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  #1  
Old 07-31-2008, 10:10 PM
LindaW LindaW is offline
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Default Changing guitar strings -- do you cut or not?

OK, so I'm watching some youtube covers and I can't believe how many people don't trim their guitar strings after restringing. How does one play with those long loose ends flapping in the breeze?? Am I just too compulsively neat to cope?
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Old 07-31-2008, 10:12 PM
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I definitely cut mine.
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Old 07-31-2008, 10:19 PM
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Acousticado Acousticado is offline
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For each string, I anchor in the bridge, hold the loose end up to it's associated tuning peg, then allowing enough extra string to extend to the next peg plus a bit more, I cut the string. I thread it through only about 3/16" and counter kink it (ends-up about 1/8" once wound and under tension). Then I have about 3-5 wraps depending on string gauge. I have done it this way for quite a long time. I did read the Taylor recommended method a while ago and I think I'm actually pretty-much doing it that way.

Edit: I just checked the Taylor tech sheet and I do it closely to Taylor's suggested method (and have for a very long time).
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Last edited by Acousticado; 08-01-2008 at 09:30 AM.
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Old 07-31-2008, 10:27 PM
ewalling ewalling is offline
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I used to take great pride in curling string ends in and out of the tuning pegs...mmm, must be something to do with growing up in the 70s!
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Old 07-31-2008, 10:27 PM
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Yes, you're too compulsively neat-o.

Really... unless you jam with the Doobie Brothers and drive a Chevy Vega, it's just best to trim 'em down.

Kinda like manscaping, trimming the bushes, or whatever else you want to call it.
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Old 07-31-2008, 10:28 PM
sfden1 sfden1 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LindaW View Post
Am I just too compulsively neat to cope?
No your not. I guess some folks think it looks cool, but to me it just looks sloppy. Plus, no way you can keep hose long loops from rattling. That would drive me crazy. I always trim them close.
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Old 07-31-2008, 10:29 PM
Darrel Darrel is offline
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I cut mine. I play with some players the just coil up the excess, and one guy that leaves them sticking out like some deadly weapon... You definitely watch your eyes if he is playing next to you

Darrel
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Old 07-31-2008, 10:36 PM
grantgsc grantgsc is offline
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Default To cut, or not to cut

Wait until these ding-bats who leave long boingy things hanging from their tuners run one of them into an eye. Mmmmm, that feels good. I actually had student who did this. Also to the folks who leave a 1/4 of an inch...
Just poke one of these "needles" into the end of your finger or under your finger nail. Mmmmm, that feels good too.
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Old 07-31-2008, 11:19 PM
beenerpro beenerpro is offline
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Definitely cut. And I cut short. As short as possible. I do suffer from the occasional self inflicted acupuncture. But I've been told that I should practice until my fingers bleed. This just gets me there faster.
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Old 07-31-2008, 11:43 PM
steve nm steve nm is offline
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I cut as close as possiable
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Old 08-01-2008, 03:00 AM
ocarolan ocarolan is offline
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Once tuned to pitch I cut to within 5mm or so of the tuner post and then curl the sharp end over (with small round nosed pliers) to avoid spikey moments.

In about 1964 I saw a picture of George Harrison playing a guitar with the excess string lengths neatly curled into small circles. Thinking how cool it looked I tried that for a while, well, maybe a couple of string changes anyway - hard work!

Keith
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Old 08-01-2008, 03:02 AM
Fliss Fliss is offline
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I cut mine.

Fliss
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  #13  
Old 08-01-2008, 03:08 AM
Soupy1957
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At one point, in my many years of playing guitar, I rolled my string excess up and left little round (Ø 1.5 or so) coils over the various tuning pegs.

The only thing THAT did was keep me from having to cut them, and kinda frayed the inside of my case a little. (It "looks" interesting and attracts some attention, wanted or otherwise).

But over the last 15 years or more, I've just bent up the ends and clipped the strings at the tops of the tuning pegs.

-Soupy1957
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Old 08-01-2008, 03:25 AM
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Way to dangerous to leave them waving about ..I bend the ends over and clip em' to about an 1/8". Nothing compulsive about it ..just sensible is all.

Bong.
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Old 08-01-2008, 03:39 AM
Lawn Jockey Lawn Jockey is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bong Twang Ping View Post
Way to dangerous to leave them waving about ..I bend the ends over and clip em' to about an 1/8". Nothing compulsive about it ..just sensible is all.

Bong.
+ 1

I do exactly the same thing.
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