Members d03nut Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Lame puns aside, I say changing strings....by far. Oh, how I hate..........
Members EvilTwin Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Getting an authentic amplified tone, IMO. There's a lot of great alternatives out there now (soundhole pickups and bridgeplate transducers have come a long way), but there's still nothing that doesn't come with a trade off.
Members Fade2Grey Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Oh how I hate...Telling someone that their guitar just doesn't cut it in the mix... :D For those of you who does mixes for songs, you know what i mean....Also,Telling someone that they can't buy a nice enough acoustic for .You see, Malaysia's a pretty small place when it comes to guitar choices and prices...
Members knockwood Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 I cannot think of any dreaded tasks related to guitar, except maybe playing in front of humans. I actually enjoy changing strings...
Members Queequeg Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 changing the oil on my truss rod. also degreasing the tuners.
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Sometimes it's hosting an "Open Mic' when there's no knobs available for turnig up the talent while simultaneously turning down the ego...
Members Sweb Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Originally posted by Terry Allan Hall Sometimes it's hosting an "Open Mic' when there's no knobs available for turnig up the talent while simultaneously turning down the ego... Well put. I'm spring-loaded to the door in those scenarios. But, as a host I suppose it's tough. A few swelled heads can turn it into an odious chore. Tact, patience and white lies?
Members Sweb Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 I posted it here before as a thread - changing strings on a slothead - and I'm no more comfortable with it now. And, I've since picked up another. Small price to pay though. As far as changing strings on a paddle head, I never thought that a chore. I can do that quickly. I just leave it on its stand and inside of 10 minutes I'm tuned up. I change them singly and keep a one-inch paint brush to knock off the dust that accumulates in all the nooks and crannies. I keep the string-changing paraphenalia in what can best be described as a draw-string marble bag on a hook in my closet. The oiler and greasegun (Queequeg) I keep in the roll-away. Edit: Just thought I'd add that I also keep a set of needle nose with the string-changing kit to make a bend in the strings just forward of the ball end, a la frets.com.
Members JasmineTea Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Originally posted by Sweb I change them singly and keep a one-inch paint brush to knock off the dust that accumulates in all the nooks and crannies. Brilliant. My set up includes a pliers with a built-in side cutter, a well oiled peg winder, and an ashtray. However I could fill a large toolbox with all the other related guitar stuff I've collected over the years. Stuff for electrics ect. I don't know why so many loath changing strings. I think once you get a good working system down it's a breeze: Loosen stringsPull the pinsUnwind from the tunerDiscard Clean if needed Put ball in pinholePut pin inSlip string through eyeletLeave some slack for windingBend string at 90 degree angle where it exits eyelet in the opposite direction it will be wound Wind it up
Members Sweb Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 I don't know why so many loath changing strings. I think once you get a good working system down it's a breeze:Loosen stringsPull the pinsUnwind from the tunerDiscardClean if neededPut ball in pinholePut pin inSlip string through eyeletLeave some slack for windingBend string at 90 degree angle where it exits eyelet in the opposite direction it will be woundWind it up Perfect.
Members drnihili Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Originally posted by JasmineTea Bend string at 90 degree angle where it exits eyelet in the opposite direction it will be wound Y'know, I still haven't quite understood this part, despite going through the relevant section on frets.com. Does anyone happen to know of an online video showing it?
Members Sweb Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Originally posted by drnihili Y'know, I still haven't quite understood this part, despite going through the relevant section on frets.com. Does anyone happen to know of an online video showing it? Bending the string 90 degrees opposite the winding direction on the post? You don't understand it or can't picture it? View the string as it would extend from the nut to the winding post and bend the free end the opposite direction. If the tensioned part of the string is wrapped counter-clockwise around the post and down to the nut, the free end is bent clockwise for the right side tuners and CCW for the left side tuners. Some people bend the free end straight up, perpendicular to the headstock, which leaves it out of the way while winding, then bend it down parallel with the headstock before nipping it off at the post. If you can get about four wraps on the post for the smallest strings and about three for the larger strings nothing will let loose. My whole point about the free end is to get it down low and cut as short as possible to prevent injury. Some people just roll up the free ends into coils and leave them. That...looks like crap.
Members drnihili Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Originally posted by Sweb Bending the string 90 degrees opposite the winding direction on the post? You don't understand it or can't picture it? I think it's mostly that I don't understand it conceptually. Clearly it's using friction to keep the string taught rather than tying a knot (which is really just a more intricate friction. But I'm not able to visualize how the whole thing holds up. I've read several descriptions and seen still pictures of the process. I was hoping a video might help me see the whole process and thus understand it better.
Members WaveRay Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Finding out some asshole you just met can blow you away on the guitar.
Members JasmineTea Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Originally posted by drnihili I think it's mostly that I don't understand it conceptually.Clearly it's using friction to keep the string taught rather than tying a knot (which is really just a more intricate friction. But I'm not able to visualize how the whole thing holds up.Knots? Maybe some use knots on nylon strings, I don't know. The "concept" is to bend the free end in the opposite direction it will be wound, JUST as it exits the eyelet. The result, and reason for doing so is to keep the string from slipping. Strings, especialy unwound strings, tend to slip otherwise.
Members Sweb Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Oh. Well, the idea is to put a kink in the free end where it exits the hole in the post opposite to the winding direction. This prevents it from slipping back out as the the string is wound. Straight up works too. Basically, any kink in the free end regardless of direction will prevent backing out. That's the concept. Edit: Late here - what JT says. With slothead guitars three hands are needed - especially steelstring guitars. With classicals I slip a loop through the hole on the smaller strings. This puts a loop extending out the other side of the hole of the winding post. Then I take the free end and slip it through that loop. Pulling the string back out of the hole cinches down on the free end on the opposite side of the hole and locks it there. Then, keeping tension on the string I cut the free end about 1/4 inch long. Still maintaining tension, I wind it up and don't have to worry about string slap or the free end fouling up with the string as it's wound. I haven't tried it with steelstring slotheads yet. It would probably work as well. With classicals it's an essential step for me because the high E thru G are real slick and slide right out of the hole otherwise.
Members 0rbitz9 Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 The bitch for me is figuring out how much slack to leave in that darn bottom E string. I try to get a perfect 2.5 to three wraps around the tuning post, but it never seems to work out just right.
Members Queequeg Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 Originally posted by 0rbitz9 The bitch for me is figuring out how much slack to leave in that darn bottom E string. I try to get a perfect 2.5 to three wraps around the tuning post, but it never seems to work out just right. Orbitz9-pull the string through the eyelet finger-tight, then with your other hand grab the string between your thumb & first finger at the nut, and pull it back to the first fret. This will afford the requisite 2 1/2- 3 full turns on the post.
Members 0rbitz9 Posted October 10, 2006 Members Posted October 10, 2006 changing the oil on my truss rod. also degreasing the tuners. Damn!! You should open a Jiffy Lube type shop for guys that need their strings changed.
Members Hudman Posted October 11, 2006 Members Posted October 11, 2006 Buying guitar strings is my "dread-ed" task.
Members guitarist21 Posted October 11, 2006 Members Posted October 11, 2006 I'm late to all the good threads!! Darn school.Originally posted by knockwood I cannot think of any dreaded tasks related to guitar, except maybe playing in front of humans. I actually enjoy changing strings... I'm exactly the opposite. I could play in front of people all day. You can change my strings any day.
Members knockwood Posted October 11, 2006 Members Posted October 11, 2006 Originally posted by guitarist21 You can change my strings any day. Man, if I had a nickel for every woman I've heard that from... Well, at least I'd have a nickel.
Members kwakatak Posted October 11, 2006 Members Posted October 11, 2006 I hate the uneasy feeling I get when I try recording myself - aka the "red Light disease". If I'm left alone to just play around the house there's no problem, but as soon as I sit in front of the microphone and click the mouse it's like I'm completely naked. I get this to a much lesser extent when I play in front of people, but I like to try and banter with the other musicians to ease the stagefright.
Members Sweb Posted October 11, 2006 Members Posted October 11, 2006 Recording something for me is just a time when I forget how to play. Nothing serious. It only lasts until I quit recording.
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