Tuning Stability Myths

john.bohn · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:32 am

Vulkan wrote:

john.bohn wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

The biggest tuning stability myth involves the stretching of strings. Many reputable firms advise you to "stretch" them. This is nonsensical. All the "stretching" achieves is a better, tighter fit on the post and in the bridge.

And that's exactly what I'm trying to achieve when I stretch new strings after I put them on... a better, tighter fit on the post so they stay in tune. Myth? Nope. I would say stretching is essential for fast tuning stability.

John

I should have been more clear. Pulling on the strings does not actually stretch them -- they're steel wire, after all. All it achieves is creating a better seat for them in the bridge, the nut, and on the tuning post. What I was trying to elucidate is the myth surrounding strings actually stretching and becoming slightly longer.

Yeah, that'll work. Pulling to seat new strings on the posts and in the nut and bridge. We are now in complete agreement.

John

Vulkan · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:12 am

john.bohn wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

john.bohn wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

The biggest tuning stability myth involves the stretching of strings. Many reputable firms advise you to "stretch" them. This is nonsensical. All the "stretching" achieves is a better, tighter fit on the post and in the bridge.

And that's exactly what I'm trying to achieve when I stretch new strings after I put them on... a better, tighter fit on the post so they stay in tune. Myth? Nope. I would say stretching is essential for fast tuning stability.

John

I should have been more clear. Pulling on the strings does not actually stretch them -- they're steel wire, after all. All it achieves is creating a better seat for them in the bridge, the nut, and on the tuning post. What I was trying to elucidate is the myth surrounding strings actually stretching and becoming slightly longer.

Yeah, that'll work. Pulling to seat new strings on the posts and in the nut and bridge. We are now in complete agreement.

John

Glad to hear it. I've been away from this forum -- and the internet, really -- for some time and have evidently forgotten how critical it is to be clear and cogent.

Twelvebar · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:17 am

nikininja wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

john.bohn wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

The biggest tuning stability myth involves the stretching of strings. Many reputable firms advise you to "stretch" them. This is nonsensical. All the "stretching" achieves is a better, tighter fit on the post and in the bridge.

And that's exactly what I'm trying to achieve when I stretch new strings after I put them on... a better, tighter fit on the post so they stay in tune. Myth? Nope. I would say stretching is essential for fast tuning stability.

John

I should have been more clear. Pulling on the strings does not actually stretch them -- they're steel wire, after all. All it achieves is creating a better seat for them in the bridge, the nut, and on the tuning post. What I was trying to elucidate is the myth surrounding strings actually stretching and becoming slightly longer.

Yep that makes more sense to me, and is 100% correct. The often overlooked part of the term is in. as in Stretch the strings in.

Thats what I always used to hear it called and makes more sense with what your going to acheive.

When I learned about this (from a guy whose older brother worked for various pro big name guitarists) he called it pulling the slack. Which is probably a better description of what's happening.

john.bohn · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:44 pm

Vulkan wrote:

john.bohn wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

john.bohn wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

The biggest tuning stability myth involves the stretching of strings. Many reputable firms advise you to "stretch" them. This is nonsensical. All the "stretching" achieves is a better, tighter fit on the post and in the bridge.

And that's exactly what I'm trying to achieve when I stretch new strings after I put them on... a better, tighter fit on the post so they stay in tune. Myth? Nope. I would say stretching is essential for fast tuning stability.

John

I should have been more clear. Pulling on the strings does not actually stretch them -- they're steel wire, after all. All it achieves is creating a better seat for them in the bridge, the nut, and on the tuning post. What I was trying to elucidate is the myth surrounding strings actually stretching and becoming slightly longer.

Yeah, that'll work. Pulling to seat new strings on the posts and in the nut and bridge. We are now in complete agreement.

John

Glad to hear it. I've been away from this forum -- and the internet, really -- for some time and have evidently forgotten how critical it is to be clear and cogent.

No worries. It's a tricky process to explain. When is stretching not really stretching? My brain is starting to hurt already. :lol:

John

Xhefri · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:03 pm

john.bohn wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

john.bohn wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

john.bohn wrote:

Vulkan wrote:

The biggest tuning stability myth involves the stretching of strings. Many reputable firms advise you to "stretch" them. This is nonsensical. All the "stretching" achieves is a better, tighter fit on the post and in the bridge.

And that's exactly what I'm trying to achieve when I stretch new strings after I put them on... a better, tighter fit on the post so they stay in tune. Myth? Nope. I would say stretching is essential for fast tuning stability.

John

I should have been more clear. Pulling on the strings does not actually stretch them -- they're steel wire, after all. All it achieves is creating a better seat for them in the bridge, the nut, and on the tuning post. What I was trying to elucidate is the myth surrounding strings actually stretching and becoming slightly longer.

Yeah, that'll work. Pulling to seat new strings on the posts and in the nut and bridge. We are now in complete agreement.

John

Glad to hear it. I've been away from this forum -- and the internet, really -- for some time and have evidently forgotten how critical it is to be clear and cogent.

No worries. It's a tricky process to explain. When is stretching not really stretching? My brain is starting to hurt already. :lol:

John

Ya, i am still thinking about this....hesitating...physics...math... and working with steel, all tells me that steel, nickle, bronze, all DOES stretch! Even hardened steel, when made into wire has a certain elasticity to it, even though it be marginal. So yes, the string does pull into shape around the ferrel, and pull down into place around the tuning peg—but I do think the actual string does stretch a little too!

If the string vendors tell you to stretch your strings, then does that not mean what it says when it says what it means???? :roll:

SmokeythaBear · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:03 pm

Quote:

SGs are notorious for, "Wow". "Wow" is where you can actually bend a neck backwards and forwards on an instrument with just normal hand pressure.

I have a friend (amazing guitarist) who does this with his SG to do pitch bends. I freaks me out when he picks up my strat and tries to do the same with my guitar. I'm afraid that it could mess up the neck since its a bolt-on and since Strats are a lot different than SG's.

Am I being too cautious? After all, my Strat is my baby...

nikininja · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 4:24 pm

Xhefri wrote:

Ya, i am still thinking about this....hesitating...physics...math... and working with steel, all tells me that steel, nickle, bronze, all DOES stretch! Even hardened steel, when made into wire has a certain elasticity to it

Absolutely, thats why overhead cables to power pylons have to be re-tensioned from time to time. Ever see how thick one of them things is.

Chicagoblue · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:31 pm

That cracks me up. I can see Clapton sitting around with the rest of the band, drinking a few pints, getting a little drunk and telling the crew to go tell the guitar tech that he now needs to "stretch" his strings for three hours before every gig.

The ironic part, is 10 years later, Clapton is now God and the tech makes an instructional video and becomes rich. :shock:

Clapton didn't have the heart to tell him it was all a lark and that he was just f***ing with him. :lol:

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