Learning how to replace strings

**Darren Kern** · Dec-17-2004, 7:32am

The strings on my A9 are already dead sounding but I've been afraid to change them. Last night I took the strings and tailpiece cover off my cheapie Johnson mandolin to see if I could figure out what to do, but it's a little confusing. I found one illustrated "how to" deal on the web but it didn't help me much. Any advice? I'm scared to take the strings off my Gibson because I know nothing about bridge placement, etc. Thanks. Sucks being a newbie.

**grandmainger** · Dec-17-2004, 8:04am

Originally Posted by (Hydrilla @ Dec. 17 2004, 14:32)

I'm scared to take the strings off my Gibson because I know nothing about bridge placement, etc.

Well, you DON'T HAVE TO remove all of them at once! Change them 2 by 2, so that your bridge won't move as it will be held in place by the remaining 6!

**Frank Russell** · Dec-17-2004, 10:16am

Hydrilla - If you haven't done it before, it can look a little scary. For a beginner, it's probably best to do one string at a time, that way you can put on the new one and tune it up to the other in the pair, if your mando is in tune. Just unwind a string, like the outside E, with several turns on the tuner. When it's loose enough, you can unwind it from the top, detach from the tailpiece, and throw the new one on there. The FRETS article by Mr. Ford on string winding is really helpful, and that method seems to keep my strings from slipping under tension. It takes a while to string one up doing each string separately, but your bridge will not move, and it's less intimidating. Good luck, Frank

**Lee** · Dec-17-2004, 12:24pm

Hydrilla - I've been changing mando strings for ages and still find it a frustrating bloody chore. You might consider wearing safety glasses.

**Moose** · Dec-17-2004, 2:36pm

"Without shedding of blood, there is no proper string changing" - hee.. hee...

**Steven** · Dec-17-2004, 3:20pm

Yes indeed really DO WEAR safety glasses!Last time I changed strings the E string went completly through my second finger,they are so sharp I didnt feel a thing until I pulled it out.

**ronlane3** · Dec-17-2004, 3:21pm

LOL, Moose you got that right. I have yet to change a set of mandolin strings that I haven't bled.

**mandroid** · Dec-17-2004, 3:53pm

Pliers dont bleed, I like the little ones, sortof finch beak, so you can put a downward hook/bend in the short bit thats left after you cut off the excess,with diagonal cutting pliers, or those combo tools, so you dont have the bare short end to get stabbed with later..

**8ch(pl)** · Dec-17-2004, 4:18pm

I usually do them one at a time, starting with the center A, then the center D, then moving outward until they are done. I also wind the strings around the post first, then put them through the hole. Give the unwound strings 3 turns, the wound ones 2. Keep the string in the roove of bothe the bridge and the nut and bring it up taut, then do the winding and through the hole.

**Tom C** · Dec-17-2004, 4:28pm

The way I do it is....
I attached the tail piece end and slip the string through the post so the string goes outward from the peghead. I then bend the string that passed through the post hole inward towards the peghead about 90degrees and just wind up. I hijacked this pic from another thread for the peghead.

**Darren Kern** · Dec-18-2004, 12:23am

Thanks y'all, I think one (or two) at a time would be best for me right now. Geesh, I had no idea it was going to be this much more difficult than changing guitar strings!

Thanks again.

**hoosiermando** · Dec-20-2004, 3:15pm

I restrung my mandolin for the first time last week. I went to the website mentioned above (Restring Your Mandolin). The pictures and descriptions were great, I thought. I don't have anything to compare my first job to, but it was actually easier than I thought it would be. I just did one string at a time.....the most frustrating part was not having a lot of room to with, but I got used to it. My local music shop charges $35 to restring, so I'm happy to have saved the money! Give it a try!

**glauber** · Dec-20-2004, 3:37pm

Get one of the simple "string winders" (look for something that says it fits mandolin tuners). It makes a big difference when restringing, especially if you have fat fingers. It also makes it harder for me to wind up the wrong tuner, so you end up breaking another string (i hate when i do that). Not a "must have", just nice to have.

I use this one by Planet Waves, which has a built-in string trimmer (one less thing to keep track of):