The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #155914   Message #3672331
Posted By: Musket
27-Oct-14 - 03:00 AM
Thread Name: changing guitar strings
Subject: RE: changing guitar strings
They are certainly a bit lively to begin with! I haven't taken notice of the 24 hour wisdom in forty years of guitar ownership. I tend to change one at a time but invariably that is to protect any under saddle pickup rather than to prevent movement. The sound certainly mellows in the first 24 hours but playing them helps rather than hinders the process.

I agree with Backwoodsman but would point out warping might happen if you have a guitar strung for many years and then leave it sans strings for a few months, as my youngest did when borrowing my 12 string. Grr...

The tension on the bridge and headstock, especially at the fulcrum points of saddle and nut of a steel string acoustic is, from an engineering aspect, rather high. The truss rod is doing an important job. One of my guitars does not have a truss rod, relying on the strength of carbon fibre instead (Rainsong OM1000 N1) and whilst mine is fine at the moment, I notice Rainsong have stopped doing the N1 trussless neck as many people haven't been as lucky as me! The point being that string tension can affect a solid lump of carbon fibre, it's that tight.

Google the acoustic guitar forum. You will find threads galore to bamboozle you with perceived wisdom for every view on strings you can find. The good news is that you won't get anyone claiming only the traditional method is the right one

😇 I didn't say a thing.