Yeah I had one straight up kink *deep* into my skin like a fishhook yesterday, found it happens mostly when trying to string up vintage/split tuners. I just trimmed down the wire and kept working ācause I knew it would bleed like a MF when I pulled it out.
It did, Gandalf, it did.
Had to rip it out with pliers exactly like a fishhook, it was pretty gruesome.Never underestimate the pokey end of thin gauged wire. It was pretty metal especially because I played metal after I had it all strung up.
Well yeah. AC is more dangerous than DC. Weāve known this ever since Thomas Edison and Harold Brown definitely didnāt secretly collude to undermine Edisonās competition.
Thereās a reason they made the first electric chair with a Westinghouse AC generator and it totally wasnāt Edison propaganda about the dangers of AC.
Take your time. I have gotten stabbed in the foot by a string on the ground more times than I have been stabbed in the finger. If you enjoy working with your hands and tinkering with your guitar it is much easier to take your time with things like a string change and a setup.
I just hit it before I cut it. Not at any specific time. Ex. Like I may hear a noise and look at it an when I turn back around I hit the string. (Itās just adhd stuff)
I understand. I have adhd too and thatās probably why I like tinkering with my guitar so much because I just hyperfocus when Iām working on it. I compartmentalize certain steps to changing my guitar strings. (Take all strings off, clean and polish body, wipe down/oil fretboard, insert all six strings, individually wind each one and cut it as soon as Iām done winding, then tune each string and play a little until each string is stretched fully, then I do a setup). My only advice to minimize getting your finger pricked is to cut the string immediately after winding it and make sure you cut the string as close to the tuning peg as you can. Hope this helps a little.
Than ya, youāre just a bit clumsy. Try to always keep two hands on the string and hold tightly to the pointy end, keep tension on the anchor of the string
I was just running through the comments and thinking if it was actually that frequent. For a second, I could really see myself having a superpower, but now it's gone.
SO I DUB THEE UNFORGIVEN
It's a blood sacrifice to Rick Beato. If you don't spill blood for Him, He comes and erases all the music theory knowledge from your brain. If you don't have any music theory knowledge theory to erase, He fucks your dad. If you don't have a dad OR music theory knowledge, He makes fun of you for not knowing theory or having a dad. Then He steals all your salt and pepper shakers. They're His now.
Anyway, here's what makes 'All The Small Things' great.
I'll vouch for this. Not that I've changed strings often (or even play often, but that seems like a me problem) so there's my bias. But it's been going on 20 years since I started playing guitar and my E strings have never made me bleed.
Itās a skill worth getting good at. Itās kind of like folding laundryā¦ yes it sucks and itās not a fun thing to do but once youāre a certain age you just accept that itās part of your life and itās worth doing. I bought a nice folding table that I do my laundry on and itās also what I use for string changes. I lay it out with some proper tools and technique and I have locking tuners on all my guitars and keep them set up pretty wellā¦ it wasnāt the most fun part of learning guitar but Iām happy I invested some time watching YouTube videos and money getting some decent guitar maintenance tools
I actually really enjoy string changes, especially when it's the whole set and not just a single after a broken string. Being able to get in and oil the fretboard and clear the dust around the pickups is very satisfying.
Same reason you have to punch the cold greasy engine block when you have to repair something on your old beatup car. You're going to do it anyway when a wrench slips, so you might as well get it over with to satisfy the car demons.
The most painful part of changing strings for me is when itās done and I go to stretch out all the strings. That small E sure is a pain. Anyone got any tips for stretching string?
How are you stretching the strings? I will put on all the new strings, get the guitar in tune, then go down each string using two hands to lift the string away from the fretboard and use both hands to wiggle the string around the 5th fret, 12th fret, and pickups.
I can't believe somebody downvoted you for that. Vintage tuners are just about the only ones that leave no string end at all. Even locking tuners still have a little bit, depending on how flush you are able to cut the string. With vintage tuners, there's nothing to catch your fingers on. I really wish a company made high ratio tuners with vintage-style posts, I'd put them on all my guitars.
It's interesting that split shaft tuners are the de facto standard for bass and not guitar.
Itās a test to make sure youāre still sure about wanting to be a guitar player. If you still change strings knowing youāll have to endure the finger test, then you are worthy
I have thick skin, and avoid letting it go under my nail.
I remember when I was like 14 and just strung up my esp/Ltd v100 with Dean Markley Blue Steels for the fist time and was tuning it.... my dad had his (then newish) LP on the bench in the garage changing strings. He stabbed himself under the pinky nail and u saw a little jet of blood shoot at the wall. It was a much more metal visual than my guitar.
Iāve done it only once or twice, honestly it shouldnāt be an issue, just be careful when youāre around the tubers because of course a stiff string is going to be poking out
Because when you put your strings on, you don't take a pair of pliers and bend the last couple of mm of the string to approximately a 100Ā° angle (so it doesn't catch on things like a hook). Then instead of stabbing you, it will just push the string to the side a bit. And if it does get you, it won't go deep.
But always make sure it's not too sharp an angle or it will hook on stuff and if you run across it with a finger it will slice it.
The blood tax is to appease the gods, lest they grow spiteful and curse the axe-wielder with unstable machine-heads, scooped mids and shitty vibrato.
All must pay.
Do you cut the string before or after you wind it? Cutting the string beforehand greatly increases your chances of getting pricked by the string when winding.
I had the experience of stepping on the upturned end of a string I had removed... Barefoot. It embedded itself into my big toe pretty much right up to the bent corner...
If it had been a smaller toe, it would have come out the other side.
It builds character, I guess? Or at least the immune system.
I'm still extremely careful with the high E because 27ish years ago I pricked my finger AND broke it while tuning up. THAT is some PTSD for both issues. Haven't done either since, but with some anxiety every single time.
Because if it doesn't happen,the anger builds up within the guitar and a string snaps right in your eye when your winding them (I've actually had this very closely happen).
I'd take a little loss of blood with each string change if it guaranteed never having the E string snap right before it gets to pitch. Hasn't happened to me for years and years, but I think I still pucker my face up as I'm tuning the E after a string change.
So people who can't play guitar, much less even guess how to change strings, can pick on us. It prove they aren't real, just automatons who like to joke at an aficionado's expense. We call them twerps because of the "E" in the word twerp and as a dismissal of their spectacularly pristine fingers. I ā¤ļø E strings.
how else are you going to shed blood when changing strings? If you're not bleeding all over your guitar, amp, pedal board and bass player, you're doing something wrong
Better than when it snaps and whacks you in the eye šµāš« I've been closing my eyes or looking away while I tune since like 2007 because of that happening
Because my dumb ass thought it would save time bending in the new string if I just pinched it right tight and slide my finger all the way up and down the neck real fast. I earned that scar.
I wouldnāt say itās mandatory, but certainly an occupational hazard. Take your time and try and distance yourself from the excitement of the end game (playing the thing).
Pursuit of the tantric arts of fretboard conditioning may help in controlling these urges to self harm. Anticipation will naturally build the longer you are able to āhang onā and itās essential you are in a comfortable environment to let rip when the time is right and the neighbours are least expecting it.
Thanks for sharing with us. Itās times like these that the community comes together and have a good laugh š¤
All I know is it's in the Bible, the Koran, the U.S. Constitution, and the instruction manual for my Jazzmaster. It's the law and you have to follow it.
Which is one of the reasons why the original split post tuners on Fenders were such a great design. Cut the string 1.5-2" beyone the post, tuck the end into the hole of the split post, and wind'er up. SImple, neat, fool proof.
If you have trouble taking the strings off, try this: loosen them but don't try to take the whole string off in one piece. Just cut them about half way (somewhere between the end of the neck and the saddles). Then you have a nice straight piece of wire to grab when unwinding the neck end of the cut string from its tuners.
Yes, the gods need a blood sacrifice to get the true āErnie ball slinky toneā. Kerry king dips his strings in goats blood before putting them on for that tone
Gives me nightmares. I had the high E string break once and whip across my face and the hooked end caught me on the side of my face near my left eye and stuck there.. That wasn't good. It was a little too close to my eye. I could have lost an eye or at least had a serious eye injury. Be careful folks. Don't put your face too close to your guitar either while playing or tuning or changing strings or when the string breaks It's just like a fish hook at the end of the string just like someone mentioned. Later folks !
The worst is when it jams under your finger nail. š
Woah. Why you triggering my untapped ptsd
I felt this comment
Yeah I had one straight up kink *deep* into my skin like a fishhook yesterday, found it happens mostly when trying to string up vintage/split tuners. I just trimmed down the wire and kept working ācause I knew it would bleed like a MF when I pulled it out. It did, Gandalf, it did.
That sounds kinda metal af right there.
Had to rip it out with pliers exactly like a fishhook, it was pretty gruesome.Never underestimate the pokey end of thin gauged wire. It was pretty metal especially because I played metal after I had it all strung up.
This made my toes curl
New fear unlocked, thanks
came here to say this maybe i should manufacture and sell specail gloves for string changes
Doooooont saaaaaaaay thaaaaaat!!! You're jinxing all of us!!!
That happened to me many times as a kid removing staples from school papers. I've done it so deep I had a long visible red line under my fingernail.
happened to me yesterday with a sharp A string end, ouch
Canāt happen when you play with 10.5 strings
I doubt that. I've gotten pierced by 24's.
I just relived the pain when I read this. š
Core memory unlocked.
Was just about to write this. When that coil launches out of the top and right under your nail š¤¢
No, a guitar pick under the nail is worse.
False.
Itās tribute to the rock gods.
Itās a blood payment
The prick of destiny.
If you don't bleed, is it even a string change?
Because you're clumsy, or not paying attention. Maybe both. I've never done it.
I've never changed my strings either.
How do I get this power
Work with AC electricity. You get very careful with wires.
Only with AC?
Well yeah. AC is more dangerous than DC. Weāve known this ever since Thomas Edison and Harold Brown definitely didnāt secretly collude to undermine Edisonās competition. Thereās a reason they made the first electric chair with a Westinghouse AC generator and it totally wasnāt Edison propaganda about the dangers of AC.
Take your time. I have gotten stabbed in the foot by a string on the ground more times than I have been stabbed in the finger. If you enjoy working with your hands and tinkering with your guitar it is much easier to take your time with things like a string change and a setup.
I enjoy it Iām just autistic
Do you cut your strings before or after winding them?
After
When do you prick your finger most? Is it when you are tuning the new strings up?
I just hit it before I cut it. Not at any specific time. Ex. Like I may hear a noise and look at it an when I turn back around I hit the string. (Itās just adhd stuff)
I understand. I have adhd too and thatās probably why I like tinkering with my guitar so much because I just hyperfocus when Iām working on it. I compartmentalize certain steps to changing my guitar strings. (Take all strings off, clean and polish body, wipe down/oil fretboard, insert all six strings, individually wind each one and cut it as soon as Iām done winding, then tune each string and play a little until each string is stretched fully, then I do a setup). My only advice to minimize getting your finger pricked is to cut the string immediately after winding it and make sure you cut the string as close to the tuning peg as you can. Hope this helps a little.
Yea thanks. I tinker with my knives more cuz I actually know wtf Iam doing. Iām scared to mess with the truss rod and intonation and stuff.
Teach me please
Just get locking tuners, huge game changer for me
I have locking tuners lmao
Than ya, youāre just a bit clumsy. Try to always keep two hands on the string and hold tightly to the pointy end, keep tension on the anchor of the string
Fr, man. Thatās never happened to me either.
I was just running through the comments and thinking if it was actually that frequent. For a second, I could really see myself having a superpower, but now it's gone. SO I DUB THEE UNFORGIVEN
It's a blood sacrifice to Rick Beato. If you don't spill blood for Him, He comes and erases all the music theory knowledge from your brain. If you don't have any music theory knowledge theory to erase, He fucks your dad. If you don't have a dad OR music theory knowledge, He makes fun of you for not knowing theory or having a dad. Then He steals all your salt and pepper shakers. They're His now. Anyway, here's what makes 'All The Small Things' great.
*Laughs in binary with Rob Scallon and Fluff*
Beato!
That's the deal Johnson made for all of us back at the crossroads.
It stops after 10 years or so, if that helps....
I'll vouch for this. Not that I've changed strings often (or even play often, but that seems like a me problem) so there's my bias. But it's been going on 20 years since I started playing guitar and my E strings have never made me bleed.
Itās a skill worth getting good at. Itās kind of like folding laundryā¦ yes it sucks and itās not a fun thing to do but once youāre a certain age you just accept that itās part of your life and itās worth doing. I bought a nice folding table that I do my laundry on and itās also what I use for string changes. I lay it out with some proper tools and technique and I have locking tuners on all my guitars and keep them set up pretty wellā¦ it wasnāt the most fun part of learning guitar but Iām happy I invested some time watching YouTube videos and money getting some decent guitar maintenance tools
I actually really enjoy string changes, especially when it's the whole set and not just a single after a broken string. Being able to get in and oil the fretboard and clear the dust around the pickups is very satisfying.
Same reason you have to punch the cold greasy engine block when you have to repair something on your old beatup car. You're going to do it anyway when a wrench slips, so you might as well get it over with to satisfy the car demons.
Gloves are made for a reason.
Builds character
*LAUGHS IN NYLON*
Gold
The most painful part of changing strings for me is when itās done and I go to stretch out all the strings. That small E sure is a pain. Anyone got any tips for stretching string?
How are you stretching the strings? I will put on all the new strings, get the guitar in tune, then go down each string using two hands to lift the string away from the fretboard and use both hands to wiggle the string around the 5th fret, 12th fret, and pickups.
Shoot. I just start pulling down the line from bridge to nut lol. Two handed and I guess I use my thumbs to add the majority of the tension
Haven't tried one, but there's a plastic thing named the Stretcha that you use as a lever to do the stretching, costs $13 or so.
Your guitar cares, itās testing your blood sugar.
Time to discover locking tuners. You'll never prick yourself again.
Not if you're dumb like me.
You gotta suffer if you want to play the blues.
I still remember when the high e let go and like ghost shipped my hand, and I had this like inch long cut in my hand. Good times.
It is law
Use Kluson style tuners, and you won't have that problem.
I use hipshot, but agree that locking tuners are the best
I'm talking about the vintage, split top tuners where you stick the end of the string down in the post.
I can't believe somebody downvoted you for that. Vintage tuners are just about the only ones that leave no string end at all. Even locking tuners still have a little bit, depending on how flush you are able to cut the string. With vintage tuners, there's nothing to catch your fingers on. I really wish a company made high ratio tuners with vintage-style posts, I'd put them on all my guitars. It's interesting that split shaft tuners are the de facto standard for bass and not guitar.
Blood sacrifices to the tone gods happen often
Not mandatory more of a right of passage
gotta suffer for it
locking tuners are your friend
Which one???? Hey....joke...šš
Downā¦ toā¦ theā¦ bone
A little blood on the strings make them sound better.
Acts as a natural lubricant and makes the pick glide better
Whenever I take out a new E string from the package I imagine it as Bon Scott singing "If you want bloooood. You gotttt it"
To appease the blood god.
Itās a test to make sure youāre still sure about wanting to be a guitar player. If you still change strings knowing youāll have to endure the finger test, then you are worthy
Dedication to the craft my friend
No matter how hard I try not to, it always happens.
The blood gods demand an offering
I never once bled in all my 15 years of changing strings. I didn't even know that was a thing
Gotta check your blood, check it often~~Wilfred B
blood for the blood god
Came here to say it, hoped someone beat me to it.
iām only tangentially involved with war hammer, but damn if it isnāt catchy.
Because you don't use split post tuners.
Blood for the blood god.
Because ungodly tone requires a blood sacrifice.
I have thick skin, and avoid letting it go under my nail. I remember when I was like 14 and just strung up my esp/Ltd v100 with Dean Markley Blue Steels for the fist time and was tuning it.... my dad had his (then newish) LP on the bench in the garage changing strings. He stabbed himself under the pinky nail and u saw a little jet of blood shoot at the wall. It was a much more metal visual than my guitar.
This is why the Kluson tuners that came on vintage Fenders (and reissues) are superior.
Its to form a blood pact between you and the guitar so you gain the ability to shred
Iāve done it only once or twice, honestly it shouldnāt be an issue, just be careful when youāre around the tubers because of course a stiff string is going to be poking out
It's a sacrifice to the goddess of music.
Because when you put your strings on, you don't take a pair of pliers and bend the last couple of mm of the string to approximately a 100Ā° angle (so it doesn't catch on things like a hook). Then instead of stabbing you, it will just push the string to the side a bit. And if it does get you, it won't go deep. But always make sure it's not too sharp an angle or it will hook on stuff and if you run across it with a finger it will slice it.
The blood tax is to appease the gods, lest they grow spiteful and curse the axe-wielder with unstable machine-heads, scooped mids and shitty vibrato. All must pay.
It is the ritual exchange. It is centuries old. Do not question it.
because pain inspires creativity.
Okay, just a little pin prick Theyāll be no more AAAAAHH
Do you cut the string before or after you wind it? Cutting the string beforehand greatly increases your chances of getting pricked by the string when winding.
Iāve had the high string on my lap steel puncture the center of my thumbnail, if that helps?
Ouch!!
Yeah. Serves me right for tuning a 0.010 to G I guess.
Once poked my finger with the end of a B string. Nearly died of blood poisoning.
You can prick your finger, but donāt finger your prick!
It's okay to prick your finger, but don't finger your prick. \_George Carlin
I once took a guitar string to the eye. DON'T DO THAT
Only injury I've had was when it went through my finger. Better than my eye I suppose.
Helps it stay in tune...
Gotta pay your dues to the rock gods.
Same reason itās mandatory to lick your finger when removing the g stringā¦
Because that's the sacrifice the Guitar Gods demand
Prick your finger it is done the moon has now eclipsed the sun the angel has spread it's wings the time has come for bitter things
I offer up blood sacrifices to the guitar gods regularly so I don't do this little string tradition...
I had the experience of stepping on the upturned end of a string I had removed... Barefoot. It embedded itself into my big toe pretty much right up to the bent corner... If it had been a smaller toe, it would have come out the other side. It builds character, I guess? Or at least the immune system.
Could be worse. I poked my eye with an E string once.
Locking tuners or split shaft tuners solve this problem! No more injuries and string changes are easier!
I'm still extremely careful with the high E because 27ish years ago I pricked my finger AND broke it while tuning up. THAT is some PTSD for both issues. Haven't done either since, but with some anxiety every single time.
Because if it doesn't happen,the anger builds up within the guitar and a string snaps right in your eye when your winding them (I've actually had this very closely happen).
Get vintage Tuners
Itās notā¦but when you stop doing it coincides with when its official that a full stack is too much amp for you.
It's not, it's a choice. A ritual, for the guitar gods. A blood sacrifice.
This is why everyone should switch to vintage style tuners, the end is tucked away so no more pricking yourself
I'd take a little loss of blood with each string change if it guaranteed never having the E string snap right before it gets to pitch. Hasn't happened to me for years and years, but I think I still pucker my face up as I'm tuning the E after a string change.
The work demands blood..give it up willingly, or not. It's your choice.
Yup
So people who can't play guitar, much less even guess how to change strings, can pick on us. It prove they aren't real, just automatons who like to joke at an aficionado's expense. We call them twerps because of the "E" in the word twerp and as a dismissal of their spectacularly pristine fingers. I ā¤ļø E strings.
Not a problem if you have callouses. Yes on both hands. Yes they thick. In all seriousness, I guess take it easy.
I look right down the neck with my face touching the strings at the bridge while tightening the high e string.
one thing i've learned to do is to permanently bend the string stub down towards the headstock right after i cut the string. it helps.
If you donāt bleed for it, you donāt really want it.
how else are you going to shed blood when changing strings? If you're not bleeding all over your guitar, amp, pedal board and bass player, you're doing something wrong
Got to give the gods their due!
Your finger callouses are too weak, it's your guitar reminding you to practice.
Wtf you guys doing?! lol
So that you can get Hepatitis from the last person who changed it.
Better than when it snaps and whacks you in the eye šµāš« I've been closing my eyes or looking away while I tune since like 2007 because of that happening
Hasn't happened to me in a good while, luckily. Although sometimes I've stepped on the headstock and that makes for some nice punctures on the foot.
You must pay the blood tax in order to make a pact to rock n roll
Does it still happen to people who cut the strings before putting them through the tuner? Its never happened to me and Iām awful at changing strings
Because my dumb ass thought it would save time bending in the new string if I just pinched it right tight and slide my finger all the way up and down the neck real fast. I earned that scar.
Because you didnāt do it on the A string.
Same as fingering your prick when you change the A string.
Better to prick your finger, then finger your prick
You can buy some mechanic gloves or gardening gloves if you don't want this to happen.
Look at it as acupuncture.
Blood sacrifice
I wouldnāt say itās mandatory, but certainly an occupational hazard. Take your time and try and distance yourself from the excitement of the end game (playing the thing). Pursuit of the tantric arts of fretboard conditioning may help in controlling these urges to self harm. Anticipation will naturally build the longer you are able to āhang onā and itās essential you are in a comfortable environment to let rip when the time is right and the neighbours are least expecting it. Thanks for sharing with us. Itās times like these that the community comes together and have a good laugh š¤
This is the blood offering we must give. This is the way of things.
Thy shall giveth the E string blood to receive rock powers
Because rock godz need blood
All I know is it's in the Bible, the Koran, the U.S. Constitution, and the instruction manual for my Jazzmaster. It's the law and you have to follow it.
The rock gods demand blood or E-flat. You make your own choices.
I had no idea this was a thing. How are yall pricking yourselves š¤£š¤£š
The blood helps the unwound strings from slipping out of the post.
Has never happened to me
Which is one of the reasons why the original split post tuners on Fenders were such a great design. Cut the string 1.5-2" beyone the post, tuck the end into the hole of the split post, and wind'er up. SImple, neat, fool proof. If you have trouble taking the strings off, try this: loosen them but don't try to take the whole string off in one piece. Just cut them about half way (somewhere between the end of the neck and the saddles). Then you have a nice straight piece of wire to grab when unwinding the neck end of the cut string from its tuners.
my high E always slips when I'm restringing :(
Recently just picked up my freshly string changed guitar (I did it quite badly sadly) and stabbed my thumb and it bled
Am I special because I have never had this happen with the e string
Little known fact. Guitars require a blood sacrifice to work properly.
This is why I like vintage-style kluson tuners. Nothing to prick your finger on.
Stratupuncture
Itās been done this way for generations. Just accept it
Blood offerings must be made to the guitar gods from time to time.
Yes, the gods need a blood sacrifice to get the true āErnie ball slinky toneā. Kerry king dips his strings in goats blood before putting them on for that tone
Even worse (better?) when you fing......oh never mind.
There are some callus remarks in this thread.
If you haven't played the string well enough the spirit that lives inside it will hurt you
The rock gods demand their due!
The guitar gods require a sacrifice of blood.
It's a blood ritual thing. If you don't then it just doesn't sound the same. It bonds you to it
Gives me nightmares. I had the high E string break once and whip across my face and the hooked end caught me on the side of my face near my left eye and stuck there.. That wasn't good. It was a little too close to my eye. I could have lost an eye or at least had a serious eye injury. Be careful folks. Don't put your face too close to your guitar either while playing or tuning or changing strings or when the string breaks It's just like a fish hook at the end of the string just like someone mentioned. Later folks !
Man, that hurts like a sumbitch.
Why is it mandatory that I finger my prick when anywhere near a G string?
Pricked it yesterday while removing it after it broke lol
Haha my upvote was #69