Today, I managed to stab myself in the hand twice while changing strings on an electric guitar. The string ends when cut off are the culprits. Can anyone tell me how much 'beyond' the machine head to cut the string so that when fitted it has the correct number of winds on the post. All help appreciated. Thanks.
My eyes are not as good as they used to be either, it is hard to see the little hole in the string post.......
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Comments
I personally don't cut the excess off until they are wound on though. Less chance of stabbing yourself, but more chance of poking it in your eye so makes you a bit more careful!
I have locking tuners on all of mine as it is just so much less hassle to change strings. Pull the string through the hole, lock it, put a little tension on the string and cut the string about five to ten mm from the post. Nice.
oven mits
If through hole, I cut the strings after stringing, for Fender vintage where you poke the end of the string down the hole in the tuner post then I cut 2 tuners length beyond the existing post, so cut the string at the D tuner for the low E string.
I aim for 2 full wraps of the post, sometimes more on the higher strings
Excellent protection, and I leave them on. To be honest I think they actually improve my ham fisted playing
I only snip the ends off once I've strung up. Haven't sustained any string related injuries for years.
Pull the string tight from the tailpiece to the machinehead, go 1/4" past and bend the string sharply. Poke the loose end through the hole from the middle of the headstock towards the outside until the bend reaches the post, take the loose end round the top side of the post and pull it up under the main part of the string, then wind on while stretching the string as you go. That should bring it up to pitch and tightly locked within one full turn of the post. Then cut off the loose end as close to the post as you can.
It should look like this when done…
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