Minimizing Steel String Guitar Tuning Problems
Fitting Metal Core Musical Instrument Strings Properly
Jul 13, 2009
A common source of frustration for the stringed instrument player is the tendency for his or her axe to go out of tune. There are a number of potential reasons for this, from environmental changes that cause the instrument’s neck to flex to the tendency for the strings themselves to stretch over time.
One way to minimize tuning problems is to ensure that the strings are fastened securely to the tuning posts. The following methods address this for the two most common types of tuning machines – the slotted head and the hole-in-the-post.
String Fitting Safety Precautions
Fitting musical instrument strings always carries with it the risk of injury, so planning ahead is important. When working with metal wire, it’s wise to wear protective eye wear. (Note: On some archtop instruments, the bridge is held on by downward string tension alone, so it’s best to change one string at a time, rather than taking off all the strings first!)
String changing doesn’t require many tools, but for the sake of safety and expediency, it’s best to have a pair of needle nosed pliers with sharp cutting heads and safety glasses handy.
Before beginning, determine what kind of tuning post is used on the instrument.
Hole-in-the-post Tuning Gears
The top of the hole-in-the-post design is closed, with a string opening that runs parallel to the face of the headstock.
1. Start by attaching the lowest pitched string’s ball end to the bridge. Thread the string through the correct tuning machine stem. Leave enough slack between the tuner and the bridge so that the string is approximately 4 inches from the fretboard, or about 1 1/2 inches along its length.
2. Once the string has passed through the hole, pull it around the post in the direction away from the tuner knob.
3. Take the end under the section of string that originally entered the post, and then bend the string at a right angle away from the face of the headstock.
4. Tune to pitch.
As the string is tightened, the friction caused by string-to-string contact should keep it from slipping.
Slotted Post Tuning Gears
As its name suggests, the slotted variety has an open top with a hole perpendicular to the face of the headstock to accept the string end.
1. Line up the post slot parallel to the line of the string.
2. Pull the string tightly around the post. Keeping constant pressure, wrap around three times, from the bottom up.
3. After making three full wraps, hold the string against the post with a finger. With the other hand, pull the string tightly through the slot. Finish up by making a sharp bend in the opposite direction – make a letter “D” shape with a tail at the bottom corner.
4. Next, directly at the point of the bend, press the “tail” against the post with the flat side of the wire cutters to make it contact the post. When finished, clip it closely.
5. Tune to pitch.
String Fitting Troubleshooting
Tuning gears on some older guitars, bass guitars and mandolins sometimes slip, as their designs are often more cylindrical and don’t have the traction of newer models. While one option is to replace the offending gear(s) with newer equipment, using the following alternative method will keep the instrument “stock.”
1. Turn the tuning key so that the string post slot is perpendicular to the neck. Cut the string. Place the cut end into the hole and bend it in the direction of opposite normal. Wrap the string around the lower semi-circle of the post, making sure the wrap is tight.
2. After wrapping the string around the lower half of the post, pull it through the post slot or hole and wrap it the opposite way around the upper semi-circle. The string should leave the post toward the center of the headstock, just as it does with the standard stringing method.
3. Tune the string to pitch, manually pressing the string against the post while winding to ensure that the wraps stay tight.
These methods rely on string-to-string contact for much of their staying power, so it’s important to keep constant tension on each string as it is being fitted. Most – if not all – strings with metal cores eventually “die” – or lose their ability to hold pitch at a given tension. Making sure they fit securely on the instrument can help give them a longer run.
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