How to Restring an Electric Guitar

All guitars need to be restrung eventually. And even pros should learn to do this on their own. After all, the more you play, the need to restring your guitar will increase.

Wear and tear will dull the sound of your guitar strings over time. And sometimes, you may break a few of them. So here is a detailed guide on how to restring an electric guitar according to a repair technician in New Jersey:

Detune the Old Guitar Strings

Remove your old strings using a winder to hasten the process, then clip them with wire cutters. And you can make the process smoother by coiling them up and preventing them from springing out or pronging you!

Clean the Guitar’s Fretboard

What good are new strings if you replace them on a dirty fingerboard? Use lemon oil to lubricate the fretboard. After it absorbs use a fine grade steel wool and rub with the grain. You can even polish the frets while your at it with this method. A toothbrush can also be used to clean the debris on either side of each fret as well. Once complete, wipe with a dry micro fiber cloth. 

Install the New Strings

Once you’ve removed the old strings, install the new ones. The most crucial thing to remember when putting new guitar strings is not to overtighten them. After all, they need stretching to adjust to the tension. But be careful because too much tension can cause the string to break.

To avoid breaking your new strings, change them one at a time and pay attention to which one you’re handling.

Wind the Strings

Wind your guitar’s strings with a string winder for quicker results, and you should see the same amount of wraps on the tuners. Ensure each string seats in the right groove of the guitar’s nut.

Stretch and Tune

Once you’ve restrung your guitar, you’ll see its strings going out of tune until they’ve settled. You don’t need to worry when this happens since it’s how they adapt to the new tension. A foolproof way to reduce the time it takes them to get used to the new positioning is by stretching them out. 

You can stretch the entire string, acclimating it faster and stabilizing the pitch. In short, remember to tune, pull – and repeat!

How Often Should You Change Electric Guitar Strings?

People have various opinions about how frequently guitar strings need to be changed. In the end, it varies depending how often you play that instrument. If you want your strings to last longer, you should always wipe them and use a string cleaner that won’t damage the fretboard. 

The strings on a guitar used at home might last for months if the instrument isnt’s played often. However, even after a few uses, moisture and oils from your hands may compromise the “brand new” feel and tone.

On the other hand, touring guitarists might change guitar strings more often, even daily. They do this to get the same sound and feel for every performance.

Restring With the Best Guitar Repair in New Jersey 

No matter how well you maintain your guitar, its strings will eventually require replacing over time. So, if yours is beginning to act up, don’t wait for it to get worse and take action. Instead, take your guitar into your local repair shop ASAP and repair those issues before they become a total headache!

NJ residents can rely on Guitar Classes New Jersey for all guitar repair needs, no matter how complex or simple they are. Our crew of experienced technicians is always eager and ready to help you! So address your Guitar Repair New Jersey needs today by calling or stopping by our shop. See you soon!