I can't change my strings!

If it is a Strat, I am assuming the strings go through the body, correct? If so, by holding the string and pushing it into the body, it should come out of the back of the guitar. Try removing the rear tremolo plastic cover to see why it isn't. If that fails, take the guitar to a shop and have a tech help you.

AND.... shame on you for ignoring your guitar for a year! :wink:

No, good on you for getting back to it and fixing it up! This time, don't let it go. :D

flip your strat face down on your lap/ depress the whammy bar and push the string up and out.
with the whammy bar depressed just a bit the holes line up.

just send me your strat and I'll do it for you. :wink:

just send me your strat and I'll do it for you. :wink:
Don't make any promises you don't mean......I watched my teacher change my Strat's strings, intending to do it myself next time. Even he had a little spot of trouble when an itsy bitsy screw in the bridge came out and now I'm more intimidated than ever about changing them myself.... :?

Think I'll always hire it done, or ship it off to you. Oh, but maybe you weren't intending to return them.... :twisted:

Margaret

Are the ball ends of the strings stuck in the block? If you take the back plate off your strat you'll be presented with the whammy tension springs and the bottom of the inertia block. The block will have six holes in it. The strings feed through these holes (my appologies if you already know this, just starting from scratch not knowing how much you know already).

The ball ends of the strings seat themselves in these holes and they might be a little stuck. If this is the case you might try gripping the string right above the saddle with a needle nosed pliers and trying to push the string down (with the string free and the Strat face up on your lap). You'll want to be careful not to scratch up your Strat with the pliers if/when the string pops free, so if it was me I'd put a towel on the Strat as a precaution.

If this doesn't work and the ball ends are really stuck I don't exactly know what to say, but if it was me I might try taking a short piece of low E string and poking it through from the top to see if I could use it to knock the ball loose.

ive had this happen quite often, and i change my strings ALOT. My Strat is the biggest culprit. the ball ends fit snug into the bridge, and the constant tension over a month just makes them get stuck. just jiggle the string and push gently until it pops out.

not abnormal, but you should def change the strings every coupla months.

Cut the strings close to the surface of the bridge, then push a sturdy paperclip down from the top. If this doesn't work then get a straight dental probe and try that. I've seen some really stuck ones but usually one of the above methods will work.

One of the things I've done to prevent it from happening again is to save the brass ends from the old set and threading them on the new set, do this only if it's a reoccurring problem.

I really recommend that you learn how to string your guitar yourself, it's not hard and what will you do if you break a string at a time when you need your guitar?

Check out Nil's home page for some really good instructions on restringing.

I usually poke an old E string through the hole to push it through. It's not unusual to get one that sticks once in a while ...... especially if they have been on there that long without being played. Play it more. :wink:

just send me your strat and I'll do it for you. :wink:
Don't make any promises you don't mean......I watched my teacher change my Strat's strings, intending to do it myself next time. Even he had a little spot of trouble when an itsy bitsy screw in the bridge came out and now I'm more intimidated than ever about changing them myself.... :?

Think I'll always hire it done, or ship it off to you. Oh, but maybe you weren't intending to return them.... :twisted:

Margaret

one way shipping address will be sent via private email. :wink:

margaret, just take your time.heck out that string changing post and then try. it is true sometimes you have to poke the string thru. eventually, the process becomes easier and it will be gratifying that you can work on your guitar yourself.
remember that F barre chord. easier now huh?
what color is your strat?

dogbite wrote: one way shipping address will be sent via private email.

margaret, just take your time.heck out that string changing post and then try. it is true sometimes you have to poke the string thru. eventually, the process becomes easier and it will be gratifying that you can work on your guitar yourself.
remember that F barre chord. easier now huh?
what color is your strat?
:lol: What color is my strat, indeed. You wanting to buy some boots to match in anticipation of its arrival?? I'm onto your racket. :lol: It's a honey blonde Hwy One.

And yes, I can play a barre F now (at least on electric, not so good on acoustic) and never thought I could. But with the string changing, it's the fear of not being able to get things put back together exactly the same as they were before the dismantling that scares me.

I did get brave and learn to change the strings on my acoustic. One step at a time.

Margaret