Restringing slothead guitars

[Rogerblair]

I absolutely love slothead guitars. I like the way they look, feel, play, sound, etc, etc. The biggest complaint I’ve always had, and have heard others talk about is that they are a pain to restring and do a neat and tidy job.

Well, along with that, in my 50+ years of changing strings, I’ve always considered electric string winders a frivolous accessory, not necessary, and really for sissies. Well I’m here to confess, I’ve changed my tune, punfully speaking.

I recently bought a slothead dread, and was “dreading” the string changing duties. Now, I’m retired and have more time for such chores, so the time it takes isn’t that big a deal, but getting a neat job still eluded me. I thought if there was a way to do it and NOT have to turn the guitar on it’s side, things would go much better. The thought of a power string winder popped into my head and so I dropped in to my local dealer and secured one. Always looking for an excuse for another power tool.

Now, with the headstock extended out over the neck rest, I can approach the tuners from the bottom, keeping the guitar flat on its back. I measure the string to the next highest tuner post, clip it off, put a sharp bend in it, stick it thru the hole, engage the power tool and wind away, feeding it neatly toward the outside of the headstock. I can now change strings as quickly as I can on a paddle head guitar.

Forgive me if I’m treading over plowed ground here. I may be the last guy in guitardom to discover this, but I just had to share.

[hairpuller]

I love my electric drill winder! I'll never go back...never!
scott

[zmf]

Originally Posted by Rogerblair

I may be the last guy in guitardom to discover this, but I just had to share.

Nope, you're not -- I think I'm the last one. You pushed me over the edge. Santa's getting me a winder. I'm tired of sore thumbs doing it manually.

[justonwo]

Makes sense. I like my Frank’s Crank winder as well.

Forum member Silly Moustache made a nice video on stringing slot heads that I rather like. I’m a fan of slot heads as well!

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Rogerblair

…that they are a pain to restring…

Hi Rb

PAIN is the operative word here!!!

Yes…stabbed fingertips are a pain, and I usually managed to draw blood when restringing mine. I finally sold it to a friend (not because of the hassle of re-stringing).

[DownUpDave]

This is a timely post. About a week ago my sister wanted to know what to get me for Christmas and I sent her a link to Amazon for a power winder. I have three slot head guitars and 4 slot head ukuleles. That power winder will earn it's keep for sure.

[Brucebubs]

I enjoy the challenge of doing a neat job when restringing my slot-head... and yes, the powered winder really helps!
However, I only wind strings 1 & 6 to the outside and 2,3,4 and 5 to the inside.
Why?
To keep the string path more in line with the nut groove.

I do understand this can't be done on every slot-head and the strings do come close to touching the headstock but as my 2nd picture shows, they clear it OK.

[Wade Hampton]

I know that saying so automatically excludes me from belonging to the Cool Guy Guitar Owners Club, but I seriously dislike having to restring slotted headstocks. I don’t dislike that headstock design enough that it would keep me from buying a guitar that I liked otherwise, but I certainly don’t go seeking out those guitars. The times I’ve custom ordered guitars that normally have slotted headstocks, like the 12 fret Triple O and the 12 fret Double O, I’ve had them built with solid headstocks instead.

I know, I know, that makes me a wuss, in direct contrast with you hairy-chested, two-fisted slothead fanciers....


Wade Hampton “Or Maybe I Just Know What I Like...” Miller

[llew]

Originally Posted by hairpuller

I love my electric drill winder! I'll never go back...never!
scott

^^^^^This is the answer!^^^^^

[dneal]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

...I only wind strings 1 & 6 to the outside and 2,3,4 and 5 to the inside.
Why?
To keep the string path more in line with the nut groove.

The other side of the coin is that if you wind 1 and 6 to the inside, and the others to the outside; the tension pulls the windings tight and reduces the chance of tuning instability.

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I enjoy the challenge of doing a neat job when restringing my slot-head... and yes, the powered winder really helps!
However, I only wind strings 1 & 6 to the outside and 2,3,4 and 5 to the inside.
Why?
To keep the string path more in line with the nut groove.

I do understand this can't be done on every slot-head and the strings do come close to touching the headstock but as my 2nd picture shows, they clear it OK.

This. Just the way I do it.

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by Rogerblair

I measure the string to the next highest tuner post, clip it off, put a sharp bend in it, stick it thru the hole, engage the power tool and wind away, feeding it neatly toward the outside of the headstock.

Pretty much exactly the way I do it, except that I find making the bend BEFORE clipping it to be much easier and less injury prone...

[rmgjsps]

Dave Doll from Martin has a very good, clear, You Tube video on restringing slot heads. His paddlehead and classical restringing videos are also very good.

I have a tuner "bit" for a power screwdriver, but lately I've been using one of those little manual winders. Just another data point.

[justonwo]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

I know that saying so automatically excludes me from belonging to the Cool Guy Guitar Owners Club, but I seriously dislike having to restring slotted headstocks. I don’t dislike that headstock design enough that it would keep me from buying a guitar that I liked otherwise, but I certainly don’t go seeking out those guitars. The times I’ve custom ordered guitars that normally have slotted headstocks, like the 12 fret Triple O and the 12 fret Double O, I’ve had them built with solid headstocks instead.

I know, I know, that makes me a wuss, in direct contrast with you hairy-chested, two-fisted slothead fanciers....


Wade Hampton “Or Maybe I Just Know What I Like...” Miller

You are dead to me Wade Hampton Miller.

[Oldguy64]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

I know that saying so automatically excludes me from belonging to the Cool Guy Guitar Owners Club, but I seriously dislike having to restring slotted headstocks. I don’t dislike that headstock design enough that it would keep me from buying a guitar that I liked otherwise, but I certainly don’t go seeking out those guitars. The times I’ve custom ordered guitars that normally have slotted headstocks, like the 12 fret Triple O and the 12 fret Double O, I’ve had them built with solid headstocks instead.

I know, I know, that makes me a wuss, in direct contrast with you hairy-chested, two-fisted slothead fanciers....


Wade Hampton “Or Maybe I Just Know What I Like...” Miller

I’m not fond of them either.
The only one I’ve had suffered a broken truss rod, (thankfully) and had a new neck put on. A neck with standard tuners.

Like Wade, I won’t go seeking one out. But if a guitar I fancy happens to be a slot-head, I won’t pass it up because it is a slot-head.