Do any of you time your string changes?

[Spats Davenport]

My initial thought was that it was about how long it takes to change strings, so I will answer that question.

I would never do that. Normally, I would put on an album and enjoy the experience.

Until a month or two ago, when I set up my iPhone and videoed a string change on my Waterloo. All tools were laid out, including electric string winder, and the guitar was already on a neck support. Unopened pack of EJ17s on table.

Then I hit the stopwatch.

It took me 11:07, which included coiling up the old strings, and guitar pretty much up to pitch.

Please don't feel sorry for me. It was a bit of fun and my musical pals enjoyed the resulting, heavily edited video.

I could have done it more quickly if I hadn't cut the strings to length before winding.

[HFox]

Originally Posted by rmp

I don't.

I'd rather take my time, condition the fretboard, and polish the frets if they are due for it.

I use treated strings , so string changes are like on a 4 to 6 month rotation on my acoustics

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Gas]

Really ..... what else do you time? Sheesh

[CoastStrings]

[Mycroft]

"Time?" Really?

[Mayfair]

EDIT: I misinterpreted the OP's question, hence the edit.

At home? As some others have said, it's a ritual type situation when at home. I put on some great music or a movie, take my time, check out the guitars thoroughly, condition fretboards, polish frets, etc.

At a show? A matter of mins.

[RussellHawaii]

I would need a stop watch with a ‘pause’ button. Because, when I hurry I often have to stop to treat a bleeding finger from the dreaded wild string end! ( Although this does sometimes happens even when not hurrying.)
At first reading I thought this was about ‘how often’ instead of ‘how fast.’

[Glennwillow]

Do any of you time your string changes?

I don't because I don't want to scratch up my guitars just because I'm in a hurry. I think a typical string change and minor cleaning along with retuning takes me about 15 minutes.

- Glenn

[pvfederico]

I probably shouldn't admit this, but I NEVER personally change strings. I live in Mexico where the very best buy is labor. I pay an expert professional Mexican guitarist to clean and inspect the two guitars that I use all the time. He then changes the strings. If I have any guitar playing questions, he answers them. I pay him $50 for three hours of his time. (Normal pay PER DAY in my area is less than $25.)

He's fixed loose tuning pegs on my Martin, and reinstalled inlay on my Taylor.

I should say that I speak very good Spanish, and he speaks no English. I wouldn't have access to him without the language.

I change strings about every 60 days.

[pickinray]

Originally Posted by pvfederico

I probably shouldn't admit this, but I NEVER personally change strings. I live in Mexico where the very best buy is labor. I pay an expert professional Mexican guitarist to clean and inspect the two guitars that I use all the time. He then changes the strings. If I have any guitar playing questions, he answers them. I pay him $50 for three hours of his time. (Normal pay PER DAY in my area is less than $25.)

He's fixed loose tuning pegs on my Martin, and reinstalled inlay on my Taylor.

I should say that I speak very good Spanish, and he speaks no English. I wouldn't have access to him without the language.

I change strings about every 60 days.

$50 for 3 hours is a good deal. You would pay a lot more than that for labor in the U.S. I don't mind changing my own strings, but If I could get expert labor that cheaply, I would probably pay someone to change strings on my guitars, especially my 12 string.

[RustyAxe]

A simple six string change I can do in under 10 minutes (a friend once timed me at seven). But ... when I change strings on an instrument I haven't used in a while I inspect the entire guitar, inside, outside, neck, saddle, tuners, etc, etc and adjust anything that needs it. That can take longer than it does to swap out the strings, and well worth the extra time.

If the questions was one about string change frequency, I'm not on a schedule. When I pull a guitar out of its case I look in the accessory pocket, where the last string change date is recorded on the package the strings came in, telling me type and age. Once out of the case, I usually play that guitar until I kill the strings ...

[gfspencer]

I'm 75 years old. I don't time myself doing anything.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by gfspencer

I'm 75 years old. I don't time myself doing anything.

Best answer on the thread!

[Skip Ellis]

Why would one measure that? Are there string changing races that I haven't heard of?

[Aspiring]

I pay attention to how long it takes in general from each type of guitar ranging from 10 mins to a typical 45+ on my folding slot head nylon travel guitar.

Mostly it's so I have a rough idea of how long it will take and so that i can choose to start the job. Nothing bothers me more than a half strung guitar!