Tying off strings at the keyhead???

Pete Conklin · From: Austin, TX

I restring my electric and acoustic guitars this way with no problem. I'm wondering if this would be ok on a PSG.
The tying off(loop under?) starts about 1:05

Anybody doing it this way?

What say ye people of knowledge?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6klYBJCjWI

Per Berner · From: Skovde, Sweden

Unnecessarily complicated, IMHO. No need for tying knots.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I think it adds little, and likely makes old strings harder to get off. I find that just doing enough wraps around the peg is faster, and prevents any slipping.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've had pedal steel's since 1969 and have never done that and have never had a problem related to how the strings were wound.

I've never done that on any of my 6 string guitars either (accoustic or electric).

EDIT/ADDED: Buddy Emmons has stated serveral times (I've heard him say it and saw it written) to have at least 5 turns on the 3rd string to help minimize string breakage at the tuning key end. This does not go along with the video.

Jeff Scott Brown · From: O'Fallon Missouri, USA

Dickie Whitley · Posted 22 Dec 2012 6:41 am

Pete, I'm in agreement with the guys above, I don't think this adds anything to the mix and I've never observed any other PSG players do it.

But on my part, I also have to mention that mine, like Jeffs, is keyless and that wouldn't work with mine.

Just my humble 2 cents, YMMV.

Mark Draycott R.I.P. · From: Portland, OR

I have always stung my Les Pauls and acoustics this way. Strats are a different animal, with the hole in the center of the tuning post.
The first time I did my steel, I used this method. It seems normal to me.
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John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I've never felt the need to do this with modern tuners. Now, 100 years ago, you had to do this, or tie a knot. Back then, tuner shafts were straight, and had no way to grip the string end. Then someone invented the modern style tuner, with the string hole in the center of a concave surface machined into the shaft. Poke the string through the hole, one wind above, and however many below. The tension from tuning the string will force the winds towards the center of the concavity, thus gripping the string end poking through the hole. Good invention. I don't tie/knot strings on anything, and I bend, and use the trem a lot! Also play double-bender guitar. I have no tuning problems whatsoever.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

My biggest fear would be breaking a string on stage and how long it would take to get the old string off the tuner. Plus I see no benefit. And, on regular guitars, I think it uglys up the guitar, so it would probably be ugly on a steel too.
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Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

I won't take a job cleaning up ,lubing, adjusting and changing strings if the guy has tied them on. Takes longer to remove them than to do the other work. I tell him to take them off then I'll do it. Nothing more frustrating than trying to get old, old rusted strings off that have been tied.
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Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

I did guitars the way the video does it for 40 years! Then I got a pedal steel and discovered the "one time around over, then the rest under" method...what a waste of 40 years of struggling with little knots in wires! I do guitars this way also now....
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Pete Conklin · From: Austin, TX

Thank you all for the input. I think I'll stick with the tried and true method of wrapping. Smile

Vincent Lenci · From: Sussex, New Jersey

Makes me appreciate my keyless tuner!
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Ron Pruter · From: Arizona, USA

I've done, exactly, this for 20 years. On all my stringed instruments. I then stretch them out by pulling them till they don't go flat anymore, and you're totaly ready to rock. Incredibly valuable on nylon string guitars. It's no hassle at all. RP
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Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

I avoid ever having the string cross-over itself. It puts excess stress at the point where they touch which facilitates string breakage. I just thread the string through the post, give 4-5 helical winds, then stretch and am good to go. Quick, easy, no slippage or breakage!

Mac Knowles · From: Almonte,Ontario, Canada

I'm with Clyde on this one. What a pain getting tied on strings off....and for no reason to have them tied on in the first place. Almost always jab myself with one of those rusty strings and I always put on glasses when confronted with those to take them off too. To put new ones on, really small strings cut them first at the third tuner from the one they're going on, bigger plain ones second tuner past, big wound strings one tuner past for the length, wind them on neat, give 'em a stretch and you're good to go.
Cheers,
Mac

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

Bobbe told me about a steel he took in trade where the previous owner soldered them on ..... .seriously!!!???

Pete Conklin · From: Austin, TX

Bo, that's too funny! Laughing

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Pete,
This is the method I use too (on all stringed instruments). They pre stretch out quickly with very few winds and I find they hold tune very well. Its also extremely fast! The only time I use extra winds is on the high G# (3rd), so that the string is past the peg hole, as it can sometimes cause early breakage. Its really not difficult to undo either.

Clete

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

"I then stretch them out by pulling them till they don't go flat anymore"

When you pull on a string, you're putting quite a bit of stress on just a couple of points. Yes, you do stretch the whole string, but you really put a lot of stress on the string's end points, and the spot where you're pulling. And that spot is getting bent also. I use an old Fender string stretcher. You just put it on the string, and run it up and down the full length of the string a few times. Much more gentle, and stretches everywhere equally with no stress points. Works wonderfully. Several companies make them. I use mine on all my stringed instruments.

Henry Matthews · From: Texarkana, Ark USA

Tying or looping strings on a steel in totally unneccesary in my book. It also makes them hard to get off, especially on a dark stage. I just wrap string one round one way and then go other way for rest of wraps. About 6 wraps is good for smaller strings and maybe two on bigger wound strings.
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