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Topic: Hints for changing strings |
Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Posted 3 Nov 2015 4:22 am |
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When changing strings on guitars that have the little posts sticking out that the ball end slips over (for example Bigsby tremolo units and some pedal steels), I have found it useful to put a little blob of Blu-Tak (like a plastic putty you can use to attach posters to walls) over the ball end to keep it in position when working at the other end.
Does anyone have any handy hints for changing strings where the ball end slides into a slot like on my Sho~Bud.
When I changed the strings the other day, I had to get my wife to hold on the end of the string and keep it under tension while I threaded the other end through the tuners.
It occurred to me that if I broke a string at a gig, I'd have to get a volunteer from the audience to help me.
How do you guys change strings on this type of changer? |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 3 Nov 2015 4:42 am
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When my friend Josh Dubin owned a Sho-Bud Pro 3 he used to use a screwdriver to hold the ball end in the changer 
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 3 Nov 2015 4:49 am
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| Jeff..For slotted fingers; grasp the ball end between your thumb and index finger and gently bend the string around your fingertip until it attains a curve, this helps place the ball in position to slide into the slot..Not certain if I would use any type of gummy substance to hold the ball onto the pin however, could end up in the changer and cause a problem. Might try a small disposable sponge paint brush instead. Place the ball on the pin and wedge the paint brush behind the finger to hold it in place.. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 3 Nov 2015 4:57 am
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| I use a rubber wedge, similar to what piano tuners use. No need for an "assistant" when changing strings. |
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Bob Knight
From:
Bowling Green KY
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Posted 3 Nov 2015 5:22 am
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_________________
<b>Rick Johnson Cabinets<b>
<b>Brand X Custom Fiber Cases</b>
<b> John Pearse Thumb Picks, Bars and Strings</b>
"Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent."
— Steve Martin |
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Roy Peterman
From:
Muncy Valley, Pennsylvania
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Posted 3 Nov 2015 7:43 am
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| There ya go, Bob! I use something almost identical. It doesn't take long to change a set of strings. |
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Rich Upright
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2015 12:59 pm
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My Emmons & my Mullen both have pins. What I do is cut the string to length,thread it through the tuner,then put the ball end on the pin, hold the ball in place with my right hand ring finger & stretch the right hand thumb up to hold the string a couple inches above the changer. Then I crank the winder till the string locks; all the time holding up with my thumb. I let it go when it starts to tighten above the changer.
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A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag. |
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James Quillian
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 4 Nov 2015 7:32 am
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| a little wedge of flat foam packing material works for me |
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Jason King
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2015 12:20 pm
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| I use a pair of side cutters to clip the strings. The side cutters have rubber coated handles. I just stick the handle down to hold ball end inside the changer. Works great and the weight of the side cutters leaned back is plenty to hold in place. |
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Dan Beller-McKenna
From:
Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2015 3:58 pm
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| Exactly what Rich said. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 11 Nov 2015 4:06 pm
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BK, where does one find such a rubber piano tuner's wedge? Would your average music store have it?
FWIW, I use replacement stick on pencil erasers to hold the string on the pin....works pretty good.
_________________
proud appalachian american
those of you who think you know everything annoy the he!! out of those of us that do.
never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level then beat you with experience-Mark Twain- |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 11 Nov 2015 4:19 pm
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i like getting a volunteer from the audience.
that could be a good way to make new friends. |
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Jeff Triplett
From:
Virginia Beach, VA
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Posted 11 Nov 2015 4:21 pm
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I use a small foam paint brush. Primary guitar has pins and it works great for that but also helps with the slotted style fingers.
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MSA D-10 Legend XL, Show Pro Custom D-10, Emmons D-10 LeGrande II, Sho-Bud Pro II Custom, Telonics and Quilter Amps. |
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Bob Knight
From:
Bowling Green KY
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Jerry Jones
From:
Franklin, Tenn.
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Ned McIntosh
From:
New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 17 Nov 2015 11:56 am
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If your wife/girlfriend/significant other uses those little foam-rubber wedges for applying makeup, they work well for holding the ball-end on the pin or in the slot. Most of the larger pharmaceutical stores sell them.
The clothes-peg idea is probably the simplest I've seen so far. Handy for holding the pages on your music-stand if it's windy as well!
_________________
The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 17 Nov 2015 3:11 pm
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| OK BK. TY. JO. |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2015 5:08 pm
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This is what I did. Buy Williams, buy strings, put strings on and tune.
I know, pretty boring.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2015 8:55 pm
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These work great for holding string on post, AND are handy when you have a guitar player who doesn't know about dynamics and points his Twin Reverb in a dangerous direction (at ME!).
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Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 18 Nov 2015 1:21 pm
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Jeff, I am so glad you started this thread...I have been embarrassed that I have had that problem...and I broke the string in front of lots of people and had to get a buddy to help me ! That sure started a lot of jokes !! Some great ideas here, I will try the clothes pin idea. I had a rubber wedge but it was too fat to get in. I like Bob Knights idea too and will probably order a set of those.
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Zum Encore, Remington D8 non pedal, Hallmark Mosrite clone, Gretsch 6120 DSW, Gretsch G5210T-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90,1976 Ibanez L5, Eastman archtop, Taylor Dreadnaught, Telonics pedal, Squire Tele, Squire Strat, Fender Tonemaster, Gold Tone 5 string banjo, Little Wonder tenor banjo, 3 Roland cubes 30s and 80, Carvin combo bass amp |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2015 1:29 pm
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Larry Moore & Lee Warren win the MacGyver award!
Great idea, works great, thanks
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Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Fred Glave
From:
McHenry, Illinois, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2015 9:02 am
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Small foam rubber paint brush you can get from Home Depot for a buck.
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Zum Encore, Zum Stage One, Fender 2000, Harlan Bros., Multi-Kord, |
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Brian Brgant
From:
Vermont, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2015 5:27 pm
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| Yep, the cheap little foam throw away paint brushes work great for me. And no worries if ya lose it. I always keep a couple in my ditty bag hanging on my PSG. |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 20 Nov 2015 4:25 am
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| Jerry Jones wrote: |
| Larry Moore & Lee Warren win the MacGyver award! |
Roger Rettig said:
| Quote: |
| I like the clothes pin idea - cheap and cheerful! |
American ingenuity at it's finest.
I'm amazed at what you can get from Amazon, an entire piano tuning kit for thirty bucks.
Wish I could find a PSG use for those red felt mute strips, I use a strip on my bass tailpiece like the old days.
Can somebody tell me what else you can get from Amazon besides books and PT kits? |
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