How to Change Strings on a Bass Guitar
Examine the head of your guitar., Loosen the first string via the tuner until the wraps on the winder begin to visibly relax., Once the string is loose enough, pull it from the tuner., Pull the string out either through the bridge or the body...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Examine the head of your guitar.
Note how the strings come off the grooves in the nut at the top of the neck, pass or bypass holders and the direction that they wrap around the tuners.
This is very important for tone.
You should have no less than 2 wraps around each tuner but no more than can fit around the tuner without overlapping. -
Step 2: Loosen the first string via the tuner until the wraps on the winder begin to visibly relax.
You can either take all the strings off at once and put new ones in all together, or do them one at a time.
Some people prefer to change them one by one because it prevents changes in stresses on the neck.
Others will periodically remove all the strings at once so they can clean the fretboard more easily.
But that's your choice. , It will be bent on the end where it was stuck into the tuner. , Sometimes it will be difficult to grasp the end of the string to pull it out, so alternatively begin by pushing the string out then pulling. , There are MANY treatments available to clean your guitar with, pick whichever is your favorite. , If not, it still can be used to guide you in cutting the length of the new string. , Be careful not to damage the guitar finish.
Pull the string completely through the bridge before laying it on the nut. , Finely wound or strings with coatings can be nicked or bent easier than one might think. , Wrap it around the tuner until there is about an inch left. , Correct it if necessary. , Make sure not to put the tip in before wrapping if possible, since doing this will twist the string and can lower its integrity and sound quality. , There should be at least two complete wraps present on the tuner, but still no more than can fit on without overlapping.
The new string should sit on the bass just as the old one did. ,, -
Step 3: Once the string is loose enough
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Step 4: pull it from the tuner.
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Step 5: Pull the string out either through the bridge or the body
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Step 6: depending on your particular bass.
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Step 7: Clean the revealed portion of your bass guitar neck with a soft cloth or towel.
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Step 8: Note if the old string had the correct number of winds around the tuner
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Step 9: use it as a template for cutting the new string of the same gauge to length.
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Step 10: Pull the new string of the same gauge through your bridge assembly in the exact manner you removed it.
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Step 11: Thread the string through and around guides
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Step 12: if any
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Step 13: being careful not to damage the string.
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Step 14: Pull the string taut
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Step 15: tighter if you want but tension is not necessary here.
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Step 16: Examine the wraps on the tuner; they should not be overlapping
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Step 17: but lay side-by-side nicely.
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Step 18: Bend the end and poke it into the center of the tuner.
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Step 19: Hold the end in the tuner and turn the key until it begins to pull tight
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Step 20: and bring it in close to tuned; a final tuning will be performed after all strings have been restrung.
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Step 21: Replace the rest of the strings following the previous steps.
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Step 22: Tune your bass guitar and play!
Detailed Guide
Note how the strings come off the grooves in the nut at the top of the neck, pass or bypass holders and the direction that they wrap around the tuners.
This is very important for tone.
You should have no less than 2 wraps around each tuner but no more than can fit around the tuner without overlapping.
You can either take all the strings off at once and put new ones in all together, or do them one at a time.
Some people prefer to change them one by one because it prevents changes in stresses on the neck.
Others will periodically remove all the strings at once so they can clean the fretboard more easily.
But that's your choice. , It will be bent on the end where it was stuck into the tuner. , Sometimes it will be difficult to grasp the end of the string to pull it out, so alternatively begin by pushing the string out then pulling. , There are MANY treatments available to clean your guitar with, pick whichever is your favorite. , If not, it still can be used to guide you in cutting the length of the new string. , Be careful not to damage the guitar finish.
Pull the string completely through the bridge before laying it on the nut. , Finely wound or strings with coatings can be nicked or bent easier than one might think. , Wrap it around the tuner until there is about an inch left. , Correct it if necessary. , Make sure not to put the tip in before wrapping if possible, since doing this will twist the string and can lower its integrity and sound quality. , There should be at least two complete wraps present on the tuner, but still no more than can fit on without overlapping.
The new string should sit on the bass just as the old one did. ,,
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Nicole Pierce
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