Uncle John's 7 step guide to guitar stringing..

equalsql

Saw this on social media the other day and thought some might find it useful.

merlin

A copy of that, except not so tastefully drawn, came with my Ikea guitar strings. 

Tannin

If you want a clear, illustrated guide to a bad way of doing it, it's perfect!

There is no need at all to tie knots in steel strings, and every reason not to. Simply pass the string through the hole and wind it on downwards (towards the headstock), using as many turns as necessary to have no slip. (More turns if you are a big bender, more turns if these are round-core strings, otherwise a couple will do but three is better.)

Way less messy than this nutty system and much easier to remove when the time comes.

PS with nylon strings, it is probably a completely different matter. But I wouldn't know, haven't restrung a nylon-string guitar since about 1973.

digitalkettle

Hear my confession...

I feel slightly guilty when I restring: although I end up with the same result as above, I start with running the string straight through the eye-hole...then I wind the whole thing on whilst guiding how it comes together. I've been doing this for forty years but 'pros' seem to do as little winding as possible (as per the pic).

That's a lot of extra turns over the years but my gears are probably still good for another century or so

digitalkettle

Tannin said:

...
PS with nylon strings, it is probably a completely different matter. But I wouldn't know, haven't restrung a nylon-string guitar since about 1973.

Should just about be keeping its tuning now then.

Jonathangus

'Martin method' FTW:

BillDL

Through the hole, one wind above, then a few below (number of winds dependent on what string) has done me fine for 40 odd years.  My strings don't slip.

Humboldt

For electric guitars, I use the method below. Find it absolutely fine.

String Guitar - In The Blues

guitarjack66

I go around the post once before actually threading the string through the hole. As I don't have much room or any real tools then any way of re-stringing is a massive pain hence why I don't buy strings too often.

Kilgore

I was a boy scout so I suggest the following:

Through the hole and then a clove hitch knot, back through the hole with a taught line hitch followed by 2 or 3 winds. Finish with a double overhand stopper knot.

BillDL

Kilgore said:

I was a boy scout so I suggest the following:

Through the hole and then a clove hitch knot, back through the hole with a taught line hitch followed by 2 or 3 winds. Finish with a double overhand stopper knot.

There's absolutely no way that is going to hold unless you add in a double sheet bend between the two hitch knots

Sporky

My uncle John is a total tosser, so I'll carry on stringing my way.