Zen & The Art Of Guitar Maintenance #2 - 'Learn how to string your Les Paul the best possible way!'

On this video I’ll focus onto a very simple and specific task: How to restring your Les Paul in the best possible way. By watching the video you'll learn a better way to mount the strings to your guitar tuners. I'll also reveal to you another trade secret related to restringing, that will improve your guitar intonation.

This video is the 2nd episode in our series "Zen & The Art Of Guitar Maintenance", dedicated to teaching you detailed techniques how to make the most out of your guitar. Remember - a well cared for guitar will inspire you to play more... and playing more equals at becoming a better guitarist!

Despite the fact that I'm using on these videos guitars from a variety of brands for demonstration purposes, I'm not affiliated with any of them... errh... except my own brand Ruokangas, of course.

[alabamy]

best, clearest restringing on youtube, thanks!

[lumberlikwidator]

Every guitarist should see this video, even if they don’t play a Les Paul or similar style guitar. I’ve been stringing my guitars this way for over fifty years, and I still learned a few things from this lesson. For instance, I never thought about releasing any twist that may have happened to the string. That alone is worth watching this video. I’ve been using lip balm in my nut slots for many years and it works well, but it’s a little bit messy. I might just invest in a lubricant made for guitars the next time I buy strings. Here are three things I would like to contribute:
1–Some people like to solder the unwound strings near the ball end to keep it from unraveling. In theory this is a good idea, but it’s hard to get solder to stick to the shiny metal and you might ruin the temper of the strings by overheating it. Instead I use a bit of water thin super glue on the lock twist and it works really well. A tiny drop is all you need; capillary action will draw the glue into the lock twist. You have to make sure the glue is completely dry before putting the string through the tail piece.
2–If your guitar has a thicker head stock or shorter tuning posts you will have to be careful not to wind too much string onto the post. This seems to be a particular problem with Epiphone Les Pauls and SGs. If you wind too much string onto the post it will grind the string against the washer on the head stock and ruin the windings. For guitars like this, with the wound strings, once around the post will be sufficient, as long as you use the locking method recommended here. This shouldn’t be a problem with the unwound strings.
3–I’ve seen a lot of videos where the technician cuts the wound strings before winding them onto the post. Even if your strings have a hex-shaped core, this will cause your wound strings to go dead prematurely. Don’t cut the strings until they are locked with the knot recommended here.

Thank you so much for this excellent advice. I’ve been a player, builder and tech for many years and I still learned a few things here. This is hands-down the best video I’ve ever seen on how to string a guitar with a 3+3 style head stock. You’ve got my subscription for sure.

[charleskkakareka]

First time I ever heard about over-stretching a string. Thank you for the explanation and sacrificing that poor string for our education benefit! Been playing for almost 2 decades and I still learn something new about guitar setup every now and again.

[logrinn]

Excellent video. Releasing the lengthwise twist is so important and so often overlooked. I believe this is the first time I’ve seen somebody else mention it. Kudos!

[josephkovalovsky]

Thank you for explaining why you should not to go over the tailpiece it makes more sense just to adjust it higher and you won't scratch the tailpiece also I never realized that tool for stretching strings really mangles the string I've watched countless videos on this nobody has ever shown it or explain it

[mikesekula]

Great tip regarding twists and over-stretching strings!

[BonzoNaphtol]

Thanks you for this lesson. I knew this method but none about string wrap and about over stretching! I'll be very gentle now. Long life to you and your son.

[JP-jysk]

Great tutorial. Thank you for doing this.

[TheRawkVox]

Thank you so much for this detailed videos. You're Rock 👍

[rdesutter]

Big fan from WV, USA. Your videos are so patient and smart. Thx for taking the time to educate me.

[jonasedlund]

Great video! The locking method is exactly the way i wind my strings, but I have never thought about releasing the twist. I will look into that the next time I change strings.
It is great to get advices from a real pro!

[raybede]

Thank you for this, most detailed and best explain use of this technique on You Tube.

[teemuturunen]

Next a Strat (with a ”floating” trem): changing a set of 9s to a set of 10s and the adjustments one has to make?

[rselp]

Really great advice regarding not putting too many winds on the “D” and “G” string posts to avoid an excessive angle over the nut.
I’ve decided to experiment by using your locking ties on the plain strings and “D”.... and the “1 over, 2 under” winding on the “A” and “E” strings. Looking forward to improved tuning stability. Really appreciate the attention to detail in your videos mate! Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺!

[BuzzGoddard]

I usually leave one string on so there is tension on the neck. Makes it a little tougher to clean the fretboard, but I've always felt it better for the neck rather then release all of the string tension at once. Love the knot trick on the tuning post, did not know that. Thank you Juha!

[maxwiberg]

Yes these kind of concrete tips is always godd to have

[jonwardell]

Great video, I learned some important information. Thanks.

[markym]

Great! Exactly the way i wind my strings, picked up the metod from classical guitar string and later saw it on Martin restring video. locks the string in place and only one wind around the peg is enough. nice video, keep it up!

[gerryloughran]

cool well done ...little care needed when cleaning around the bridge/tailpiece that you don't accidently adjust the height by catching the clean cloth on the adjustment pole pieces, maybe best to take some measurements first and make sure the strings don't touch the back of the bridge after restringing !

[willdenham]

Do you angle the nut slots on LP/Gibson style headstocks?