It's a string thing
Oct. 18th, 2005 07:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ksmithSo I took the new guitar to work today so a co-worker could show me how to restring it.
The guitar arrived stringed, and wasn't even that much out of tune. But as I tried to practice over the weekend, that fact that there really are different types of strings and that they do make a difference hit me really hard. Especially on the tip of my left index finger, which is scarred from an old lab injury and tends to start to hurt when I play for too long. After 15 minutes, I could no longer press down on the strings. It hurt that much. Since I never had that trouble with the electric, I figured I had a problem with either the strings or the action. However, I have past experience as the Queen of Broken Strings, and therefore didn't want to try to restring the thing myself. Hence, the arrangement with co-worker.
I talked with him about my playing issues, and he felt the problem was that the strings that came with the guitar were too thick. He's by far a more experienced player, and he had problems with them when he tried to play. So, during break, we found an empty lab bench. After removing the old strings--this guitar has a pin system that I needed to be taught how to deal with--I watched him restring/put on/whatever the first couple of strings, then did the rest myself. He showed me a few useful winding and tuning tips. Within about 20 minutes, we were done.
What a difference! The original strings were brass wound except for B and E, which were nickel. My new strings are electric/all nickel, ranging from .23mm to 1.17 mm. All of a sudden, the action feels lighter than light. Like velvet.
So, I learned something. Yesterday, I learned how to check a guitar neck for warp. Someday, I may even learn to play the damned thing.
The guitar arrived stringed, and wasn't even that much out of tune. But as I tried to practice over the weekend, that fact that there really are different types of strings and that they do make a difference hit me really hard. Especially on the tip of my left index finger, which is scarred from an old lab injury and tends to start to hurt when I play for too long. After 15 minutes, I could no longer press down on the strings. It hurt that much. Since I never had that trouble with the electric, I figured I had a problem with either the strings or the action. However, I have past experience as the Queen of Broken Strings, and therefore didn't want to try to restring the thing myself. Hence, the arrangement with co-worker.
I talked with him about my playing issues, and he felt the problem was that the strings that came with the guitar were too thick. He's by far a more experienced player, and he had problems with them when he tried to play. So, during break, we found an empty lab bench. After removing the old strings--this guitar has a pin system that I needed to be taught how to deal with--I watched him restring/put on/whatever the first couple of strings, then did the rest myself. He showed me a few useful winding and tuning tips. Within about 20 minutes, we were done.
What a difference! The original strings were brass wound except for B and E, which were nickel. My new strings are electric/all nickel, ranging from .23mm to 1.17 mm. All of a sudden, the action feels lighter than light. Like velvet.
So, I learned something. Yesterday, I learned how to check a guitar neck for warp. Someday, I may even learn to play the damned thing.
