Guitarists: Do you change your own strings?

[Mike 03]

I do it, but I hate doing it, and I always break strings, or cut myself, or the strings are so tight and I'm afraid of breaking them that it takes days to tune up when I want to do it in one day.

The time has come that I need to change the strings on my guitar, and I'm torn between paying someone to do it or trying to do it myself.

Playing guitar is my escape now. I don't really want to go too many days without my guitar while some shop is stringing it up.

What am I doing wrong, that putting new strings on a guitar is such a disaster for me?

Any sites you can rec, for good advice about how to:

Put new strings on without:

Breaking them when you tune up.
Cutting yourself when you handle the strings.
Being able to put on new strings and play the guitar in the same day or so, rather than waiting a week to "gradually" turn the tuners higher?

ON EDIT:

Of course, there is one benefit I can attest to for slowly tuning up: You can play a lot of great CDs that are tuned down a step or a half step.

[rocktivity]

1. Do you use a string winder?

They're inexpensive and really help speed up the process.

Also, don't wind the strings so tightly that they break. You should wind enough string around the peg so you can loosen and tighten easily. Each string should be stretched--just lift it--before it's tuned. And loosen all the strings when you're done playing for the day.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Mike 03]

3. Yes, I have one of those!

I need to learn to use it better, because I always screw it up.

The worst sound in the world is the sound of a new string breaking...

Is there a worse sound than that, other than yelling because the point of a string has nearly puctured your eye?



:headbang:

[rocktivity]

4. When removing old strings, ALWAYS loosen them COMPLETELY

before you cut them.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Mike 03]

8. That's good advice. I always cut them.

Thanks.

[MorningGlow]

2. I've always changed my own

Been doing it since I was a teen. Wouldn't dream of having someone else do it.

Not sure what exact issues you're having...but if I had to guess, I'd suggest giving the strings a lot of slack so they don't snap when you start winding the pegs (five or six times around is not unusual). Also don't cut them till you've got them strung AND tuned properly. (I will admit to using an electronic tuner so I didn't end up fucking around with the tuning too much--I was lousy at it, by ear.) Then I cut the string pretty close to the pegs so there were no sharp edges sticking out too far. Would that help? :hi:

[Mike 03]

9. Thank you. I will definitely take all the advice I get here.

I thought I was being so careful in terms of stretching the strings, rolling them slowly, but I'm no expert, so I am deferring to others.

All of this advice is very much appreciated.

This is one thread I will be printing out. There is so much good advice here.

Thank you.

[Twillig]

5. I change one string at a time

it makes everything simpler and not as daunting, especially on my floyd rose bridge guitars.

I don't understand why your breaking strings just bringing the strings to tension. Strings have some give to them.

Here's a video of Guitar Superstar Paul Gilbert instructing how to change a string. Hope it helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohP42WAdNUw

[Mike 03]

10. Well, I feel stupid saying this, but YES, ever time I have tried to replace the strings myself on my

electric, they break. Every single time.

[Gabi Hayes]

6. only my G string....

whether it needs it or not

[Roon]

7. I saw roger waters break a string once just as the concert started

a rhodie ran up and gave him a new string and he put it on while he was singing.

[mitchum]

11. I let the neighbor kid do it for me after he has mown my lawn and walked my dog...

I can't believe he actually thinks I'm Jimmy Page. My English accent is pretty terrible.

[ghostsofgiants]

12. Sure do. Which reminds me, I could use a new set.