changing GAD 30R strings Q

[robinbirdd]

OK, here's a total newbie question for ya...It's time to change my strings on the GAD30R. apparently 10 months is too long...

So, Elixer has been recommended to me, but what weight can ya recommend?

Also, one camp sez take 'em all off at once, the other camp sez one at a time. How the heck can I oil the ebony with strings on!?!? Seems to me all off makes most sense. What do yall think? I do feel the need to oil the fretboard, I live in a low humidity climate and with winter/wood stoves in the near future...its going to be thirsy.

Thanks!!

(and please accept apologies ahead of time if this has already been covered...i stink at using the search function!)

 

[robinbirdd]

OK, so if i just scroll down I find many pages of string opinion...so, uh, nevermind on that....maybe better question is does anyone know the gauge of what originally comes on the GAD30R or should I just take it in to the local shop and they can tell me?

Same Q on the all off at once or not theory...

thanks!

 

[fronobulax]

The Guild owner's manual tells you to take off all of the strings before oiling the fingerboard but it also tells you to change the strings one at a time to avoid sudden changes in tension. Go figure. I guess that means if you oil the fingerboard you are supposed to put the old strings back on.

Personally I change strings one at a time but part of that is so that I wind them correctly the first time. The "one at a time" becomes more critical if you have an adjustable or floating bridge.

 

[valleyguy]

I'd definitely put lights on that guitar. Whether you take off one at a time or all at once really doesn't matter, and oiling the fretboard is really not necessary. Be forewarned that if you remove all the strings at once, the nut and saddle (at least on my GAD30) are not fit snuggly into place and will fall out, but easily put back into place. I find doing one string at a time is easier to keep track of which string goes where.

I'm generally not a fan of coated Elixir strings, but I put them on my GAD30 and I really liked them. They last forever. However, I do have a mahogany guitar and none of my rosewood guitars sounded good with Elixirs, but YMMV. D'Addario lights are a good alternative.

 

[tpsf12345]

I'm going to second that call on Elixir's coated strings not sounding good on Rosewood. I had mine on my DV-6 for about 2-3 weeks before I had to take them off. Just really sounded "dead" and they sucked the life out of my Guild.

I've talked to many builders who I trust, and they also says that it doesn't matter if you take all the strings off at once. Taylor has some great maintenance and string changing videos on their website. I highly suggest sitting through a few before you start. They're great examples of what you're about to do.

Check out the first two videos on this page http://www.taylorguitars.com/see-hear/d ... px?id=1004

 

[valleyguy]

Besides the Guild restringing instructions, http://www.guildguitars.com/resources/g ... _setup.php

Frets.com also has a good on:

http://www.frets.com/fretspages/Musicia ... ging2.html

 

[adorshki]

Same Q on the all off at once or not theory...
thanks!

I take 'em all off due to the specific way I wind the posts. It's too hard if adjacent posts are still wound. But I try to split the difference between "all or one" by backing each one off a little, going around the peghead in rotation 2 or 3 times until they're all limp. The idea being a very gradual release of tension on each string. When restringing I actually start with the D and G and "work outward", and no string goes up to playing pitch until they're all on with some tension. In any case a quick check of action height afterwards tells me if I need to tweak the truss rod a taste. :wink:

 

[mbaker824]

I like Elixirs on my D25, but it's mahogany rather than rosewood. Only way to be sure is to try them for yourself, since everyone hears a bit differently. I change my strings about once a month and try something different from time to time. I remove all my strings at once for two reasons: 1) it seems more efficient to me, and 2) I always clean, and sometimes oil, the fretboard when I restring. Someone else mentioned Taylor's restringing videos and I second that - they're great. Taylor also has a really good document, with close-up photos, of a good method of cutting strings to the right length and getting the wrap right - highly recommended. I use Dunlop's Formula 65 kit for cleaning and polishing my guitars; the fretboard cleaner and conditioner work well from me.

 

[kdavid]

On my old GAD 30 (which was hog) my favorite strings were Martins Med-lts. pb. which
sit right between meds. & lights. barrining that i just used lights.
i pull all the old strings off at once so i can give the fingerboard a good wipedown with
a damp rag to clean it. (i sweat horribly)
i do the same thing with my DV-6.

 

[robinbirdd]

thanks so much!! that helps alot. I've also gotthe same Q into my teacher who has a much better ear than me .

thanks too for the links - i'll check 'em out. i've seen the taylor vids and theat help demystify things alot. I'm handy, but the idea of neckid guitar is a bit daunting!! I can do it!

i keep the GAD in the case humidified but prior to purchase it lwas in a very dry environment (likely 20% humidity and lower) and by my eye and gut the ebony's thirsty so i think it'll get a drink of linseed.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I change strings one at a time except for once a year, when the fret board gets oiled.
It takes about half an hour for the neck to settle back in after the oiling and string change.
I also oil the bridge at that time.

As far as strings go, try the med-light set. I think that even Elixir makes them now.
I agree with the others that say Elixirs are good on Mahogany but not so much with Rosewood.

 

[Ridgemont]

I take all strings off at once on my GAD30R. It allows me to oil the fretboard or polish the frets if need be. Never any problems this way.

As far as strings, I do not like elixers in both tone and feel. If you do want coated strings, try EXPs. They are a great compromise between coated and uncoated. I have 5 month old 80/20 EXP lights on my GAD that still sound fine, although I think a string change is in order soon.

Make sure you get an in-hole humidifier for that guitar. Especially for the winter.

 

[mbaker824]

As far as strings, I do not like elixers in both tone and feel. If you do want coated strings, try EXPs. They are a great compromise between coated and uncoated. I have 5 month old 80/20 EXP lights on my GAD that still sound fine, although I think a string change is in order soon.

Make sure you get an in-hole humidifier for that guitar. Especially for the winter.

The thing I dislike most about Elixir strings is that they feel slippery to me. I don't like the tone I get from Elixirs on my Taylors (which is ironic, since Taylor recommends them), but I do like them (tone-wise) on my D25. I agree with you on D'Addario EXPs - I use them on my Taylors, and I'll be giving them a try soon on my D25 (I restrung it the first time with a set of Elixirs I had laying around).

As for humidification, I like Humidipak. Actually, I use a room humidifier and Humidipak.

 

[jgmaute]

I change the strings on my 30R one at a time. I started with D'Addario extra light PBs but the high e string tended to slip over the outside of the fingerboard so I switched to D'Addario light PBs and they're fine. I live in a very humid climate but last winter was long and cold so the house got dry inside from the heat. I had just put my guitar down from playing when I heard a very loud pop. I thought I'd snapped a string but it was a crack in the top. and I heard this pop Fortunately Randy Wood, my local luthier, was able to fix it and it plays just fine now. I'm already humidifying the case and it's just October! enjoy your guitar, you're gonna love it with new strings! joan

 

[dapmdave]

I take all strings off at once on my GAD30R. It allows me to oil the fretboard or polish the frets if need be. Never any problems this way.

As far as strings, I do not like elixers in both tone and feel. If you do want coated strings, try EXPs. They are a great compromise between coated and uncoated. I have 5 month old 80/20 EXP lights on my GAD that still sound fine, although I think a string change is in order soon.

Make sure you get an in-hole humidifier for that guitar. Especially for the winter.

+1 on The D'addario EXPs. They are coated, but somehow different from the Elixers. DR also makes some good coated strings. When I had a D-30, though, I liked the D'addario custom lights (EJ-26) the best.

Dave