Ultimate String Tree Guide | Guitar Tech Tips | Ep. 84 | Thomann

String trees and string retainers don't get a lot of attention. Even though they have a big impact on the guitar's tuning stability too. How to improve your instrument with it and where should you install it on the headstock? Check out the video for the answers! Enjoy Guitar Tech Tips!

Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Introduction
0:39 Why do you need a string tree
1:13 Ideal position for the string tree
1:38 String tree / retainer bar types
1:53 How to improve tuning stability
2:57 Time for a test ride
3:32 Outtakes

Visit our blogs:

[hanten]

This is one of the best guitar tech tips because it was a least popular topics but it is important. I believe there is still many people doesn't know what is a string tree/retainer bar and what its function. Addition: a retainer bar can works the same as the fretwraps so if you have a guitar using a retainer bar you don't have to use a fretwraps at your guitar headstock 👍

[stringtheoryx]

Thanks, as always, Chris. Great vibe in your work.
FYI StewMac carries a very low friction string tree that has independent rollers holding down the strings. The 'independent' part is important. Beware that some cheaper trees have the two bearings attached to each other. (Not good) The StewMac item is the only one that I've found with un-coupled bearings.
I'm not affiliated with StewMac. In fact, I buy a ton of stuff from them cause I love them. Now that LMII is gone, there's no one else that carries such a variety of luthier parts and tools.

[janliebrich]

Thank you so much Kris, for having us follow such structured "on-point" videos with the most practical and honest tips - no "Palaver" just covering important issues (and those left out by most similar channels) without trying to talk someone into buying unseless stuff. Shout out to Thomann as well for supporing such a thing! Says quite alot about a company!!! Keep it on!

[donald-parker]

I've removed string trees on almost every guitar I've owned (or just left them in but popped the strings out from underneath them). To me, the simple test is this ... pop the strings our from under the string tree (and retune) and listen. If you can't hear a difference, you don't need them. I'm not sure if playing style impacts this or not. Maybe if you spend most of your time in "cowboy chord" land it is more important. For me, I can't think of a time when I really needed them. BTW - it might be worth mentioning staggered height tuning machines. Added bonus for removing them (besides removing a friction point that could impact tuning stability) - it makes "behind the nut" bends way easier. Final thought ... a 4+2 headstock design almost assuredly will not need them (especially with staggered height tuners). Ok ... second final thought ... if you hate them as I do, but you find there is a buzz or other sound you hate, the problem could be the nut. If cut with a break angle that assumed a string tree, you could likely remove the buzz without a string tree with a new nut, cut to better fit your new break angle.

[hoosierdaddy]

Thank you.. I"m just installing a warmoth neck soon I just ordered for my Japanese Squire strat body with 3 EMG sa's and I was wondering about this.. Very cool.. Thanks again..
Regards from the heartland of the USA
Southern central Indiana. USA
Tim

[i.shadrin]

Just recently explored all these amazing Thomann videos! Answering all the important topics in the best way possible! Thank you!

[gmeik]

what do you guys think of cleaning up metalworked parts afterwards with a magnet in order to keep metallic dust away from the pickups?

[usmcyounggun]

I replaced the metal string tree on my fender player strat with a graph tech one and it seems to work well, although to be honest I didn’t notice much issue with the original one. but they are soo cheap I figured I might as well do it before I have any issues.

[Charlie_Chicago]

You may very well be my favorite guitar tech on YouTube. That's a compliment, because I hate everybody.

[josephhughes]

Kris,
Who knew you could do a show on string trees?? Only the greatest guitarist on the Tube Kris . Well done! Hope you're having a great holiday season my friend.

[christosfragias]

Awesome demo. And love the crunchy tone at the end! 🤘🎸🎸🤘

[pauldncn]

I always use a drop of silicon spray on the dnd of a cocktail stick put in the groove each time I restring
Great video Kris thanks 👍

[VintageRadius]

I love this series! I’ve been playing guitar 20 years and can refret and level/crown etc but I learned some great tips here, always do. Thanks!

[rolandjgutierrez]

Hear l I am again every time I'm doing something on my Guitar I don't even put your name I just end up on your channel you havee helped me with 3 projects already I'm installing a 2nd tree on a sqier Tele bullet.I have another issue I have a 83 sq fender squier 72 3 bolt in back the tremello bridge is kicking my butt, where the 6 screws go there is metal setting in the holes wher the screws I think rest on also striped 2 screw heads 1st and 2nd . This guitar is nice. If I can play the darn thing, I'll subscribe now, and if or not it's cool, you have other goodies... thank you ....Roland, aka RocknRollflat5 one more thing the blick us hitting cavity wall cant wammy...

[TheFeatalion]

Christmas is the best time to talk about trees... string trees!

[joermnyc]

Had my first cheap electric (Washburn strat copy) lose the string tree when I put heavier strings on it, just flew off… then I put Sperzel lockers on it with staggered peg heights, seemed to work just fine without the tree.

Not sure if they are in Europe, but in the US StewMac sells a string tree that spans 3 strings, but still uses only one screw.

[JohnOhkumaThiel]

I cracked up at your gag shot of saying, "There are of course more modern alternatives to metal." Just glad you didn't go with East Asian pop music.

OK, so I have a new neck, roasted maple C Stratocaster in case you're curious. I don't want to put a hole in this beauty if I don't have to like I did a whole lotta times with the original Squier neck--which has so many holes I call it the Swiss 🧀 Neck.

Tried the vibration behind the nut test, just barely felt anything, but it gave me an idea which, let's just copyright it right here, might be a whole new product for guitars.

Long, long ago, archery 🏹 one of my hobbies. I used a compound hunting bow, very high power. It was the elephant gun of bows. Rambo didn't have a bow this powerful--though he used explosive heads which I think is cheating. Anyway, bunch of pullies and cables, not unlike a guitar 🎸 To deaden the unwanted vibrations of the bow string, you could add dampeners here and there. Same on a bicycle--I'm also a cycling geek--you just add little dampeners to the cables to prevent them from slapping the frame and buzzing.

It seems to me, if you're not having problems with strings popping out of the nut, particularly the e string, but want to reduce or eliminate dampening, you could put bits of rubber on the strings behind the nut and that would 100% do the trick.

And so my new love doesn't need any more holes.

Buyah! Home engineering, people!

[szrnkabela]

String tree for all strings! More importantly, get a good quality nut and file the grooves absolutely straight at the setup.

[rinokurin]

How many strings are fed through the string tree?? the b and e only? The e only?

[robaxl]

I just purchased a Ibanez PGM mikro guitar..I love it but the tuning is horrible…should I try taking the string trees off or replace them? They are the cheap metal string trees that come factory installed…my B and High E strings won’t stay in tune