| Guitar string installation tips |
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Be careful when removing your old guitar strings, as the sharp ends where they have been cut or broken can damage the finish of the instrument. The ideal amount to wind onto the tuning capstan is approximately 2-4 turns. With practice, the amount of slack to leave becomes easier to judge. Make sure the string windings on the capstan go downwards towards the headstock. Avoid overlapping and try to keep the string windings neat. Hold the string taut while winding onto the capstan, and avoid bending or making kinks in the string.  Be sure to wind on the all of the slack (use a string winder for speedy installations). Do not wrap the string around the capstan by hand as this can distort the string. Only one pass through the capstan hole is required, threading twice only makes future string changes more difficult! Avoid stretching in new strings too much as this can also potentially distort the string wrap. When changing string gauges, check to see if the neck truss rod, string slots in the nut and/or tremolo tension, needs adjusting to compensate. If a string requires to be cut before installation, first make a 90-degree bend and cut off the excess off at approximately 1.5cm (½ inch) after the bend. This prevents any string wrap slippage. Never be tempted to put steel or steel-cored strings onto and guitar designed for nylon or gut strings. The tension will be too high, and may damage the neck of the guitar (as they have no truss rod). When you have replaced a set of strings, be careful when bringing them up to pitch. A suddenly breaking string can be dangerous, so keep your eyes clear! As a final safety precaution, snip off the extra string close to the capstan. You can also use a pair of pliers to bend the end downwards. This will ensure that sharp strings end don’t protrude from the headstock. Read more:
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