Re-stringing your guitar regularly is essential to ensure you are making the most out of your instrument. Bronze-wound strings dull over time and become more difficult to play, while silver-wound strings tarnish, become weaker and are prone to breaking or slipping out of tune.

We offer a re-stringing service in both of our shops, for any type of guitar. The prices are:

Single re-string: £2 per string + string cost

Full re-string: £10 + string cost

Locking trem/12-string/bass: £15 + string cost

If you'd rather have a go yourself, check out our guide to repairing a broken steel (ball-end) string below. Strings are available to purchase here.

Instructions

• STEP 1: Remove the broken string by popping out the pin on the bridge and unwinding it from the head. Discard the string.

• STEP 2: Thread the ball end of a new string through the bridge and secure it with the pin.

• STEP 3: Stretch the new string up the neck, into the nut and through the eye of the tuning machine on the head of the guitar.

• STEP 4: Sharply bend the string to help hold it in place on the peg.

• STEP 5: Turn the tuning peg counterclockwise to tighten the string. Turn it at least one rotation. Make sure you don't turn it too tight.

• STEP 6: While you turn the tuning peg, apply light pressure to the pin to keep it from popping out as tension develops.

• STEP 7: Pull the string with your thumb and index finger to stretch the new string, then turn the tuning peg a bit to retighten it.

• STEP 8: Use wire cutters to snip off the excess string, leaving about 1 or 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm).

• STEP 9: Tune the new string to the other strings or to a guitar tuner.

Overall Tips & Warnings

• To keep the sound of your guitar crisp and bright, change the strings every three months, more often if you play it a lot. Pros change their strings once a week.
• Most electric guitars require that you thread the string through a hole in the back side of the body to the bridge. Thread the string through the tuning peg as you would on an acoustic guitar.