Changing acoustic guitar strings

Thanks to Fender for the well-made little video you will find at the bottom of the page. No worries — here are the key points in English.

What you need

• A string winder with a bridge-pin puller notch (almost all have one)
• Strings (we know a site that sells plenty)
• Wire cutters (with a clean cut)
• A tuner (unless you play experimental music)

Removing the old strings

• Loosen the strings (not all the way) with the winder to release the tension.
• Carefully cut the strings one by one with the cutters (without damaging the top or fretboard).
• Remove each string from the bridge using the winder’s pin-puller notch (over time some pins can be stubborn — use care and patience).

  If you break a pin, do not worry — it happens, you are not a brute. Just buy a spare set of bridge pins (and it is a cheap investment to always have spares).

A little cleaning

If you have time, this is a good moment to clean while the guitar’s surface is free of strings :)

To clean the fretboard (if it is unfinished oiled wood and ESPECIALLY NOT lacquered, which is normally the case on an acoustic): a light pass with triple- or quadruple-zero steel wool (#000 or #0000 from any hardware store) will clean the frets and remove grime.

Then a little lemon oil over the whole fretboard to nourish it. Wipe off the excess.

Finally, a light polish on the body of your guitar.

Installing the new strings

Time to unpack your new strings (always open them only when you install them so you do not handle them needlessly if you want to store them).

Proceed string by string:

• Insert about 2–3 cm of the ball-end side into the matching bridge hole.
• Push the pin in with the notch facing forward so the string can pass.
• Hold the pin against the bridge with light pressure, then pull the string slowly but firmly until you feel the ball seat against the inside of the guitar.

Securing and tensioning the new strings

Now it is time to attach each string to its tuner!

Proceed string by string:

• For the right length, stretch the string quickly over the tuner and cut it further on at a distance of about 1½ times the spacing between two tuners, then cut there (a few millimetres either way is fine — better a little extra than too short).
• Set the tuner post so the hole is about 90° to the guitar’s centreline.
• Pass the string through the post from the centre of the headstock, leaving a small overhang.
• Start winding by hand (in the correct direction!) to lock the string around the post.
• Then keep the string pressed against the headstock to maintain tension so the wraps sit neatly side by side.
• While keeping tension in front of the tuner, wind with the winder (correct direction), adjusting the wraps with a fingernail now and then so they sit flush.

If you left too much excess outside the post, trim a little.

Tuning your guitar

And there you go — your guitar sounds like new. You had forgotten how good it could sound!