[HANASHIR:5664] Re: New Guitar Strings

[Joel Siegel <siegeljd...>]

Re:  a few topics.

Changing strings: not as often as I should, but often enough I suppose.
Every couple of weeks when I'm good.  That's probably about 30 hours of
playing time.  I agree it's part of the discipline of being a
professional.  The slip knot helps, and my guitar repair/builder showed
me yet another technique, also hard to describe, but here goes.  I used
to leave slack after inserting the string through the tuning machine,
and then would wind and wind.  The new way is to take out virtually all
the slack between the bridge and the nut (or the machine), and then put
a few winds by hand around the peg (from bottom to top) and *then*
insert the end through the machine.  Takes a few times to get the hang,
but it's quicker, avoids interminable winding, *and* you don't have to
bother with a slip knot.  The winds you've put on take care of that.
Once you get good at it, you should be able to change a set (including
removing the old strings) in just under 10 minutes, perhaps just over 5
if you're really really good.  And Elixirs aside, ain't nothing like a
new set of strings to make you love to play.

Stretching strings: After getting them up to tension, place your hands
on the string with the thumbs pointing inward, about 3-4 inches apart.
Grab the string with the rest of your fingers.  Now just gently push
your thumbs away from you, and move the whole set-up up and down the
string.  With practice you'll learn how much tension to use.  I've never
broken a string doing this (though I've broken them in just about every
other way possible.)  You can get them to stay in tune almost
immediately this way.

Cleaning strings: I use Fast Fret.  I think GHS puts it out.  It's a
small stick impregnated with some chemical stuff with a wooden handle.
You rub it on the strings, then wipe off the excess with a small
supplied cloth.  It's supposed to both clean and lube.  (No jokes,
please.... yes you do the G-string too.)  I like it because it's small,
light, convenient and doesn't spill.  For a while I couldn't find Fast
Fret and was told that a product called Tibet Almond Stick is the same
stuff, without the handle and cloth.  You can get Tibet Almond Stick in
hardware and possibly furniture stores.  If you play irregularly, your
strings will tend to oxidize over time even if they aren't played much.
Try running your finger up and down an old (plain gauge) string; it will
feel rough.  String cleaner helps; the string should be noticeably
smoother after cleaning.  Removing the oxidation improves the sound, of
course.

Elixir trivia: the parent company is Gore, is it not?  The same people
who make Gore-Tex®.  And yes, the same folks who make Glide® dental
floss, which I must say is the best dental floss on the market.  But now
we're way off topic.  Or maybe not.... we songleaders do spend a lot of
time with our mouths open, and bits of spinach hanging from the teeth
while singing "Boi Kala" are just so unattractive....

Joel



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