Changed a set yesterday before the Black Lion session - took me 15 minutes using a string winder and changing one string at a time so that the neck tension would remain relatively undisturbed.

When I've brought the string initially up to tension, I press down hard on the bridge peg to make sure it's not been pulled up by the increasing string pressure. Then I pull the string up very hard, snap it back and retune, then pull hard on the string again, snap and retune.

Doing all this means that the string comes up to pitch and stays there. Got to the session, played for much of the night, and the strings needed very little tuning.

Although I use Elixir Nanoweb coated strings, I change strings every 3-4 weeks and always keep single spares with me on gigs. I always take a string winder, the spare strings and a small pair of pliers to snip the ends clean. If I break a string in the middle of a tune on a gig, I reckon to replace it and have it in tune before the start of the next number.

The slot in the string winder handle is also useful for extracting tight bridge pegs...