String change, end of an era?

[Brad Little]

I've generally had no problems changing strings, not my favorite thing to do, but usually went smoothly and could change strings pretty quickly. Tonight, I changed strings on my F212, first time in a while, last couple of string changes were done when it was having some work done on it, so string change came with it. However, this may be my last string change. My eyes have gotten to the point where, even with cheaters, I can't see the string hole, couple that with the "invisibility" of the .008 and .009 in the set, it was near impossible to get them through the holes. I even tried with my magnifying head set, but they're set up so you have to get to close to have much room to work. This is the same reason I gave up working on printed circuits a while back, couldn't see where to solder well. I had to get my daughter to come and look for a bridge pin that had popped and fell on the floor, and mentioned to her that next string change would be by Sam Ash, and she said, teach me, so we started with the last few pairs on my 212, and I think she will do ok. She said it reminded her of some of the jewelry work she does.
Anyhow, after over 60 years of string changing, I think it's the end of an era.

 

[Papajerry]

Ditto!

 

[walrus]

Yes, physical limitations are hitting me, too! Kudos to your daughter, sounds like a nice way to spend some time together!

 

[Guildedagain]

Changed strings on my 335 yesterday, tired of the flatwounds.

Took pics at start 2:17pm and finish 2:45pm. Seems like a long time, but I guess time flies when you're having fun.

I don't work on a guitar without these on, the 100 year old glasses on the right.

 

[GAD]

Are you actually using “cheaters” as in drug store glasses? If so an actual prescription will do wonders.

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

Good point, GAD.

For those that luckily have perfect eyes and vision, and won't know this: when you have prescription glasses fitted, they are measured to center the lenses to the center of your eyes...off the shelf readers won't match your eyes...off center creates distortion...absolutely a good idea to see an optometrist to be measured and see if they can come up with a prescription that will work...in addition, a large fixed hands free magnifying glass can be used to enlarge the view of what you are trying to see.

Another thing that may help is to use a sewing aid: a needle threader.

And if your daughter with the good eyes can help...a small dab of a metallic/reflective paint in the holes on the posts could help you aim better.

Good luck...you might have to combine all the aids to succeed.

I don't know what your eye issues are, but if you're developing cataracts, that is a treatable disorder.

 

[chazmo]

Another thing that may help is to use a sewing aid: a needle threader.

That's a really interesting idea, Jane. Can you actually use one to feed a string into a tuner slot?

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

Why not...just fit it thru the hole...slip the end of the string thru the business end of it...bend the string over tight so it will fit and gently pull it thru...just pretend you're using old wire to pull thru new.

Since I'm not a man I'm not limited to using tools for their original purpose...screwdriver? Heh...makes a nice pry bar to get a paint can lid off...just don't use a cheap one that will snap in two.

 

[Westerly Wood]

That’s awesome! If she needs advice on strings, happy to help.

 

[davismanLV]

I know threaders for sewing, and they are super valuable in sewing and threading a sewing machine. However, thread is FAR more flexible and easily manipulated than guitar strings. When you put the threader through the eye of the needle, and pull, it bends the thread 180 degrees and pulls it though. Doubt very much it could do that for a guitar string, but I wait to be corrected. Sewing thread, even nylon high-strength thread is very different from a guitar string.

 

[davismanLV]

But as Jane has mentioned, prescription glasses can get you far more close to baseline vision, as well as possible. Then you can use magnifying tools and such. I need new glasses, myself. That's a chore for very soon.

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

No correction, Tom...the idea is to crimp the end of the guitar string to hold it to the threader and allow it to be pulled straight thru the hole...get it thru just enough to pinch the end of the threader and the guitar string to hold it in place while gently pulling it straight...a needle nose can help if your fingers aren't handy enough...also to grasp the end of the string as it comes thru the hole.

 

[davismanLV]

No correction, Tom...the idea is to crimp the end of the guitar string to hold it to the threader and allow it to be pulled straight thru the hole...get it thru just enough to pinch the end of the threader and the guitar string to hold it in place while gently pulling it straight...a needle nose can help if your fingers aren't handy enough...also to grasp the end of the string as it comes thru the hole.

Oh okay, I get it. Might work for sure!!

 

[Brad Little]

Are you actually using “cheaters” as in drug store glasses? If so an actual prescription will do wonders.

Sort of, I need scleral lenses due to chronic dry eye syndrome and they aren't available in bifocals. so my eye doc says the 3.5 readers are what to use. Even when I had regular bifocals, the readers were better for some tasks.

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

Still, the 3.5 diopter readers as done by prescription will be better than the 3.5 off the shelf...and optometrists are better at refraction/lens fitting/corrections than opthalmologists.

The prescription lenses can also come with anti-reflective features...to improve contrast...there are a lot of improved lens materials out now that won't be used in off the shelf readers...worth a look.

Bifocals aren't very good anyway...at least for most people...better off with 2 sets of lenses...one for close...one for far as in driving if you are still able to do so.

 

[GAD]

Sort of, I need scleral lenses due to chronic dry eye syndrome and they aren't available in bifocals. so my eye doc says the 3.5 readers are what to use. Even when I had regular bifocals, the readers were better for some tasks.

Gotcha. Next thing I would recommend (also mentioned above) is a desk-mount magnifier. Most of them suck (I hunted for a good magnifier for years and every one I found was junk), but I've found these to be absolutely top notch. I have an older fluorescent one on my main desk and a newer LED one on my workbench. The one I have is pretty expensive but I easily use it anywhere from 10-100 times a day:

Omega 7 Magnifying Lamp - The Daylight Company

Magnifying lighting solution designed to enhance your detailed tasks with exceptional clarity, contrast, and color matching.

daylightcompany.com

When I'm building something like a tube amp I use it for just about the entire process. I use it for soldering, closeup guitar inspection, troubleshooting damn-near anything - you name it. They make smaller ones and less expensive desktop models, too.

The first one I got as a gift from my wife probably 15 years ago, and while it's showing its age it still gets daily use and I've never had to replace the tube. The new LED models are more robust because LEDs essentially last forever so they can glue it all shut since there's no need to get into it to replace tubes. You can see it in some of my wokbench pics like this one that I posted in the Nixie thread:

The new one has four levels of brightness on the ring of LEDs that surround the lens. The old one is just on/off because it's fluorescent.

A pretty expensive solution just for string changes but if you find yourself needing more magnification I can't recommend these enough.

I've also got a set of OptiVisors that I use when I need more magnification. I altered these to have LEDs around the lenses:



Those you can even get at Stewmac. They are the best of the visor type solutions I've found because they flip up easily and they work while you're wearing glasses.

 

[GAD]

Still, the 3.5 diopter readers as done by prescription will be better than the 3.5 off the shelf...and optometrists are better at refraction/lens fitting/corrections than opthalmologists.

The prescription lenses can also come with anti-reflective features...to improve contrast...there are a lot of improved lens materials out now that won't be used in off the shelf readers...worth a look.

Bifocals aren't very good anyway...at least for most people...better off with 2 sets of lenses...one for close...one for far as in driving if you are still able to do so.

I have wasted so much money trying to get bifocals to work for me. The only time they do is when I get distance and intermediate distance lenses so I can see the road and the dashboard in focus, and then I have to cajole the optician to give me the bifocal lenses at the exact height I want or they put them at my pupil which is madness for driving. Sadly I end up walking round with two or sometimes three pairs of glasses hanging from my shirt collar.

 

[beecee]

About 20 years ago I bought a well-known Chronograph on ebay....no returns accepted but a highly regarded seller.

I couldn't read the darned thing. I contacted the Seller who chuckled but had mercy on me and let me return it.

 

[Maguchi]

Changed strings on my 335 yesterday, tired of the flatwounds.

Took pics at start 2:17pm and finish 2:47pm. Seems like a long time, but I guess time flies when you're having fun.

I don't work on a guitar without these on, the 100 year old glasses on the right.

Wow, just noticed your Sabine ST-1500 tuner. Haven't seen one a those in years. They're great tuners! I used one for a entire decade in the nineties. They were top notch tuners back then and probly still are.

 

[Bernie]

A simple and cheap solution would be to use a tiny screwdriver (or similar), in order to serve as a guide : just put it in the gear hole, and then use it as a guide once the hole is located at a proper angle to be comfortably reachable (when your daughter is busy or not at home ).
Lots of good info in this thread too.