Here are a few steps to help you restring an acoustic guitar

  1. Remove the old strings by popping out the pin on the bridge and unwinding it from the head.
  2. Thread the ball end of a new string through the bridge and anchor it with the pin. It is important that the ball end of the string sits firmly against the bridge plate. (If you have a pinless bridge and the strings simply pass thru the back side of this bridge, put a “hook like” bend on the tip of the string before threading it thru the hole, this way it feeds up and over the saddle.)
  3. After attaching the string to the bridge, stretch it up the neck and bring it down the center of the peghead, then thread it thru the tuning shafts hole.
  4. Leave a bit of string length to wind around the tuner, and bend the string to help hold it in place on the peg, then turn the tuning peg to tighten it. While you turn, hold the pin firmly to keep the string from popping out. Turn it at least one rotation, but make sure you don’t turn it too tight.
  5. Stretch the new string with your fingers, then turn the tuning peg a bit to retighten it.
  6. Use wire cutters to clip off the excess string, leaving about 1 or 2 inches.
  7. Tune the new string to a guitar tuner.

A great step-by-step guide with photos that show you how to restring your guitar properly can be found at: http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/stringing.htm

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