Stupid Question! - How do I change strings on my "strat"?

[trumpus]

Hey,

I've got a G&L Legacy that I've had for a few months, but have yet to do a string change on. I was thinking about it today, before an upcoming gig (my first in a while) and realized that I don;t know the proper way to change strings on a strat-style guitar without screwing up the tremolo/bridge. I've only every played Gibson-style guitars, so I never had a trem to deal with.

This seems stupid and I feel embarassed for even asking, but is it as simple as taking all strings off and putting 'em back on? I realize I can do it one string at a time, but this is a used guitar, and the fretboard is NASTY! I'd love to have all the strings off so I can polish the guitar and clean the fretboard.

Please help!

Brian

[mike80]

Well, as long as the trem isn't floating, it's just like changing strings on a fixed bridge guitar.

[Griz]

With a floating (not cranked down against the body) trem, you'll find that it's easier to change out one string at a time rather than trying to do a whole set at once. That way you keep the string tension more consistent.

Remember though, with a floating trem each time you tighten a string the others drop lower in pitch. It's a bit of a balancing act.

Be patient.

:D

[Boris Bubbanov]

Leo's Dual Fulcrum vibrato design is nowhere near as problematic restringing as the Fender "tremolo", based on my experience.

Don't be intimidated. Just go ahead and cut the old ones off all at once, and replace all 6 as you would the Gibson ( On second though, careful with the Gibson, it is fragile ). Once all 6 are on with about the right tension, tune to pitch and as long as you're not changing string guage and even if you have plenty of float in the trem, you can just keep adding tension up to pitch, tug a little on each string above the nicely cut nut, and the strings will come in soon enough. If you change guages you may have to add or subtract springs or change the trem claw position, but the Dual Fulcrum is much more forgiving and if you're patient she'll come in soon enough.

You could replace one at a time, but new strings always call for additional tension later, so what's the point? I guess you could do it that way the first time. But I'd say the strings needn't be replaced 2 days before a show; whatever worked for the other guitar will work here.

EDIT: If you had left your trem cover on, you needed to take it off. Beautiful works under there, eh? Notice how the string end stays right at the end of the high end zinc block, as opposed to being recessed as in a stock Fender. Only zinc block I've played that sounds good.

Bubbanov

[trumpus]

Thanks for the advice!

The Legacy only has 2 springs. I'm *fairly* sure the gauge of string that I'l be putting on is the same. To be honest, the strings on the guitar are the strings that were on it when I bought it a few months ago). The previous owner put new strings on for the sale. I hope this isn't too much of an issue!

Brian

[Griz]

Don't be intimidated. Just go ahead and cut the old ones off all at once, and replace all 6 as you would the Gibson [...] You could replace one at a time, but new strings always call for additional tension later, so what's the point? Bubbanov

Well... with a floating trem it's a bit more time consuming to start from scratch (all 6 strings removed). The degree to which each new string will detune the other previously installed new strings is magnified, since the tension on the tremolo springs varies more greatly with 4 strings missing than with just one missing, for example.

Keeping the tension as consistent as possible reduces the time it takes to get everything in tune, plus it's healthier for the guitar's neck since the truss rod is set up to keep the neck straight with the string tension applied.

Changing strings one at a time is actually really fast, and if you stretch them in as you go the tuning remains very stable.