I can't be the only one, can I?

[Dick Sexton]

Today I've done what I call my "Fall Cleaning". It snowed last night and it's getting colder outside. I removed the strings from my SD10 and pulled it out into the center of the room. Cleaned and vacuumed it, inside and out, check for proper lube and removing any build up. Then I polished all the bright work in prep to restring it. I pulled out a new set of strings and then, "Reached For A Yardstick". What? That's right, I measure each and every string, so that when I cut and bend the end they lay perfectly straight in the key head. String 10, 30 inches exactly. String 5, 36 1/2 inches, exactly. Am I this anal? Am I the only one? Surely not. I have a list of the lengths that I carry in my pac-a-seat, just in case I break one on the job. I even measure the length of the bend that goes through each tuning peg so the cut end can never scratch the Formica at the tuning head. Come on, fess up. I can't be the only one.

[Bob Tuttle]

Yep. You're the only one........

[Lynn Fargo]

Yeah, you're the only one. But, what are your lengths and will they work on my Bud?

[chris ivey]

too anal! you're the only one.

[Jerry Overstreet]

I doubt seriously that you're the only one. I've thought about it, but I'm too lazy to do the math.

Oh yeah, it's cold here too.....but it ain't that cold.

[Kenny Martin]

Well now Mr. Sexton, i have to say that i put strings on so fast i couldn't tell you how long they are after i run them through the key head!

I slide it through and when it is about what i feel is long enough, i bend it, turn the key head and cut it off. Then i whind it up as fast as i can.

I guess the only thing i make sure of is that it whinds on top of the clip end and then the rest under it to pinch the end so it doesn't slip out!

Scratch? Yep i have done it a few times!
On the job when a string brakes, which is rare, but i can change it faster than a Nascar race team can.

Got to be ready for one of those speedy leads ya know!!

Alaways good to hear from you man......km

[Roger Crawford]

Dick, if you're going to that extent, why not cut a couple of 3rd and 5th strings to length and stick 'em back in the pack so when you break one on the job, it's ready to go. Might even pre bend 'em. I don't know of anyone that actually measures the string length.

[Dick Sexton]

I knew Kenny was pretty fast at changing strings, if he was anything near like he picks. Love ya brother...

Here you go Jerry...

Lynn, not sure about the Bud, but if it is close to my Derby key head, the following will work:

String/Length
1.......31
2.......30
3.......34 3/4
4.......35
5.......36 1/2
6.......36
7.......33 1/2
8.......32 1/4
9.......29 3/4
10.....30

I'd suggest cutting them 1/2" long... Then adjusting as needed next time you change strings.

Note: My Key Head measures 6 inches from the nut to string 5 & 6 tuning pegs.

[Ransom Beers]

Restring?What's that?Clean?Good Idea,I may do that.....................someday!!!

I'm kiddin',I just hook the string in the finger pull it until its about 3in. beyond the next key,cut it & wind it & hope I didn't cut it too short.Ever done that?

Mr.Sexton,how close are you to Hamilton or Steubenville?I have friends in those places,don't think they're friends in low places tho.Maybe low friends in places.

[Dick Sexton]

Thanks Roger, yes I've done that too, 3, 5 & 6.

Ransom, I'm about an hour and fifteen minutes north of Hamilton on Hwy127. We actually play Fridays at the junction of Hwy127 and I-70 at the T/A Truck Stop, an early gig 5 to 8...

[Jerry Overstreet]

....thanks Dick. I was just funnin' ya' of course. Seriously, I don't think your guitar can ever be too clean, too shiny, too pampered, etc. Long as it doesn't take priority over your playing. I've seen players on stage that clean their guitar between fills and solos...now that's anal.
I like the idea of symmetry at the keyhead too.

I think if you're very conscientious about those things, you're probably the same about your playing.

Those measurements will work for my Zum. On my Mullen, I'm going to pull the keyheads off, remove the tuners, polish the keyhead and install new strings. I'll adjust for the shorter keyhead. I'm in

[Dick Sexton]

Jerry I agree with you. A good cleaning and polish job does two things I think, it does as it says and gives me a chance to inspect every aspect of the instrument, finding problems before they can bite me. We may not all be able to work on our own steels, some of us, but we can be familiar with it when it is working properly. I know ever smudge, dent or scratch in mine, and most of those, I know how they got there. I don't pamper mine, I use it hard, but I do like to look it over and keep it clean and polished. Sounds like you do too...

[Barry Blackwood]

Wow - you can tell it's winter …...

[Jerry Overstreet]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't baby mine either when it comes to playing it, but that doesn't mean I don't like to keep it looking good.

I'm looking over your measurement chart and I'm wondering which string gauge set you use? Standard Nashville 17, 20 [5 & 6] etc. or the Emmons set. [18, 22] etc.?

[Dick Sexton]

Thanks Jerry, I forgot that... Makes a difference.

String/Length/Gages
1.......31.........13
2.......30.........15
3.......34 3/4...11
4.......35.........14
5.......36 1/2...17P
6.......36.........20P
7.......33 1/2...26
8.......32 1/4...30
9.......29 3/4...34
10.....30.........36

[Dave Grafe]

One man's anal is another man's striving for excellence, Dick, so you just go ahead on...

[Dick Sexton]

Probably a song in that Dave. Thanks for the thought.

[John Billings]

I don't even think about it with my Kline.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Thanks for the info Dick.

[Kevin Hatton]

Dick, you need help. Please see the string doctor.

[Sam White R.I.P.]

What I do is I hook it on the eye let and I go up to the second key from the one I'm putting the string on and cut it there and then put the string on.I have never had a problem and I make sure it does not stick out of the hole to far as not to scratch this Beauty of a Steel I now have.
Sam white

[Kevin Hatton]

Don't you just hate it when you poke the index finger of your left hand and you start bleeding on your steel? I've played more than one second set with a pulsating bandaged left index finger. Results from frantically trying to get a new third string on by the end of the song in the first set. I think I need to measure.

[Jack Dougherty]

I may have missed this......but how do you get a yard stick in your seat?

[Dick Sexton]

Kevin, I agree... Nothing breaks my concentration like a stick in the finger with the cut end of a 5th string. Seems to never want to stop bleeding and hurts badly.

Jack, yard stick at home, much care on the job... And yes, I was trying to think of something funny to say about getting that yard stick in my pack seat. Don't break many on the job anymore, changing more often helps, but there are those times.

Sam, I do about the same on the job if I didn't pre cut... Your way is quicker when your under the gun to get back in the game.

[Barry Blackwood]

I may have missed this......but how do you get a yard stick in your seat?

Jack, use one of these, although personally I wouldn't be bothered...