Guitar Restringing: An Overall Guide

Restringing is one of the most important maintenance tasks for any guitarist. New strings can bring life to your instrument, improving tone, playability, and sound quality. With the right tools, techniques, and a little bit of practice, restringing can become a straightforward task that that you do to maintain your guitar sound. Here we give you the why, when, and how of guitar restringing, along with detailed steps, tips, and insights to make sure your guitar always sounds good.

Why Restring Your Guitar?

Strings make the guitar's sound. But sweat, and oils from your fingers, can dull their tone and makes them hard to play. Old strings sound flat, they lose intonation, and sometimes break during a performance. Restringing restores the brightness, sustain, and clarity of your guitar’s sound. It can also prevent wear on the fretboard and keeps the tuning stable, which helps for both practice and performance.

It also gives an opportunity to inspect your guitar for any problems, such as fret wear or bridge problems, and to clean hard-to-reach areas. For players who perform frequently or practice a lot, restringing is an ongoing practice that keeps the guitar in top shape. Not only that, but fresh strings make playing more enjoyable and practice more fun.

When to Restring?

How often you restring depends on several factors: how much you play, your playing style, the type of strings, and the environmental conditions. Those who play everyday may need to restring every week or two to maintain optimal tone. Casual players might restring every two or three months. Look for these signs:

• Dull, Muted Sound: If your guitar sounds dull even when in tune, the strings are probably worn out.
• Tuning Instability: Old strings struggle to hold pitch, requiring constant retuning.
• Visible Wear: Look for discoloration, rust, or fraying, especially near the frets or bridge.
• Playing Issues: If the strings feel stiff, sticky, or rough, they’re likely coated with grime.
• Breakage: A broken string is a good reason to replace the whole set for consistent tone and tension.

If you’re unsure about when you changed your strings last, it’s probably time to do restring. Keeping a log of restringing dates may help you stay on top of maintenance. Just make a note of the date when you finish restringing, and put it in your guitar case for future reference.

Tools and Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following tools and materials to make the process smooth and efficient:

• New Strings: Choose strings suited to your guitar type (acoustic, electric, or classical) and playing style. Common gauges for acoustic guitars range from light (.011-.052) to medium (.013-.056), while electric guitars often use lighter gauges (.009-.042 or .010-.046). Brands like D’Addario, Ernie Ball, or Elixir offer reliable options.
• String Winder: A simple tool that speeds up the process of winding strings around tuning pegs.
• Wire Cutters: For trimming excess string length after installation.
• Tuner: A clip-on or pedal tuner ensures accurate tuning after restringing.
• Clean Cloth and String Cleaner: To clean the fretboard and body during the process.
• Optional: A neck cradle or soft surface to support the guitar, and a screwdriver or hex key for guitars with locking tuners or bridges.

Having these tools at your disposal will save time and will help make sure the job is done easily and correctly.

Step-by-Step Guide to Restringing

Restringing involves removing the old strings, cleaning the guitar, and putting on the new strings, then tuning them to proper pitch. It varies slightly depending on whether you have an acoustic, electric, or classical guitar, but the following steps are good for most steel-string guitars (acoustic or electric). Classical guitars, with nylon strings, require a different tying method at the bridge, noted below.

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Find a clean, flat surface to work on, such as a table covered with a towel to prevent scratches. Lay your guitar down gently, ensuring the neck is supported. If you have a neck cradle or rolled-up towel, place it under the neck to keep the instrument stable.

Step 2: Remove the Old Strings

Loosen the strings by turning the tuning pegs counterclockwise until they’re slack. A string winder makes the process a little faster. Once loose, unwind the strings from the tuning pegs. For guitars with a fixed bridge (common on acoustics), push the strings through the bridge pins to remove them. For electric guitars with a tremolo or Floyd Rose bridge, you may need to remove the strings from the back of the guitar or unlock the bridge. Cut the strings with wire cutters if they’re too stiff to unwind, but be cautious to avoid scratching the guitar.

Step 3: Clean the Guitar

With the strings off, take the opportunity to clean the fretboard and body. Use a soft cloth and a fretboard cleaner (or lemon oil for rosewood fretboards) to remove dirt and grime. Wipe down the bridge, headstock, and body to keep your guitar looking and feeling fresh. Avoid getting cleaner on the guitar’s finish, especially on delicate areas like the soundhole edges of an acoustic.

Step 4: Install New Strings

Open your pack of new strings and identify each one by gauge (thicker strings are for lower pitches). Start with the low E (6th string) to maintain even tension across the neck. Follow these steps:

• For Fixed-Bridge Guitars (e.g., Acoustic): Insert the ball end of the string into the bridge pin hole. Push the bridge pin in firmly, ensuring the ball end is seated securely. Pull gently to check it’s locked in place.
• For Tremolo or Floyd Rose Bridges (e.g., Electric): Feed the string through the bridge or locking mechanism according to your guitar’s design. Refer to your guitar’s manual for specific instructions.
• At the Headstock: Thread the string through the tuning peg hole, leaving enough slack for 2-3 wraps around the peg (more for thinner strings, less for thicker ones). Turn the tuning peg clockwise to wind the string, keeping the wraps neat and below the initial loop to prevent slipping. Use a string winder to speed up this process.
• For Classical Guitars: Tie the string at the bridge using a loop knot, then wind it onto the tuning pegs. Nylon strings require more wraps (4-6) due to their lower tension.

Repeat this process for each string, working from the low E to the high E (or vice versa, depending on preference). Avoid installing all strings at full tension immediately to prevent neck stress; instead, bring each string to partial tension before moving to the next.

Step 5: Trim Excess String

Once all strings are installed and partially tuned, use wire cutters to trim the excess string length at the tuning pegs. Leave about 1/4 inch for safety, and tuck the ends down to avoid sharp edges.

Step 6: Tune and Stretch

Tune your guitar to standard pitch (EADGBE) using a tuner. New strings tend to stretch, so after initial tuning, gently pull each string away from the fretboard at several points to pre-stretch them. Retune and repeat until the strings hold pitch consistently. This step is crucial for maintaining tuning stability, especially for new players who may notice strings going out of tune quickly.

Step 7: Final Check

Play a few chords and scales to ensure the strings feel and sound right. Check for buzzing or intonation issues, which may indicate improper string seating or bridge alignment. If everything sounds good, your guitar is ready to play!

Tips for Success

• Change Strings One at a Time: This maintains neck tension and is especially important for guitars with floating bridges like Floyd Rose systems.
• Choose the Right Strings: Experiment with different brands and gauges to find the tone and feel that suit your style. Coated strings (like Elixir) last longer but may cost more.
• Check Your Guitar’s Setup: Restringing is a good time to assess action, intonation, and truss rod adjustment. If you’re unsure, consult a luthier.
• Store Strings Properly: Keep unused strings in their sealed packets to prevent corrosion.
• Practice Patience: Restringing takes about 20-30 minutes for beginners but gets faster with experience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Over-tightening Strings: This can break strings or damage the guitar. Tune up gradually.
• Improper Winding: Messy wraps on the tuning pegs can cause tuning instability. Aim for neat, tight coils.
• Ignoring Bridge Pins: Ensure pins are secure on acoustic guitars to avoid strings popping out.
• Skipping Cleaning: A dirty fretboard can affect playability and tone, so don’t skip this step.

Conclusion

Restringing your guitar is more than just maintenance—it’s a way to reconnect with your instrument and ensure it performs at its best. By following the steps outlined above and practicing regularly, you’ll develop confidence in restringing and gain a deeper appreciation for your guitar’s sound and feel. Whether you’re preparing for a gig, recording a track, or simply enjoying a practice session, fresh strings make all the difference. So grab your tools, pick your favorite strings, and give your guitar the care it deserves. Happy playing!