Change Pickups: Reuse Strings?

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 20 Apr 2004 6:00 am

Dumb question here, but can you reuse the strings after changing pups or is it a real hassle to get them rewound on the tuning pegs?

thx

Bob

Bob Tuttle · Post by **Bob Tuttle** » 20 Apr 2004 6:19 am

It's best to put on new strings after such a project. If you do reuse the old strings, it's better to loosen them enough to unhook them at the changer end and leave them wound on the tuning key. Then you don't have to worry about getting that tangled mess rewound.

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 20 Apr 2004 6:22 am

Thanks, Bob

That's what I figured.

Bob

Bobby Duncan · Post by **Bobby Duncan** » 20 Apr 2004 6:51 am

Funny you should ask. Interstingly enuf, I just had a post on here about changing pickups in my Williams D10, 400 series, keyless. With this setup, I kept the old (not all that old) strings on there and it was a breeze. I simply loosened the strings completely, which gave me just enuf slack to pull the ball ends out of the changer, and since they aren't wrapped on the tuning end, they just sortof hang there very nicely. Another selling point, and another reason why I love the Williams keyless with the 400 changer. After I installed the pickup, I simply put the ball ends back into the changer slot. Nothing to it.
I surely wouldn't have wanted to change the strings at that point, because... What if I didn't like the new pickup??? Then I have to wasted a whole set of strings, I guess.
Anyway, this probly doesn't help you much, b/c you probly don't have a Williams, but it's something to keep in mind for future reference. If you're not familiar with the 400 series changer, go to the Williams website and check 'em out.
Best of luck,
BD

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 20 Apr 2004 7:54 am

I have fashioned a triangular shaped tube out of cardboard. I loosen the strings enough to slide the tube under the strings in the middle of the neck and then slide the tube toward the pickup. The tube holds the strings up about one and half in. high. That is enough room to raise the pickup and slide it out.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Greg Vincent · Post by **Greg Vincent** » 20 Apr 2004 8:01 am

Hey Bob just loosen the strings a bit and jam a cardboard wedge under them right next to the pickup. That'll give you enough room to lift the pickup out of there and slide the new one in.

I just took a small peice of cardboard and folded it over a couple of times so it was triangular in cross-section. Makes a good "string wedge".

--Lazy & Cheap in L.A

Oops Lee beat me to the punch --Actually I think I got this idea from Lee in a similar thread here on the Forum a few months back. Works great!<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Greg Vincent on 20 April 2004 at 09:03 AM.]</p></FONT>

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 20 Apr 2004 8:28 am

Thanks, Guys

I think I'll try a Lawrence 705 on the E9 neck

bob

Tim Harr · Post by **Tim Harr** » 29 Jun 2004 5:49 pm

I have a BL 705 on my Carter E9th and C6th both.

I LOVE my tone!

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 29 Jun 2004 6:04 pm

Tim

Did you ever have any other pu's on the Carter for comparison?

thx

bob

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 30 Jun 2004 7:21 am

On my Excel keyless,I just unscrewed the tuning sleds all the way till they came loose and just lifted them out of the guitar with the string still attached and layed them across a table in order. Then I changed the pickup and put the strings back on. I did this 4 times w/the same set of strings within a month till I concluded the 17.5 Wallace Truetone was gonna stay on there. BTW,I tried a BL 912 and a BL 712(which I liked a lot and would be my humbucker of choice)as well as the stock Excel single coil which actually comes very close to the Wallace TT. -MJ-

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 30 Jun 2004 9:55 am

If you put on new strings with every pickup, then every pickup will sound better than the last one.

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 30 Jun 2004 10:59 am

I've done the same thing Lee and Greg did, only I used a piece of 1 1/2" diameter heavy duty cardboard mailing tube to raise the strings. Worked great.

And Earnest, you still kill me! I aspire to think like you...

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