Hi all,

Just wondering some techniques you guys use to stretch a new set of strings when you put them on. I usually tune it and then give a couple tugs up on the string and do a few bends and then retune and repeat....wondering if there is a quicker or more effective way out there.

Thanks

-Will

I usually pull up on the strings as I am putting them on. It also helps to keep the windings tight.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

I usually put them on, pull on them a little (few times a string), then just PLAY them - doing more string bends than normal to break them in.

I tune them up, then gently lift them as far up from the fretboard as they will reasonably go without feeling they are going to snap.

I tune again and stretch less the next time. wash, rinse and repeat until the string stays in tune even after stretching.

I'll put a thin cloth, or something to go between the skin of my finger and the string ( to keep oil from my finger from getting on the metal), then I hook my finger under the string at the 3rd fret, pull up slighly, and run my finger down the length of the string to about the neck pickup, retune than repeat. I find doing it this way, as opposed to just tugging at one place, stretches it better. Also Ive noticed since changing to pure nickle strings from nickle plated some time ago, that I only have to do this process 4, maybe 5 times before it stays in tune on the final pull. When I used nickle plated steel strings, I had to do this many, many times, sometimes a couple days in a row before the tuning fully stabalized.

I've unfortunately broken a couple of high E strings while stretching. Nothing worse when you're really excited about stringing her up and playing the rest of the night after the kids go to bed just to snap a string and not have a replacement. I've found that I don't sound any better playing 5 strings than I do playing 6.