The Steel Guitar Forum

Is there a recommended order of installing strings when doing a complete restringing?

Working from the outside in -- 1,2,3,4,5, ..... 10,9,8,7,6 -- is easiest, 1 & 10 being the tightest squeeze at the keyhead. Other than that, it makes absolutely no difference.

I take them all off and start from the outside with the new strings. I have polished metal necks and it is a good time to take "Mothers Mag Cleaner after them. I shine them up like a mirror.

I do it like Jon does.

And to clarify -- if I'm changing them all, I remove them all, all at once. It absolutely is the right time for some spit and polish. And the concerns of a standard guitar and tensions and neck relief do not exist on a steel.

Thanks to all who replied.

When I change all of them (and not cleaning the guitar), I start by tuning string 9 to B. Then I change string 10 and tune it to the 9th string. Thn I go up from there. Having a tuned string below the one I am changing gives me a reference point to get the string close to where it needs to be, and tune by ear. Only
when I'm done do I bring out my tuner. Been working good for me for decades.

When cleaning my guitar, I still leave the 10th string on for a reference point.