How to Restring an Acoustic Guitar
After months of intense use, the strings of guitars inevitably oxidize. A few more weeks, and it's the slamming and playing comfort that tarnish. There will always come a time, a breaking point, where the acoustic guitarist will have to change the strings. How to assemble/disassemble strings on an acoustic guitar perfectly? What are the specifics of the installation of the classical guitar compared to its folk counterpart?
When to change your nylon or metal guitar strings?
If you are a regular on the blog, the anatomy of an acoustic guitar, folk, or classical, should no longer have secrets for you. We recommend that you change them when the playing comfort and the sounds of your instrument no longer suit you. An old guitar with new strings will be as pleasant as a new guitar! A moment that we savor over a long month.
In general, the warning signs announcing a change of strings are oxidation (black spots), fraying (in the case of Nylon), and breakage, of course. For you, we have carried out a more in-depth analysis of the causes of wear, we give you an appointment in this article: how to know that it is time to change your guitar strings?
How to Change the Strings of a Folk Acoustic Guitar
We can then get straight to the heart of the matter. The operation of changing guitar strings takes place in 5 steps.
Loosen the strings as much as possible, one by one, starting with the lowest. Relax until it becomes easy to remove it from the associated tuning key.
By placing yourself at the bridge, lift the trigger guard (or ankle) holding the string and remove it from its location.
Once the 6 strings have been removed, provide the 6 new strings and classify them by tone. They may have a colored bolt at the end. Use pliers to remove it and insert the end into the hole left by the trigger guard. Place the dowel there to block the bridge end of the string.
Pass the other end of the string through the corresponding tuning key and start tightening. After a turn and a half, the string will not move anymore and will be fixed. Continue to tighten until you get the right note.
Finally, with the pliers just now, cut the excess string on the tuning key side.
How to Change the Strings of a Classical Guitar
In the case of the dry guitar, the strings being Nylon, the business is somewhat different.
As with the acoustic guitar, loosen the strings starting from the lowest until you can remove it from the associated roller.
On the easel side, exit the bridges, this time, you will have to learn to do with knots! The strings being fixed, they are wrapped around themselves, and the final loop must pass under the bridge of the bridge. Detangle them and remove them carefully.Once the 6 strings have been removed, provide the 6 new strings and classify them by notes. This is where the matter gets complicated. You will have to tie the strings to the bridge of the guitar. Bass strings only have one loop, while treble nylon strings have two, three, or even more, to prevent them from slipping.
Pass the other end of the string through the corresponding tuning roller and start tightening. After a turn and a half, the string will not move anymore and will be fixed. Continue to tighten until you get the right note.
Finally, with your trusty pliers, cut the excess string on the tuning roller side.
Finally, the last standard procedure is to tune your guitar. On several occasions, because the neck will need a little time to adapt to the new tension of the strings. A time that will be extended if you have decided to use a different tie from the usual.
Make the most of the String Change: The Cleaning Break
There is no better time than a change of string to give your guitar a facelift. By removing all the strings, you release the neck from all tensions. The frets are in the open, and you can easily browse them by hand. It is by doing so that you realize the small imperfections of the key. Sweat and dust may have gathered to create dirt on the edge of the frets. Using a small cloth soaked in alcohol and a cotton swab, pass along the metal bars to clean them. After polishing it, you can nourish the touch with a suitable product.
A rag on the microphones and between the bridge and the tailpiece can also be liberating. Once the guitar shiny and refurbished, you can change the strings without states of mind!
Maintain the string set well if it is metallic, this is the case for folk guitar. For example, if you have nickel and bronze Addario strings, they will oxidize with ambient humidity. Nylon strings are more susceptible to wear and tear the more you play. The metallic strings are spun for the thick strings. This can be a thread with copper, stainless steel, and other assemblies. Know that you can obtain strings with extreme longevity with Elixir strings, which have a coating around the string to protect them against oxidation or rust. The alloy is suitable and keeps its metal strings for a long time. Primarily, the oxidation will come from the sweating of your fingers. The more they are oxidized, the worse the playability, the short longevity, and the lousy sound or gloss. The same is true with the bass strings which are prone to corrosion.
The big strings have threads, these are strings that can also be used for electric guitar or acoustic guitar. But be aware that the treble strings, the 3 small, are not threaded. They are excellent with smaller diameters. Depending on the tension and tuning of your guitar, you will have larger diameters and threads. Be careful not to abuse it to avoid the curvature of your neck, even if it is made of maple or another more solid wood and only with six strings.
Take advantage when changing the string to clean your frets, the nut, and the fretboard fingerboard, which is often made of rosewood. It doesn't matter if it's a flamenco guitar, to make metal or something else, you have to know how to take care of your instrument! If you have the soundbox, the soundboard, or the violin making that is damaged, you must go to a luthier who can repair this part of your guitar.