Changing String - All or One at the Time

Anders Eriksson · Post by **Anders Eriksson** » 4 Nov 2009 10:27 am

Hello,

I'm a beginner Pedal Steel Player and I have not changed my strings on my new Fessenden D-10 yet!

I'm wondering should I remove all strings and then put on the new ones OR should I remove one string and put on the new one directly?

I don't understand what will happen if I remove all strings. There's a lot of springs a things on this Guitar....

Better Safe than Sorry!

// Anders

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 4 Nov 2009 10:56 am

Anders, you can take them all off & give your Fessy a cleaning
Nothing should be disrupted as long as you put the same gauges back on

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 4 Nov 2009 11:01 am

i don't think anything will come loose if you do all strings at once...and then it's easier to clean the inside of the keyhead. but i usually undo like 3 stings at a time, replace with new strings and bring up to pitch using the relationship of the strings that are still on there in tune. just makes it a little easier to tune up by doin a few at a time.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 4 Nov 2009 1:32 pm

Best to remove all the strings, check the entire bridge for burrs, fix them, polish the bridges then if you have a roller nut, remove it, take it apart, clean it, lube it, clean the guitar then put the strings on.

tp

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 4 Nov 2009 3:17 pm

I second what Toni said!!!

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 4 Nov 2009 4:04 pm

If you do them one at a time, the tension on the body remains constant and it's easier to get the new strings all in tune as you put them on.

I alternate. If the guitar is looking grubby I'll take off all the strings and do a cleaning. If I did that last time, chances are I'll just change them one-by-one this time.

Jonathan Cullifer · Post by **Jonathan Cullifer** » 4 Nov 2009 4:20 pm

All at once. I give them at least an hour before trying to play somewhere, but I do like to clean the guitar with the strings off.

Scott Poley · Post by **Scott Poley** » 4 Nov 2009 5:09 pm

I second what Bob says

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 5 Nov 2009 3:52 am

Anders...Normally, either method is acceptable but on a Fessenden guitar I would recommend changing strings one at a time. The Fessenden guitars have open ended bellcranks, the pull rods being held in place in the slots by the tension of the strings pulling forward on the fingers. When this tension is released, the resulting slack may cause the pullrod to be dislodged from its bellcrank slot. Since most pedals and knees effect more than one string, the tension from the other string(s)helps stabilize the cross shaft and may prevent this from occuring. It is advisable however to check the underside of your guitar after restringing to be certain.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 5 Nov 2009 5:06 am

I've always took them all off on my Pedal Steels, cleaned the guitar and oiled it if needed, then put new strings on.

I've been doing it that way since 1969 when I got my first pedal steel (a Fender 2000) and since then with a PP Emmons and now my Franklin (since 81).

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 5 Nov 2009 6:22 am

I take them all off in one group. Makes it easier to clean, inspect, and lube.

This method has not backfired on me, yet.

Tom Campbell · Post by **Tom Campbell** » 5 Nov 2009 7:23 am

Anders

What David Nugent said should be taken into consideration. If the bell cranks are open ended, and there is potential for a rod to slip out of its slot, it WILL at some point. If you don't have your setup (copedent) written down, you will not know what slot the rod was originall in. Removing all the strings at the same time compounds the problem. Also, leave the nut rollers alone for the time being...if it's a new guitar it should not have to be delt with for awhile...and be careful with the "oil". Steel guitars are a low friction machine and don't require large amonts of lubricants.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 Nov 2009 8:59 am

What? Do you mean you hafta change the strings on these things?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 5 Nov 2009 9:16 am

The rods can also slip out of the bell crank slots on a Sierra. It's best to have your rodding chart handy just in case.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Nov 2009 11:17 am

If I had a guitar that would fall apart when taking strings off, not only would I make a record of the holes and slots, I think I'd take a permanent marker, and make a little dot on the bellcranks and at the changer also. You might break a string somewhere, and not have your records with you.
When giggin with my Kline, I changed strings every 3 to 4 weeks. In that time I'd go through 3 or 4 3rd and 4th strings. They wouldn't break, but when you had to tune them every night, it was just a matter of time until they would. I always use an old Fender "String Stretcher" to seat the strings. That cuts that hour of playing to 5 minutes at the most! Just run it up and down the string 8 or 10 times whilst activating any pedals or levers associated with that string

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 5 Nov 2009 11:37 am

John,

On the Sierra, it can only happen when all of the strings affected by a given pedal or knee lever are removed. A rod can't fall out when only one string is removed. Another change keeps the crossbar in position.

Also, this is only a problem when a pull has a lot of slack compared to the other pulls on the same pedal/lever. I played a Sierra for about 10 years before I messed up the pedal timing bad enough to cause it to happen.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Nov 2009 11:42 am

Thanks for clearin' that up Cloverdale b0b! I actually had a pretty hard time imagining that happening! I'd consider that a major design fault. Of course I'm used to major design faults cuz I have 4 ancient ShoBuds! Didja get that email I sentcha about the Double 8?
jb181

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 5 Nov 2009 1:41 pm

I always use an old Fender "String Stretcher" to seat the strings. That cuts that hour of playing to 5 minutes at the most! Just run it up and down the string 8 or 10 times whilst activating any pedals or levers associated with that string

Well, that's a new one on me. I been playin for over 30 years, and that's the first time I've heard of a string stretcher.
Hey John, that ain't like the ole "pipe stretcher"
is it? I worked on a pipeline crew for a few years back in the 70s, the company hired a new guy and one of the older fellows told the new guy to go look in the back of the truck where all our tools are, and bring me the pipe stretcher. That poor guy looked for that "pipe Strechter" for 30 minutes till finally they told him there wadn't no such thing.

terry

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Nov 2009 2:02 pm

Terry,
I've had my Fender string stretcher for 30 years! It's a great tool, and I can't imagine tuning my steels without using it. Guys that wait and wait for their strings to "settle in" are wasting a lot of time. I don't think Fender makes them anymore, but here's a cool tool that's a winder, string cutter, and string stretcher.
http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/DP0002.htm

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 5 Nov 2009 2:30 pm

Hey thanks John, didn't know they made such a thing.
Do you have one? Just wondering how good it works.
I'm goin to order me one right now. Thanks for the link.

Terry

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Nov 2009 2:35 pm

Terry,
I have an older Planet Waves model, but seldom use it. I play my Kline most often, and it's keyless, and you don't have to cut the extra string off. You just wiggle it a few times at the screw that fastens them, and they snap right off. Even the big old 68 string. So,,, the Fender is all I really need. But more guys should find out about these things. Maybe I should start a thread about them?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Nov 2009 2:38 pm

Terry, the Fender one works just great. I don't know about the Planet Waves new model. If you get one, I'd be curious to hear a review.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 5 Nov 2009 7:55 pm

I got one orderd John, I'll post a thread here on Pedal Steel after I get it, and give it a grade

terry

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 6 Nov 2009 8:04 am

Excellent Terry!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 6 Nov 2009 8:54 am

What? A "string stretcher"???

Now I've heard of everything.

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Changing String - All or One at the Time

Changing String - All or One at the Time

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