changing strings

[Ed Edelenbos iPad]

Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings? I'm
not talking the end product, but the process itself.

Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.

Ed

--
This is posted from my iPad

[Steve Daniels]

On 26 Sep 2012 03:21:57 GMT, against all advice, something
compelled Ed Edelenbos iPad <ed...@huh.wha>, to say:

>Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings?

Yes.







Freak.

[hank alrich]

Ed Edelenbos iPad <ed...@huh.wha> wrote:

> Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings? I'm
> not talking the end product, but the process itself.

I'm down with the process, but only with the result in mind. I wouldn't
choose it for recreation. Might have to restring the mandolin tomorrow
morning. Not a lot of fun there.

> Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.

Could be. Or maybe you're just weird. I wouldn't really know about that,
because I'm not weird. And I don't care what my children have to say
about that, either.


--
shut up and play your guitar * http://hankalrich.com/
http://www.youtube.com/walkinaymusic
http://www.sonicbids.com/HankandShaidri

[poach...@hotmail.co.uk]

A year doing this in a Far Eastern guitar factory might sort you out.

[Al Evans]

In article <1kr07n3.vi7r91yte7mqN%walk...@nv.net>,

walk...@nv.net (hank alrich) wrote:

> Ed Edelenbos iPad <ed...@huh.wha> wrote:
>
> > Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings? I'm
> > not talking the end product, but the process itself.
>
> I'm down with the process, but only with the result in mind. I wouldn't
> choose it for recreation. Might have to restring the mandolin tomorrow
> morning. Not a lot of fun there.

I "like" changing strings in the same way I "liked" doing tuneups on my
cars and motorcycles, back in the days when we had points to change,
valve lifters to adjust, and carburetors to tweak. It's fun in the way
that rubbing mud in your hair is NOT fun.

I don't miss the tuneups, and if my guitar somehow got a set of strings
that lasted forever, I'd be OK with that.

--Al Evans--

[Geezer]

"Ed Edelenbos iPad" <ed...@huh.wha> wrote in message
news:1549096799370322204...@news.individual.net...

Yes!

I've ebeen putting off changing strings on three guitars for two weeks now.


Geezer


--
This is posted from my toaster

[Wilbur]

On 26 Sep 2012 03:21:57 GMT, Ed Edelenbos iPad <ed...@huh.wha> wrote:

>Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings? I'm
>not talking the end product, but the process itself.
>
>Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.
>
>Ed

I've always wanted to be a rock star. Not so I could be rich. Or
famous. Or even so I could have lots of cute groupies. I just want a
roadie who will change the strings on my guitars for me.

[Ed Edelenbos iPad]

Heh... it's not like I do it as a leisure activity! Some people seem to
hate it. I see it as a necessity that I may as well get along with.

And I do!

[Claude V. Lucas]

In article <1914689125370359736...@news.individual.net>,

I bought one of these on a whim, and it really makes
string changes a lot easier and less boring.

<http://www.amazon.com/Ernie-Ball-4118-PowerPeg/dp/B0019H6750>

It also makes it a lot easier to have a nice consistent
wrap and even tension while winding on the new ones.

I haven't been able to bring myself to use it on
the Waverlies on my old parlor guitar, but it's
great on everything else.

IMO, it was $20 well spent.

[gtr]

On 2012-09-26 03:21:57 +0000, Ed Edelenbos iPad said:

> Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings? I'm
> not talking the end product, but the process itself.
>
> Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.
>
> Ed

Outside an institution, yes.

[Blind Broccoli]

200 RPM?? Can't you overwind the strings too easily? Make a big
SPROIIIIIING? Maybe injure anyone close by such as yourself??

BB

[Claude V. Lucas]

In article <k3vlaf$48n$1...@dont-email.me>,

Nope.

200RPM isn't *that* fast IRL.

If one plucks the string and listens it's tough to overwind.

I guess it *is* possible without paying attention, though.

[Tony Done]

On 26/09/2012 1:21 PM, Ed Edelenbos iPad wrote:
> Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings? I'm
> not talking the end product, but the process itself.
>
> Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.
>
> Ed
>

It's the kind of thing I do when I get bored, like swapping pickups in
electrics, so it isn't really a chore. Not pleasurable, just better than
watching TV or doing nothing.

--
Tony Done

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=784456
http://www.flickr.com/photos/done_family/

[George Weston]

On 26/09/2012 21:30, Tony Done wrote:
> On 26/09/2012 1:21 PM, Ed Edelenbos iPad wrote:
>> Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings? I'm
>> not talking the end product, but the process itself.
>>
>> Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.
>>
>> Ed
>>
>
> It's the kind of thing I do when I get bored, like swapping pickups in
> electrics, so it isn't really a chore. Not pleasurable, just better than
> watching TV or doing nothing.
>

Me too. A rainy-day job.

George

[Geezer]

"George Weston" <geow...@NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote in message
news:aciqbf...@mid.individual.net...

Guess I'll have tp change my strings then...rain for the next four days...

Geezer

[Tom from Texas]

You are definitely in need of a 12 Step Program.... seek help, it's
out there.

Tom (The Fund may need to start doing interventions) from Texas

[Geezer]

"Tom from Texas" <tris...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:6ce66629-84c1-4010...@r7g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...

On Sep 25, 10:21 pm, Ed Edelenbos iPad <e...@huh.wha> wrote:
> Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings? I'm
> not talking the end product, but the process itself.
>
> Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.
>
> Ed
>
> --
> This is posted from my iPad

--You are definitely in need of a 12 Step Program.... seek help, it's
--out there.

--Tom (The Fund may need to start doing interventions) from Texas


Wouldn't that be a 12 STRING program?

Geezer

[Tony Done]

...rain for the next four days...
>
> Geezer
>
>

Gotta piano needs doing?

[dsi1]

On 9/25/2012 5:21 PM, Ed Edelenbos iPad wrote:
> Am I the only one who actually likes the process of changing strings? I'm
> not talking the end product, but the process itself.
>
> Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.
>
> Ed
>

I used to enjoy changing strings on my classical guitar. Very relaxing.
I tied the string ends in a most pretty and symmetrical way. All the
string ends would point down and to the left. I just loved that!

The text on the insert of the Augustine string package had a picture of
an old guy with a beret and a pipe that I would contemplate. Later I
found out that it was Segovia. The insert also contained an endorsement
from the maestro which was printed in English, French, Spanish, maybe
German? Probably even Arabic in these times. It was the Rosetta Stone of
guitar string inserts.

These days I wouldn't think of using this set. Unreliable intonation has
made me lose faith in Augustine. As it goes, DuPont nylon just doesn't
have enough kick for me. I use fluorocarbon trebles with EXP basses.

[Geezer]

"dsi1" <ds...@eternal-september.invalid> wrote in message
news:k42h3r$oi1$1...@dont-email.me...

I know what you mean...I always take pride in a nicely wrapped string
install on a classical.
I can be anal like that...


Geezer

[dsi1]

On 9/27/2012 1:26 PM, Geezer wrote:
>
> I know what you mean...I always take pride in a nicely wrapped string
> install on a classical.
> I can be anal like that...
>
>
> Geezer
>
>

The only good advice on the subject that I can give is this: if anybody
tells you to put a ball on the end of a nylon string by holding a match
to the end, don't trust them cause whatever advice they may give you
after that is likely to be unsound. :-)

[George Weston]

Which brings me to recall the story of BB King, who famously doesn't
pull his guitar strings very far through the hole in the tuners, and
winds the whole string on to the post.
When questioned about this, he apparently said something like "they
wouldn't make strings so long if they weren't meant to be used".

george

[brianm...@my.ccsu.edu]

Same memories of the Augustines here. And ditto on wouldn't think of using them nowadays. I've started using D'Addario "Dyna-core" with the "T2" trebles, normal tension.

I use a two-loop knot on the tieblock - it seems more secure to me, and I like the way it looks. My string ends on the tieblock end point toward the treble side. On the tuning end I just sort of give them a quick-and-dirty overhand knot, and let the wrapping take care of itself.

When I took lessons in my youth, my teacher, an engineer by day-job, taught me to leave as little slack as reasonably possible before tightening, so as to have as little stretch as possible. He also taught me to change only three at a time, so as not to unload and then re-load the neck. I go him one better and do them one at a time. I've since heard that this is really not necessary.

Is this fascination with the string-changing act maybe a nylon thing?

[Tony Done]

I do nice neat knots in steel strings when I break them. Sheet bends.
Affects the tone if it happens between the nut and the saddle though.

HTH

[dsi1]

On 9/29/2012 1:34 PM, brianm...@my.ccsu.edu wrote:
> Same memories of the Augustines here. And ditto on wouldn't think of using them nowadays. I've started using D'Addario "Dyna-core" with the "T2" trebles, normal tension.
>
> I use a two-loop knot on the tieblock - it seems more secure to me, and I like the way it looks. My string ends on the tieblock end point toward the treble side. On the tuning end I just sort of give them a quick-and-dirty overhand knot, and let the wrapping take care of itself.
>

I used to have all the strings tied with an open loop. Boy that was pretty!

> When I took lessons in my youth, my teacher, an engineer by day-job, taught me to leave as little slack as reasonably possible before tightening, so as to have as little stretch as possible. He also taught me to change only three at a time, so as not to unload and then re-load the neck. I go him one better and do them one at a time. I've since heard that this is really not necessary.
>

My teacher was an nuke sub engineer. That's what I heard anyway. He had
a huge shop in Honolulu that built guitars and lutes out of mango and
koa wood. He didn't teach me a thing about installing strings or tried
to micro-manage my hand position or classical guitar strokes. Mostly, he
chain-smoked and listened while I played with an amused look.

> Is this fascination with the string-changing act maybe a nylon thing?
>

This might mean that nylon-string folks are boring people but I hardly
think that's likely.

[dsi1]

On 9/29/2012 2:31 PM, Tony Done wrote:
>
> I do nice neat knots in steel strings when I break them. Sheet bends.
> Affects the tone if it happens between the nut and the saddle though.
>
> HTH
>

I prefer to braze any broken strings together and then grind the joint
down a bit. This sounds better than you'd think. The intonation gets
thrown all to shit though.

[Tony Done]

Yeah, the gas axe is good for all kinds of minor repairs.

[Tony Done]

<g> Could be that anything is a welcome distraction from actually having
to play the thing.

[dsi1]

I feel sorry for students of classical guitar. They're likely to be
handed one-page pieces by long-dead German dudes or, even worse, lute
pieces by English chaps that have been dead even longer. It's not a
pretty picture.

[Tony Done]

All prospective students should proceed straight past classical and
enter the door marked flamenco. Now *that's* music with attitude. The
big hair and lyrca mob have got nothing on those (gender free) guys.

[Rich McCarthy]

One of the best guitars I ever had the honor to play, was a classical guitar I borrowed for a recording project.
It was made by luthier Oskar Graf. Beautiful tone, and fine workmanship.

[dsi1]

On 10/4/2012 8:00 AM, Rich McCarthy wrote:
> One of the best guitars I ever had the honor to play, was a classical guitar I borrowed for a recording project.
> It was made by luthier Oskar Graf. Beautiful tone, and fine workmanship.
>

There's a lot of guys making great guitars that nobody ever heard of.
Decades ago I saw a classical guitar which had a top that was so
perfectly finished that the wood cells sparkled in bright light. I've
never seen another top like that since. It's a pretty rare phenomenon.

[Mike Brown]

In article <k42h3r$oi1$1...@dont-email.me>,

I use Aquila Alabastro Superior Tension, made my (very)old classical
sound like a youngster again.
MJRB

[Mike Brown]

In article <k483t8$4mf$1...@speranza.aioe.org>,

Tears hole in your fingers too. (I remember Black Diamonds with knots in
them).
MJRB

[Mike Brown]

In article <k4aejg$g46$2...@speranza.aioe.org>,

It's strange thing, but after years of playing steel string guitars,
nylon strings make my fingers sore.
MJRB

[brianm...@my.ccsu.edu]

> I use Aquila Alabastro Superior Tension, made my (very)old classical
> sound like a youngster again.
>
> MJRB

I'm curious about these. The thing I've seen in internet discussions on them is the allegation that they're subject to unexpected breakage -- which would be a disqualification for me. Any truth behind the breakage thing? How long have you been using them? I'm tempted to give them a try sometime.

[dsi1]

On 10/19/2012 2:48 PM, Mike Brown wrote:
>
> I use Aquila Alabastro Superior Tension, made my (very)old classical
> sound like a youngster again.
> MJRB
>

I use the Nylgut strings too. It's a popular string with the ukulele
players on this rock. I think the fluorocarbon strings are the greatest
advancement in strings for classical players. That's just my opinion,
but it's an awesome one. OTOH, this too, is the future of guitars.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-11/the-worlds-first-3d-printed-guitar

[Mike Brown]

In article <57765ad4-bde7-48e1...@googlegroups.com>,

Mine have been on there for three or four years and still sound great.
They don't go out of tune as much as nylon either. Mind you the guitar
doesn't get played a lot.
MJRB