how to re-string a guitar:
For acoustic guitars,
1.Set the guitar down on a table or in your lap with the sound hole facing up. The sound hole is the large circular hole in the center of the body of the guitar. Have the neck (fret board) in the direction you would normally play it so that way when you are looking at the guitar, it'd be in the same position as if you'd be playing it, albeit facing the ceiling.
2. Near, or on the bridge, the rectangular shaped thing on the opposite side of the sound hole from the fret board, there will be 6 or 12 locking pegs, depending if you have a 6 string or a 12-string guitar. These pegs can easily be removed with your hands, or if the force is a little greater, a pair of pliers.
3. On the opposite end of the fret board, there will be a headstock, This is where the tuning pegs are located. Some guitars will have different setups for this, so bear in mind yours may be a bit different. Some headstocks, the tuning pegs will al be in a row, or divided with them on the top or bottom. In most cases, there will be three on top and three on bottom. .
First, remove the strings from the guitar by either detuning them until you can unwind them from the tuning pegs, then remove them from the locking peg holes after removing the locking pegs. Be sure to detune the guitar first, for you don't want those strings coming back and snapping you in the face.
Second, with the new strings, you will place the ball end of the strings into the locking peg hole, then push the peg, with the groove along the string, back into place to hold the string down. Always be sure your thickest string is in the position closer to you, or closest to your head when the guitar is in the upright playing position. Make sure the locking peg is firmly pressed down so it won't pop back out.
Then, run the string down the length of the fret board and slip it through the hole of the tuning peg closest to the fret board on the top side, if your tuning pegs are along the top and all in a row, or split in to two groups of three. Place your hand on it's side on about the 12th fret with all fingers close together, then pull the string tension until the string is resting snugly on the side of your hand. Bend the string fmrily, so the string will have a more difficult time slipping back through the tuning peg, remove your hand, and start tensioning the string so that the string is winding around the peg with the string trailing out along the bottom side of the peg. Once it starts to tension enough, be sure to put the string into the respected grooves, both at the bridge end, and headstoc end of the guitar, to keep the string seated in place.
Finally, once string is tight enough it doesn't move easily, then repeat the process with the other strings. Do not over tighten or try to tune the guitar until all strings are on.
Note for 12-string guitars:
There will be two grooves right next to each other, for each string set. The thinner string rests above the normal string for each string set. Keep that in mind when you attempt this monstrosity.
For nylong/classical guitars, instead of bending the string once through the tuning peg, you will want to tie a knot in the string so it won't slip back through. All other rules apply though.
For electric guitars w/out a Tremelo system.
A lot of the same applies from acoustic guitars, but at the bridge, there may be one of two ways the strings slip through. You still use the ball end of the string, but you, instead will either have to slide it through the body of the guitar with holes that are on the back of it, or you will have to slide it through a piece on the bridge from the side.
also, at the headstock, it's possible there could be reverse tuning pegs, where all tuning pegs are on the underside of the headstock. If that's the case, then the lowest/thickest string slips through the tuning peg furthest away from the guitar and be sure all strings are seated through the proper grooves to keep them in order.
Electric guitars with tremelo locking systems,
You will have to cut the ball end of your string off. each string will have a plate that is tensioned with a Alan wrench on the bridge. Just slip the string through and tighten it down. on the headstock end, same rules apply as any other electric, but be sure to remove the locking nuts near the headstock before re-stringing. Once strings are in place, tune the guitar, and replace locking nuts on headstock end. Use the fine tuners at the bridge end to precision tune.
Overkill info, but hope this helps.
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