Tuning before cutting?

[therbulus]

Round core strings are touchier to install. However, I don't get the idea of bringing them up to pitch before cutting. How do you deal with the excess wire whipping around while you turn the pegs? (I just used the 90-degree bend recommended on the packaging.)

[Brent Hutto]

Two steps involved.

1) Decide if you really, really want round core strings
2) If so, just deal with all that wire whipping around while you're installing and tuning up to pitch.

It's a hassle IMO but not really any way around it.

[musicman1951]

I watched a video where the player bent the end of the string up toward the ceiling. Seemed to keep it out of harms way.

[warfrat73]

You can also, theoretically anyway, crimp them and cut them off before bringing them up to pitch.

That said, I never cut my strings before bring them up to pitch anyway.

[Rosewood99]

I’ve changed round core strings many times; it’s not that hard.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by musicman1951

I watched a video where the player bent the end of the string up toward the ceiling. Seemed to keep it out of harms way.

That’s what I’ve always done with round-cores - works perfectly. Not really rocket-science after all, is it?

[warfrat73]

Originally Posted by Rosewood99

I’ve changed round core strings many times; it’s not that hard.

Speak for yourself!

I stopped using them (used to be my go-to on my Northwood) because about every 3rd or 4th restring, I would have an E or A string just go dead and be useless, even without having cut the strings. Just tune up to pitch, whole string still intact... dead.

That said, I think the trauma has passed enough that I'm going to give them another shot since I just bought a couple packs the other day.

[Bob Womack]

Um, yeah. Bend it up. Measure twice, cut once.

Bob

[Mandobart]

No, it really isn't hard to do it correctly. "String whipping" is probably due to using the rookie poke n' crank string change method - you put the string through the tuner roller hole and use a powered string winder to take the string from fully slack up to pitch. I've never done it this way.

I don't have the wild end of the string whip at all. After seating the ball end in the bridge, I pull the string taut, wrap it around the tuner roller (aka post) 2 - 3 times for the wound strings or 4 - 5 times for the plain strings. Just a couple turns on the tuner button after this brings them up to tension.

It's not necessary, by the way, to tune up to full concert pitch prior to safely trimming round core strings. Once you have sufficient tension on the string to hear a sustained tone when plucked the wire wraps on the round cores will stay put.

[LakewoodM32Fan]

Another member of the "bend it up towards the ceiling" crowd (assuming the guitar is laying on its back). I've actually adopted that method for all my strings I only use round core on one guitar but ended up doing the same technique on all of them. Also the more string changing you do, the more I heartily recommend a decent cordless screwdriver and peg winder attachment. Best $40 I ever spent on guitar maintenance tools.

[jseth]

Since I've actually been conscious while changing strings (about 50 years now), I have always tuned them to pitch (or close to it) before I cut the string at the tuning machine...

Having the extra length of string while tuning it up doesn't really bother me, but, as someone mentioned, you can always crimp it upwards if you're worried about the string scratching the head stock onlay/finish...

And I have never used round-core strings...

[Tahitijack]

Years ago while restring a string brushed my cheek. Since then I wear safety glasses when I restring.

[dnf777]

Regardless of what type of string, I do a 90° bend, then another bend upwards to keep them from scratching the veneer. And I may cut them 4-6” until tuned. Only after tuning and some heavy strumming do I trim them short, then using needlenose pliers put a safety curl on the end. I usually dont have individual strings laying around, so slipped strings are a real pain.

[YamahaGuy]

Wouldn't locking tuners make this process a moot point?

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by warfrat73

Speak for yourself!

I stopped using them (used to be my go-to on my Northwood) because about every 3rd or 4th restring, I would have an E or A string just go dead and be useless, even without having cut the strings. Just tune up to pitch, whole string still intact... dead.

That said, I think the trauma has passed enough that I'm going to give them another shot since I just bought a couple packs the other day.

I thought I was. In any case, it doesn’t seem like you stopped using him because it was hard. More because they were going dead.