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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Strings
Hi
I assume the strings on Joe's guitars are changed on the same days as his gigs...I was wondering how his guitar tech gets them to stay in tune after restringing them because my epiphone (with grovers), after restringing, won't stay in tune for another 2 days or so. Any special tricks with the strings?
Thanks:)
Hi
I assume the strings on Joe's guitars are changed on the same days as his gigs...I was wondering how his guitar tech gets them to stay in tune after restringing them because my epiphone (with grovers), after restringing, won't stay in tune for another 2 days or so. Any special tricks with the strings?
Thanks:)
I asked that question once. The strings go through a stretching regiment and new strings need a break in period before they are at there best. The strings are not changed everyday the way I understand it. Hopefully Joe will chime in on this if I have given any wrong information. Joe's current tech is as forum shy as his last tech was.
Jlowther wrote:Hi
I assume the strings on Joe's guitars are changed on the same days as his gigs...I was wondering how his guitar tech gets them to stay in tune after restringing them because my epiphone (with grovers), after restringing, won't stay in tune for another 2 days or so. Any special tricks with the strings?
Thanks:)
I asked that question once. The strings go through a stretching regiment and new strings need a break in period before they are at there best. The strings are not changed everyday the way I understand it. Hopefully Joe will chime in on this if I have given any wrong information. Joe's current tech is as forum shy as his last tech was.
I wonder what that regiment is and if its possible to do it at home without specialist equipment:) Is his tech not Dave anymore? And if I were Joe, after playing 2-3 gigs on the same set of strings I'd be too scared to bend them 
Thanks
jim m wrote:Jlowther wrote:Hi
I assume the strings on Joe's guitars are changed on the same days as his gigs...I was wondering how his guitar tech gets them to stay in tune after restringing them because my epiphone (with grovers), after restringing, won't stay in tune for another 2 days or so. Any special tricks with the strings?
Thanks:)
I asked that question once. The strings go through a stretching regiment and new strings need a break in period before they are at there best. The strings are not changed everyday the way I understand it. Hopefully Joe will chime in on this if I have given any wrong information. Joe's current tech is as forum shy as his last tech was.
I wonder what that regiment is and if its possible to do it at home without specialist equipment:) Is his tech not Dave anymore? And if I were Joe, after playing 2-3 gigs on the same set of strings I'd be too scared to bend them
Thanks
Oh, he breaks one from time to time. The tech always has a backup ready and waiting in his hands just in case. I've seen him break strings twice. you hardly notice since he keeps playing on the others with a shift until it is time for a fill or something, then goes to the side and does a swap in about 2 seconds.
I asked that question once. The strings go through a stretching regiment and new strings need a break in period before they are at there best. The strings are not changed everyday the way I understand it. Hopefully Joe will chime in on this if I have given any wrong information. Joe's current tech is as forum shy as his last tech was.
I wonder what that regiment is and if its possible to do it at home without specialist equipment:) Is his tech not Dave anymore? And if I were Joe, after playing 2-3 gigs on the same set of strings I'd be too scared to bend them
Thanks
I don't know how often Joe's strings get changed but I've followed what the guy in the video below does (both how he restrings and the tuning/stretching method) with good results. The restringing is covered in a different video. The stretching starts at about 3:45 in.
http://www.youtube.com/user/FruduaTv#p/u/27/J34tzntFUtc
I just keep stretching and tuning until the tune doesn't go out after stretching.
I treat restringing my guitar as a bit of a meditative event. It is important to get things right and not rush too much otherwise you will pay the price later.
I generally remove all the strings at once, give the fretboard a clean, then put all the strings one and leave them quite slack until all 6 strings are on with just a little bit of tension on each. Enough tension to hold them in the saddle and nut slot and keep the windings tight on the post.
Then I tune them up fairly quickly, and I usually tune them up to a semitone higher than normal (e.g. E to F etc.). Once done, I play a few riffs making sure I play on all 6 strings and do a couple of whole tone bends on each string. Also play a few bar chords up and down the neck using a heavy pick action.
One thing is to ensure that the strings go around the tuning post at least TWICE - sometimes more. Also, important to make sure that the windings are neat and do not overlap at all.
Oh, and I usually also run a very sharp 2B pencil in the nut slots before I put the new strings on. This helps the strings to glide through the slot easily. Careful though, if the graphite smudges it can look messy.
After the first play through at higher tuning tension, I will grab each string at around the 12th fret and lift them off the fretboard a couple of centimetres. Give them a tug basically to ensure any slippage will be taken up. Then I play a bit more with a few more bends and chords for about a minute.
Then I detune it back to normal tuning. It is important to detune BELOW the right string note and then tune back UP to the correct note.
After all 6 strings are done, I play for another minute or so, and I generally find that in 90% of the time, the guitar pretty much stays in tune after all that without too many major adjustments needed.
Hope this helps.
I asked that question once. The strings go through a stretching regiment and new strings need a break in period before they are at there best. The strings are not changed everyday the way I understand it. Hopefully Joe will chime in on this if I have given any wrong information. Joe's current tech is as forum shy as his last tech was.
I wonder what that regiment is and if its possible to do it at home without specialist equipment:) Is his tech not Dave anymore? And if I were Joe, after playing 2-3 gigs on the same set of strings I'd be too scared to bend them
Thanks
I don't know how often Joe's strings get changed but I've followed what the guy in the video below does (both how he restrings and the tuning/stretching method) with good results. The restringing is covered in a different video. The stretching starts at about 3:45 in.
http://www.youtube.com/user/FruduaTv#p/u/27/J34tzntFUtc
I just keep stretching and tuning until the tune doesn't go out after stretching.
That video looks like a similar stretching regiment I have seen Dave perform on Joe's guitar strings. A really important part that he says is shown in another video is the initial wrap on the tuner post. Very important part. Dave left in December of last year. Gavin worked the American tour earlier this year and Colin in now teching for Joe both Solo and BCC.
I specifically asked Dave this question and the strings are not changed for every show. Stretching in is very important, some makes require a lot more strectching in than others. If you can find strings that have been low temp treated (i.e. Frozen) this lines up the molecules somewhow and they need very little stretching and really hold their form.
I specifically asked Dave this question and the strings are not changed for every show. Stretching in is very important, some makes require a lot more strectching in than others. If you can find strings that have been low temp treated (i.e. Frozen) this lines up the molecules somewhow and they need very little stretching and really hold their form.
Like the Dean Markley Blue steel? or the chriogenically frozen strings? voodoo!
DR strings specifically say on their package NOT to stretch them out, just to play them naturally. They claim stretching takes much of the springyness and brightness (and life) out of the strings. Claiming they'll go dead much later if you don't stretch them.
I treat restringing my guitar as a bit of a meditative event. It is important to get things right and not rush too much otherwise you will pay the price later.
I generally remove all the strings at once, give the fretboard a clean, then put all the strings one and leave them quite slack until all 6 strings are on with just a little bit of tension on each. Enough tension to hold them in the saddle and nut slot and keep the windings tight on the post.
Then I tune them up fairly quickly, and I usually tune them up to a semitone higher than normal (e.g. E to F etc.). Once done, I play a few riffs making sure I play on all 6 strings and do a couple of whole tone bends on each string. Also play a few bar chords up and down the neck using a heavy pick action.
One thing is to ensure that the strings go around the tuning post at least TWICE - sometimes more. Also, important to make sure that the windings are neat and do not overlap at all.
Oh, and I usually also run a very sharp 2B pencil in the nut slots before I put the new strings on. This helps the strings to glide through the slot easily. Careful though, if the graphite smudges it can look messy.
After the first play through at higher tuning tension, I will grab each string at around the 12th fret and lift them off the fretboard a couple of centimetres. Give them a tug basically to ensure any slippage will be taken up. Then I play a bit more with a few more bends and chords for about a minute.
Then I detune it back to normal tuning. It is important to detune BELOW the right string note and then tune back UP to the correct note.
After all 6 strings are done, I play for another minute or so, and I generally find that in 90% of the time, the guitar pretty much stays in tune after all that without too many major adjustments needed.
Hope this helps.
Thanks very much for your reply and also everyone elses
one thing I do different to you is just feed the string straight through the hole then tune it...i learnt this from watching a Danny Gatton video if I remember correctly:)
Taylor's how to restring... cutting strings, number of winds, etc.
starting at 0:50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKwasgm1Y3g
dchale wrote:I wonder what that regiment is and if its possible to do it at home without specialist equipment:) Is his tech not Dave anymore? And if I were Joe, after playing 2-3 gigs on the same set of strings I'd be too scared to bend them
Thanks
I don't know how often Joe's strings get changed but I've followed what the guy in the video below does (both how he restrings and the tuning/stretching method) with good results. The restringing is covered in a different video. The stretching starts at about 3:45 in.
http://www.youtube.com/user/FruduaTv#p/u/27/J34tzntFUtc
I just keep stretching and tuning until the tune doesn't go out after stretching.
That video looks like a similar stretching regiment I have seen Dave perform on Joe's guitar strings. A really important part that he says is shown in another video is the initial wrap on the tuner post. Very important part. Dave left in December of last year. Gavin worked the American tour earlier this year and Colin in now teching for Joe both Solo and BCC.
If you are referring to the other video that I mentioned, it is this one:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FruduaTv#p/u/7/eo5i2wkXaoY
The part about the first wrap around the post begins at about 2:27. I think that this really does make a difference.
If you are referring to the other video that I mentioned, it is this one:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FruduaTv#p/u/7/eo5i2wkXaoYThe part about the first wrap around the post begins at about 2:27. I think that this really does make a difference.
Although my luthier wraps strings like this, I tend to do it the Taylor Guitars. The way the link shows... it will be a pain to get those strings off when time comes to change them. 
but they do seem to stay in tune well (intended effect) Any hints to make quick work of taking those strings off would be very beneficial!
DR Strings tell you not to stretch as they are pure nickles. Don't stretch any pure nickles as you will kill the tone in them. I only use pure nickles after one play thru they are generally good to go and they last quite a bit longer for me.
Easier on the Frets too since Nickle is softer then Silver Steel fret metal. I like DR Strings as well for the fact they still use round core wires. Most other brands use Hex wire. Hex wire makes it easy for the string makers to wrap string around, it gives the string something flat to strat wrapping with.
DR Strings tell you not to stretch as they are pure nickles. Don't stretch any pure nickles as you will kill the tone in them. I only use pure nickles after one play thru they are generally good to go and they last quite a bit longer for me.
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