STRING REPLACEMENT QUESTION

[Scott Stambaugh]

I'm somewhat inexperienced at replacing strings and would appreciate some help. I have a set of  Daddario EJ45C classical guitar strings. The 3 bass strings each have a very flexible section on one end which I assume is used for the bridge. Should I use only this flexible section for the bridge connection, looping it over the saddle etc., or should I put the regular sturdy part of the string on the saddle and just use the flexible end for twisting the loop behind the bridge? These flexible bass string ends seem like they would stretch very easily and cause the bass strings to go flat. I hope you can understand what I'm trying to say!
Thanks,
Scott

[Grahame Myers]

The flexible section of the wound strings always goes to the end with the tuners. Use the stronger end for the bridge. When you wind the strings onto the tuner posts, don't cut them shorter at all, but leave them full length, and wind the full length onto the tuner posts. This reduces the chance of slippage, although it's a bit of a bore winding, and winding, and winding.....I use a small power screwdriver with an attachment that fits over the tuner buttons, sure saves a lot of work, especially with nylon strings.
When you've tuned up to pitch, stretch the strings one at a time by putting three or four fingers under the strings, between the 10th and 12th fret, and gently stretch them before tuning up to pitch again. Repeat this 5 or 6 times, or until they stop stretching. Depending on the string type this can take a while, I've experienced cheap strings that seemed to take all day before they stopped stretching :-)

Best

Grahame

[Scott Stambaugh]

Well I was sure way off base with this. I saw somewhere on line that it was the bridge end. So I don't cut off the flexible ends, but let the flexible section wrap around the tuner posts first before it gets to the stronger part of the string?
Thanks again!
Scott

[Grahame Myers]

You're welcome Scott

Best

Grahame

[mike carne]

Not sure about this on two counts.Surely the flexible bit is there for a reason?
If you attach the covered strings to the bridge the same as the plain ones( i.e. like pigtails) you'll be glad of the flexible bit.
The other thing is you don't need to wrap the whole string to the tuner.The main thing is to twist the string back on itself to lessen slippage.Remember to do this the opposite way on the treble strings to get a relatively straight string pull.
Acoustic Guitar Magazine has run a couple of articles on this.
Cheers,
Mike.

[Frank Ford]

As usual, there are different ways to get the job done.

I've always used the flexible end of the wound strings at the bridge, because it makes an easy tie, and often a somewhat neater appearance. I make sure there's none of the flexible portion contacting the saddle, of course. And, at the tuner end, I use a bit of a slip-knot to keep the string from slipping, so I can cut it short to avoid having a whole lot of turns on the roller.

Here's the full deal:

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/Classical/Cla...

[Grahame Myers]

I can only say I learned here in Europe (from a concert guitar builder) to use the solid end of the string at the bridge. The reason that the floppy end is there is due to the way they're wound in the production (or so I was told)
As far as cutting the strings off, why bother? There is any amount of room on the tuning posts, and lately I've had the feeling that they're making them a bit shorter than they used to be anyway (maybe to save money?), especially the D and the G. They only go 3 or 4 times round the post with the full length anyway.
One of my customers is a guitar teacher here in Lübeck, and he has about 45 rental instruments that he uses in the schools he teaches at. He always gets me to string them up with Hofner classic strings, and you can imagine how often I have to string his fleet of concert guitars up (apart from regular top/side/back damage repairs due to being dropped or knocked against something or other in the school classes, but that's OT :-))
Must say, re-stringing concert guitars is one of my least favorite jobs anyway: Winding, winding, winding, tune, stretch, tune, stretch......you get the idea

Best

Grahame

[mike carne]

Right on Frank,
now can you sing "Sea Cruise"?

[Antonio Cotichini]

I always did it the way Frank say, but with a couple more turns at the tuners and two knots at the bridge also on the bass strings. I fix the terminal portion of the string (on the bridge side) with the knot of the following one.

[Greg Mirken]

Grahame is right that the floppy end is just an artifact of manufacture- it's not there for any other purpose. As long as not extending over the saddle, it doesn't matter where you put it. Two things I learned from my good friend and classical guitarist Gregory Coleman: First, sometimes you have to change a string in a hurry, so it's best not to have umpteen loops of string around the tuner; second, when one string of a set just doesn't seem to play in tune with the rest, take it off and turn it around and it often is much improved.

[Grahame Myers]

Wow, that's a good tip with turning the string round if you're having tuning problems. That's what I love most about being a guitar repairman: You never stop finding new solutions to problems. The next time I have tuning problems with a new set of nylon strings I'll check it out.

Best

Grahame

[Scott Stambaugh]

Lots of opinions and knowledge out there and I appreciate it! From a convenience standpoint it would be easier for me to use the flexible end at the bridge because it's difficult for me to keep the low E string loop below the back edge of the bridge. But by the same token it also might be easier to loop the flexible end under the string on the tuning peg when tightening. I think I'll try it both ways and see works best. Thanks very much to everyone for your inout!
Scott