Changing strings with no holes in post

The Z actually makes it easier to do the over under fyi

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Yup, I’m following. Very cool trick, thanks!

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Thanks for the Z demo, I’ll try it on my RG, as it doesn’t have locking tuners!

For guitars with a locking tuner, do you only make an L, or do you still make a Z? Do you continue to use about an inch of extra string in both cases?

Thanks for making the video, that’s a wonderful technique, and like many things, I look back at it and think, “d’oh, why didn’t I think of that?!” :laughing:

PS: I think you need to make a “pro” version of this video and put it on YouTube, I suspect it should get a lot of views… you’re quite natural at narration, etc., and should have viewers.

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I still make a Z, partially out of habit, but also because it ensures that while I’m locking it down, it won’t move, so I always get the same about of extra winds. I keep the same amount of extra string no matter what.

I know, its super simple, I had exactly the same “d’oh” moment when I was shown it XD

That’s an incredibly kind thing to say, thank you :slight_smile: I have sometimes wondered about sharing stuff like this on Youtube etc, especially about guitar maintenance, setups, etc, but I am woefully camera shy. It’s very different putting a video on an unlisted link on a small forum than putting it up for the whole world :sweat_smile:

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So for the locking tuner, do you unlock, Z, tighten up, and then lock? Or do you lock just after making the Z? My guess is that you tighten up at the end, but let’s see if I guess right! :laughing:

I think you’ll do great. I also noticed that you said “etc.,” suggesting not just YouTube, but TikTok, Instagram, and more… yes, that’s the spirit, try it!

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Wouldn’t worry about that. You have a good BBC narrators voice. A little like Christopher Lee - work with that. In fact, make that your niche to stand out.

If it’s an RG with a double locking trem system in good condition, you are likely not going to benefit from either much.

For most, you wouldn’t want to do either. Straight in, very little slack. - no more than a quarter to half turn to tune it up to pitch. Most are not designed to allow much more than this, or any amount of post wrapping. On some, the whole mechanism even cuts the strings for you. For the ones that do this, any right angle, or Z bend or bend outside the post is irrelevant, the string is nipped at the exit of the post.

Yes, those guitars of mine are made out of parts from Warmoth, and you’re right, the posts (Sperzel) are very short; not just that, they get shorter and shorter, until the shortest post can barely take any wrap! What you described, above, is my usual practice, so I’ll keep that behavior, but string my RG8570 with a Z. Thanks!

Those are some very kind words, thank you. Shyness is a strange thing, I know my voice is reasonably nice, but still its a very scary thing to do :sweat_smile:

You’re absolutely right by the way when it comes to tuners with very short posts, or indeed the ones that clip strings themselves,one won’t be able to do the Z with those (well, you could, but it wouldn’t give any benefit). Even on those tuners I still try to get at least a wind around if at all possible (as close to my method as possible) because it reduces strain on the bend where the string leaves the post hole (which would, technically, be the weakest point), but those are very very minor details.

I like this forum, the people are nice, and there is a lot of good knowledge floating around :slight_smile:

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Well, while we are on topic, you sometimes have to be careful with the ones that have graduated post heights. That aspect is attempting to solve a problem on straight fender type headstocks that they may not solve well. It tries to get rid of a snag point/binding point created by run of the mill string trees, by attempting to provide enough of a downward angle they originally had provided, without introducing another snag/binding point. The degree of angle the downward graduation of the posts provide with those types of headstocks may not be sufficient in some cases.

My guy!?… you know what? Godspeed my friend, godspeed.

I string my RGs this way, no issues at all. In fact, unless I’m going totally nuts on the whammy bar, I don’t even need my locking nut engaged :sweat_smile:

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I’m sooo trying this on my non-locking guitars!

As to whether the Z method can be faster for changing strings, my personal estimation is that changing all strings with locking tuners would take me about the same time as doing it any other way. :sweat_smile:

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While I’d be curious to see this, I’ve been using locking tuners even on my double locking guitars just because they ARE so much easier to string up in a hurry, and the extra $50-100 is small change on a $2-4k guitar.

(and I see you did post a video, I’ll check it out from home later on!)

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