How do I change strings? I just poped one for the 1st time.

[Krieselman13]

Ive had my guitar since November and just now have I poped a string. It was the Low E string. I need to know exactly HOW to chenge the strings without damaging my guitar. So, HOW do I do it? Any help would be appreciated. THANX

[The Fury]

First, to take off the string(s). Since it's the first time I would change all of them. Either unwind them or cut them off (loosen them first or you'll have an eye out, lol.) Just push them out through the bridge, carefull not to scratch the finish of the gutiar - or cut yourself. Best to replace one string at a time. While the string is off clean the fretboard, if it's really mucky you might want to take all the strings off at once and give it a really good clean. If your fretboard is bare wood rub some lemon oil into it.

When the oil is dry/soaked in properly put the new string on, reverse the process for taking them off, through the bridge up the neck and through the tuning peg. Pull it tight and measure an inch/2.5 cm's of string coming out of the hole in the tuning peg. This is the amount of string that will be wrapped around (for strings LOW E,A,D use an inch, for strings G,B,E use about an inchand a half, maybe two). Push the inch of string back through, whilst holding onto your inch marker. Now you should have an inch worth of slack. Your tuning peg should go clockwise (being left handed) so bend the string coming out of the hole at a ninety degree angle anti-clockwise, this is to give it some friction. Supporting the string at the tuning peg with one hand pull the string tight with your left hand somewhere over the 7th fret. Once it is tight, the bend you put in should hold it in place while you wind the slack out of the string, pulling gently all the time with your left hand. Once it is reasonably tight, go on to the next one.

I hope that makes sense, it's difficult to describe without pictures. Maybe someone knows of a website that they could post.

[Krieselman13]

No, it doesnt make that much sense, mainly coz my guitar has a a trem, so you wont just be able to slip themn out. My mom said that she will take me to the music store today and get the strings replaced. So, now I dont need to worry about replacing them right now, the people there will SHOW me how to. Well, thanx any ways.

[The Fury]

If it's a Floyd Rose trem' I cant really help you, but if it's a standard strat style trem', then they come out/go in through the back. You may have to take that plate off, or there is usually a slit in it so you can just take them out.

And sorry about the description. It's one of those things I can easily do but it's not as easy to explain it.

[Phil]

Hehe, i remember the first time i tried a string change. I had a Floyd rose and it ended up lifting to a 45 degree angle with the body before i even notice i was lifting it while tunning. I thought i'd stuffed it but a friend let the strings off a bit and tightened the tension springs and all was good :)