I learnt so much about guitars yesterday

My son needed his guitar restrung. The strings are about £8 but the shop wanted double that again to fit them. I appreciate the work but...

So we called @OldBrit who said bring it over and l can show you and you can video it. My sons friend also brought his guitar which the shop wanted more money to do which I then didn't understand. I now sort of do😂😂

Gather in his garage at one of his workbenches. He raises an eyebrow at the friends guitar. It has a Floyd (think that's right) so much more difficult to do. But there's feeler gauges (yes I laughed out loud) he's explaining this and that and never do it more than x etc.

We've not even taken the strings off! I now understand the shops costs! But he patiently showed the boys as I tried to film on an Ipad. Explaining the tools the friend needs to buy. So many different little allen key things and screw drivers etc.

But all done eventually. Then he did my son's. Quickly! He showed how to adjust the bridge so it's easier to do on his and how to fit the strings to the tuning peg things so they don't slip.

Finally they test them in his guitar room. A total Aladdin's cave of guitars, amps, pedals etc. He even loaded some files for my sons friend into my Ipad for one of his box things which he was showing how to use the computer to get different sounds on.

Seems to me you need to be musically gifted, an engineer and a computer genius to play guitar!

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

Glad that your son learnt how to re-string his guitar.

Replacing a string is a necessary but basic skill for any player of a guitar, violin or other stringed instrument, but is hardly engineering. Besides, the engineer designs things, not mend 'em.

Fitting a string should not need tools. After all, one day he may need do that on stage!

I can see adjusting the bridge would need tools and some technical knowledge of the instrument, though screwdrivers and Allen keys are basic, universal tools; feeler-gauges not very much less so.

The difficult bit should be the tuning and playing.

I have a lot of sympathy for your son, and you, in needing seek help to replace a broken guitar string. It seems very many people now find it hard to see how to perform basic practical tasks by examining them - and I don't think it's their fault.

Hatt94 · 56-60, MVIP

@ArishMell might have a locking nut. Side cutters are useful too.

OldBrit · 61-69, M

@ArishMell @Hatt94 it was a Floyd Rose 1000. He was gifted the guitar which is very nice just Floyd on 1st guitar not my ideal.

The relief was too high and action wonky too so needed to get that on before even thinking about other stuff.

@ArishMell with a Floyd you cannot change strings without tools. They often are clamped to the back the guitar because of this. You need to release the clamp at the nut and the clamp at the bridge end plus you need to cut off the ball end before clamping the new string in. It's just how they were engineered. Once set up etc they work fantastically but I don't really like them too much faffing about.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@OldBrit I would regard any stringed instrument like that as very badly designed no matter how well manufactured. There is no need for such complexity.