How to Restring a Guitar With Locking Tuners

These are the steps to restringing a guitar with locking tuners. Locking tuners make it easy to quickly change a guitar's strings since they don't wrap around the tuning post as much. Excess string wraps on the tuning posts of a guitar can lead to tuning problems. By the end of this tutorial, you should have no trouble changing strings on any guitar that has locking tuners installed. You will enjoy the added benefit that locking tuners provide. You'll never want to deal with standard tuners ever again!

Music is, for the most part, my hobby. Every once in a blue moon, I get to make music for money. They are rare occasions, but they do happen. I created this Instructable for a technology class for college. It's not much, but it's honest work. I hope you find it helpful. Thank you for viewing!

Tools of the Trade

1.     Tuner – For tuning the strings afterward. Snark. $13

2.     New Strings – I’m installing Regular Slinky Regular Slinky by Ernie Ball. $18.

3.     Wire Cutter – I’m using pliers with a cutter in the jaws. Pliers. $8

4.     String Winder – No 100% necessary, but it helps. Winder. $4.

5.     Spacer – Something roughly 2.5”-3” thick. Round or square in shape. $0.

6.     Towel – Put a towel between your guitar and the surface you’re using. Don't forget! $0.

Know Before You Go-Go

Strings

String type and size are personal choices. If you don’t know what kind you like or are the best, keep playing and trying out different brands and sizes of strings. There is no correct answer to what strings are the best. It can vary from the type of music you are playing to the type of player you are. Experimentation is a must. Some rules are: If you are a lead player, you probably want a smaller gauge. For rhythm guitar, a thicker gauge string. String sizes are usually referred to as the smallest string in the package. So, the Ernie Ball set I'm using would be called 10's.

You’ll want to change strings if they become corroded, won’t stay in tune, or simply don’t sound good anymore.

Disclaimer: Cut guitar strings can be very sharp. They can pierce the skin and draw blood. Please use caution when handling cut strings. Please use caution using cutting and pinching tools, such as pliers in this tutorial.

Spread your towel on your work surface. Lay down the guitar. Unwind the strings, so they have no tension on them. If you are unsure which way to turn the tuning keys, strum the string and turn the key. If the pitch becomes lower after strumming, then you are turning in the right direction.

Unlock all the strings by turning the locking thumbwheel counterclockwise. Remove all the strings.

Install new strings. Run the new strings through the tailpiece. Then insert the string through the tuning post. If you don’t know already, strings should be installed with the thickest at the “bottom” and the thinnest at the "top." The image above shows the string distribution of the strings I selected.

Place your spacer (the 2.5"-3" diameter object) around the 12^th fret under the string. The 12th fret is located close to the body of the guitar. In this case, I’m using my metronome as my spacer object. Pull the string snugly through the tuning post and lock the string using the thumbwheel while the spacer is in place.

Bend the string so that the remainder points away from the guitar. This is so that when the string is tightened, it wraps under where it runs through the tuning post.

Repeat until all strings are through the tuning posts and locked in place.

Remove the spacer. Using your forefinger or thumb, hold the string and wind it tight until it is loosely attached.

ATTENTION: You do not want it super tight yet. They should be loosely attached!

At this point, your strings should be loose and ugly sounding. We need them this way to put them in the correct position on the saddle and give them a tiny pre-tune stretch.

CAUTION: If you have an adjustable saddle like the one pictured, be sure the string is sitting in the intonation groove. Your string will break when tightened if it is not seated correctly.

BONUS TIP: Stretch the strings a little before tuning. This should help prevent you from having to retune for a more extended period.

Tune the guitar.

Using the pliers, bend the cut end of the string down as shown. It will reduce stags and injuries.