 18:47:56 GMT -5 Garland likes this

Quote

Post by Derick on Feb 14, 2023 18:47:56 GMT -5

ancient1,

Nice looking guitar.

So you use just a few tools.

Faith Mercury, Parlour Guitar.
Tanglewood TW40 Sundance Historic, 12 freter. Solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides.
Takamine GY93E-Nat, Parlour Guitar, solid Spruce top.
Epiphone ES339, semi acoustic Electric guitar,
Fender Mex Stratocaster, White with Maple neck.
PRS se Custom, 24 fret, Mahogany back with Maple cap.
Tanglewood TW 45 Re Sundance Reserve, All solid wood, Cedar Top,Mahogany back and sides.

ancient1 Elite Member Posts: 817 Playing guitar since: late 50's....always a beginner	The dreaded string change Feb 14, 2023 19:09:36 GMT -5 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by ancient1 on Feb 14, 2023 19:09:36 GMT -5 Lol, just a few. Since I only do it about once a year it gets the full treatment
	Seagulls live 40 + years....so should our guitars

Garland The Mostest Bestest Member Posts: 4,661 AKA: Gdjjr Thistime Location: Texas! Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on	The dreaded string change Feb 14, 2023 19:23:14 GMT -5 ancient1 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Garland on Feb 14, 2023 19:23:14 GMT -5 ancient1, Derick, I have to add to your list, the tools I use, baby channel locks and occasionally needle nose pliers
	Playin at playin guitar- SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME Guild D140 Natural Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son) Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric Lag T118ASCE-BLK Guild D240E A-M-I J45 clone Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

Derick
The Mostest Bestest Member

Posts: 7,595

Location: Staffordshire UK
Playing guitar since: Way back yonder.

The dreaded string change Feb 14, 2023 19:51:09 GMT -5 ancient1 and Garland like this

Quote

Post by Derick on Feb 14, 2023 19:51:09 GMT -5

ancient1,Derick,Garland,

ancient1,

I have to add to your list, 2lb hammer and chisels.

Faith Mercury, Parlour Guitar.
Tanglewood TW40 Sundance Historic, 12 freter. Solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides.
Takamine GY93E-Nat, Parlour Guitar, solid Spruce top.
Epiphone ES339, semi acoustic Electric guitar,
Fender Mex Stratocaster, White with Maple neck.
PRS se Custom, 24 fret, Mahogany back with Maple cap.
Tanglewood TW 45 Re Sundance Reserve, All solid wood, Cedar Top,Mahogany back and sides.

Garland The Mostest Bestest Member Posts: 4,661 AKA: Gdjjr Thistime Location: Texas! Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on	The dreaded string change Feb 14, 2023 20:56:53 GMT -5 Derick and ancient1 like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Garland on Feb 14, 2023 20:56:53 GMT -5 Derick,
	Playin at playin guitar- SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME Guild D140 Natural Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son) Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric Lag T118ASCE-BLK Guild D240E A-M-I J45 clone Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

Derick
The Mostest Bestest Member

Posts: 7,595

Location: Staffordshire UK
Playing guitar since: Way back yonder.

The dreaded string change Feb 15, 2023 5:23:29 GMT -5 CTGull, ancient1, and 1 more like this

Quote

Post by Derick on Feb 15, 2023 5:23:29 GMT -5

ancient1 ,Derick ,Garland ,

I don't mind changing strings, like the twang of new strings.
Don't know how many sets of strings I've ever fitted, perhaps better not to know, but whenever I'm fitting new strings, and trimming the string to length prior to fitting on the tuning pin, and the pliers snap with a loudest cracked, for a milliseconds, I hope I've measured it right.
I know there are other methods of fitting strings but that's the way I've always done it.
I hear some people can change there strings in five minutes, I'm not one, it must take me at least half an hour, I'm in no rush.I

Last Edit: Feb 15, 2023 10:20:14 GMT -5 by Derick

Faith Mercury, Parlour Guitar.
Tanglewood TW40 Sundance Historic, 12 freter. Solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides.
Takamine GY93E-Nat, Parlour Guitar, solid Spruce top.
Epiphone ES339, semi acoustic Electric guitar,
Fender Mex Stratocaster, White with Maple neck.
PRS se Custom, 24 fret, Mahogany back with Maple cap.
Tanglewood TW 45 Re Sundance Reserve, All solid wood, Cedar Top,Mahogany back and sides.

Garland The Mostest Bestest Member Posts: 4,661 AKA: Gdjjr Thistime Location: Texas! Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on	The dreaded string change Feb 15, 2023 9:05:32 GMT -5 Derick and ancient1 like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Garland on Feb 15, 2023 9:05:32 GMT -5 ancient1, Derick, I don't mind changing strings... I kind of enjoy it actually...some days less than others, but enjoy it none-the-less.
	Playin at playin guitar- SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME Guild D140 Natural Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son) Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric Lag T118ASCE-BLK Guild D240E A-M-I J45 clone Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

CTGull
Global Moderator

MOD/ADMIN

Posts: 4,634

Location: Connecticut
Playing guitar since: Early 80's & 2011

The dreaded string change Feb 15, 2023 9:20:05 GMT -5 Derick, ancient1, and 1 more like this

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Post by CTGull on Feb 15, 2023 9:20:05 GMT -5

I have to assume I've done at least 200 string changes in the past 11 years. And I'm sure they should be done more often, but most of my guitars are untouched for months, even years!!

I have MANY more tools!! With the number of nuts & saddles I've made or altered, I have a fixture that holds them, and I measure (with digital calipers or feeler gages) the distance they stick off the end of the fixture, and sand them on a disk sander. It's much quicker and more exact than doing it by hand and guessing.

I leave the strings full length when installing them, EXCEPT when stringing a slot head, since you can't have extra string flopping around in the slot as you tune.

yamahavintagefg.boards.net/
yamahavintagefg.com/

Garland
The Mostest Bestest Member

Posts: 4,661
AKA: Gdjjr Thistime
Location: Texas!
Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on

The dreaded string change Feb 15, 2023 9:37:30 GMT -5 Derick and ancient1 like this

Quote

Post by Garland on Feb 15, 2023 9:37:30 GMT -5

CTGull, a sander for saddles is a tool I wish I had a place for... I do measure them with calipers and use a sketch to record the amount I remove. I use a glass table top and 140 grit sand paper for the task.

Playin at playin guitar-

SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME

Guild D140 Natural
Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White
Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body
Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son)
Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green
Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric
Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric
Lag T118ASCE-BLK
Guild D240E
A-M-I J45 clone
Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

CTGull
Global Moderator

MOD/ADMIN

Posts: 4,634

Location: Connecticut
Playing guitar since: Early 80's & 2011

The dreaded string change Feb 15, 2023 10:27:43 GMT -5 Derick and ancient1 like this

Quote

Post by CTGull on Feb 15, 2023 10:27:43 GMT -5

Feb 15, 2023 9:37:30 GMT -5 Garland said:

CTGull , a sander for saddles is a tool I wish I had a place for... I do measure them with calipers and use a sketch to record the amount I remove. I use a glass table top and 140 grit sand paper for the task.

It's impossible to accurately measure when the top of the nut & saddle are curved. And sanding to a line is inexact. With the fixture I just measure the exposure outside the fixture and sand flush. I started to design a hand sanding fixture, in case I need to accurately sand a nut or saddle outside my shop. I'll add that to the list of future projects to get back to!!

yamahavintagefg.boards.net/
yamahavintagefg.com/

Garland The Mostest Bestest Member Posts: 4,661 AKA: Gdjjr Thistime Location: Texas! Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on	The dreaded string change Feb 15, 2023 16:17:43 GMT -5 Derick likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Garland on Feb 15, 2023 16:17:43 GMT -5 CTGull, true... but, I do mark on the saddle where I take the measurements... and so far I've not had a problem with the action...
	Playin at playin guitar- SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME Guild D140 Natural Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son) Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric Lag T118ASCE-BLK Guild D240E A-M-I J45 clone Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

Garland
The Mostest Bestest Member

Posts: 4,661
AKA: Gdjjr Thistime
Location: Texas!
Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on

The dreaded string change Mar 19, 2023 15:00:34 GMT -5 Derick likes this

Quote

Post by Garland on Mar 19, 2023 15:00:34 GMT -5

ancient1 , Derick , CTGull , put used, new strings on my Luna Folk body today. Martin SP, Pb in 11-52 that were on the D140 that I took off and replaced with Martin Retro's...

I checked all the measurements before I put the new strings on and before I took the old ones off. They were spot on. I also looked real close at the nut grooves and could see they were sharp at the bottom, so, I used me fancy nut files to widen them out and used a mechanical pencil to get graphite into each slot, which I always do... no buzz except for my clumsiness

I also polished the frets. I noticed one had a divit, so I polished them all to the about the 8th fret... then I oiled the fret board and the bridge... then tuned it and started playing it. First time in months! Sounds good for a small body.

Last Edit: Mar 19, 2023 15:02:26 GMT -5 by Garland

Playin at playin guitar-

SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME

Guild D140 Natural
Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White
Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body
Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son)
Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green
Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric
Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric
Lag T118ASCE-BLK
Guild D240E
A-M-I J45 clone
Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

WELCOME TO THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR CABIN!!!

Post by ancient1 on Feb 14, 2023 17:24:43 GMT -5

Post by Derick on Feb 14, 2023 18:47:56 GMT -5

Post by ancient1 on Feb 14, 2023 19:09:36 GMT -5

Post by Garland on Feb 14, 2023 19:23:14 GMT -5

Post by Derick on Feb 14, 2023 19:51:09 GMT -5

Post by Garland on Feb 14, 2023 20:56:53 GMT -5

Post by Derick on Feb 15, 2023 5:23:29 GMT -5

Post by Garland on Feb 15, 2023 9:05:32 GMT -5

Post by CTGull on Feb 15, 2023 9:20:05 GMT -5

Post by Garland on Feb 15, 2023 9:37:30 GMT -5

Post by CTGull on Feb 15, 2023 10:27:43 GMT -5

Post by Garland on Feb 15, 2023 16:17:43 GMT -5

Post by Garland on Mar 19, 2023 15:00:34 GMT -5

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