changing strings

[Nubus]

http://www.gearwire.com/mov/Changing_Guitar_String.mov
I like drew, he rules. I especially liked when he said "I'm a drew krag". And that curling trick is slick.
I'm super-picky about changing strings so I'd like to add:
Don't take off all of your strings at the same time to replace them . Change them out one at a time. A guy I knew would take a wire clippers and cut right across all six strings near the pickups. That is NOT good for your guitar's neck.
Also, you don't need to go nuts with the stretching. Usually a few presses instead of pulls near the bridge and the headstock are all it takes. Over-stretching insn't good for the string or the guitar either.

[Whoopysnorp]

I personally like to tune all the strings a half-step sharp and let them sit for a while, then tune down to standard and do some bends with my fingers to stretch them all the way. I'm not sure how much that helps exactly; it's just a habit. I definitely agree on the one-at-a-time thing. I like to change them staggered by going low E->high E->A->B->D->G but I think that's more superstition than anything.

[dolivas]

Originally Posted by Whoopysnorp

I like to change them staggered by going low E->high E->A->B->D->G but I think that's more superstition than anything.

Hey I do the same thing! I just do it because I get bored stringing guitars. I however will buck the trend and say that when I change strings I do take them off all at the same time. I don't however just snap them off zorro style. I loosen then tuning peg a good bit to make the strings loose and then I take some wire splitters and split those strings off. I learned from my dad to do it that way and I've never seen any bent neck or weird warps like people say. I do let strings rest on a guitar a full day before I start to do proper tuning though.

[subsonic bob]

Never take all the strings off at once unless you want to adjust your truss rod. This will take all the tension off your neck and you will get fret buzz.

[Nubus]

Originally Posted by subsonic bob

Never take all the strings off at once unless you want to adjust your truss rod. This will take all the tension off your neck and you will get fret buzz.

do you know what truss rod tension is best for shipping a neck alone?

[subsonic bob]

Originally Posted by Nubus

do you know what truss rod tension is best for shipping a neck alone?

No I don't, sorry. At least I can't be positive but, I would think you would leave tension on the neck at all times, whether it is on the guitar or not.

[85Dave]

Originally Posted by Nubus

http://www.gearwire.com/mov/Changing_Guitar_String.mov
I like drew, he rules. I especially liked when he said "I'm a drew krag". And that curling trick is slick.
I'm super-picky about changing strings so I'd like to add:
Don't take off all of your strings at the same time to replace them . Change them out one at a time. A guy I knew would take a wire clippers and cut right across all six strings near the pickups. That is NOT good for your guitar's neck.
Also, you don't need to go nuts with the stretching. Usually a few presses instead of pulls near the bridge and the headstock are all it takes. Over-stretching insn't good for the string or the guitar either.

I normally take all my strings off all at the same time so I can clean the neck and all that real good.

I have a cheap PRS so it really doesn't matter to me if the neck goes anywhere as long as it stays on the guitar.

There was a line in the book "How to make your electric guitar play great" - Dan Erlewine that suggested that the neck on a guitar was built strong enough to take the beating of not having any tension of the strings on it and he takes the strings off all guitars to clean and adjust the guitars he repairs each day.
I can't seem to find that text so I won't quote it until I go...its a 133 page book with a bunch of text so I could be looking all night for that...

I tend to go with him on this one as he has done it for years without any problem.

My guitars playing great so far...no buzz or anything...just great tone

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by 85Dave

There was a line in the book "How to make your electric guitar play great" - Dan Erlewine that suggested that the neck on a guitar was built strong enough to take the beating of not having any tension of the strings on it and he takes the strings off all guitars to clean and adjust the guitars he repairs each day.
I can't seem to find that text so I won't quote it until I go...its a 133 page book with a bunch of text so I could be looking all night for that...

I tend to go with him on this one as he has done it for years without any problem.

My guitars playing great so far...no buzz or anything...just great tone

I used to do the same thing to my SG. Take off all the strings and clean the frets with lemon oil. The neck was warped after several goes at this and there were some dead notes.

I'm not sure if this happened because I did this or just because the guitar was janky. But anyways I don't do that anymore. Keep in mind that Dan Erlewine probably says he tweaks his guitars everytime he changes the strings. I would gues a truss rod adjustment might be part of that.