String Cutters

[midnightright]

The only thing I have ever used for cutting my strings is my Gerber Multi-plier. After about 25 years, I've noticed they're starting to wear out, and string changes have become more & more frustrating. Even though this is a minor issue / inconvenience, does anybody have any recommendations on what might be easiest and most effective to use? I started researching, and that was 2 or 3 days & nights ago! I'm sure I'm making this much more complicated than it needs to be. Thanks for the help...

 

[jedzep]

Just a simple side cutter electricians use will do fine. Or go with the overpriced fav...

String Cutter - StewMac

A must for every string change!

www.stewmac.com

 

[Wilmywood]

I use a cheap pair of needle nose pliers with wire cutter built in, allows for cutting the string and curling the end with the same tool. Note: need to have a short needle nose so they don't twist while curling the string loop.

 

[midnightright]

Thanks guys!! You're the best!!!

 

[chazmo]

I get a little picky with slotheads because I like to trim the ends within the slot. You have to be a little careful in that case and get a needle-nose clipper (or whatever they're called). For paddle heads, the needle-nose pliers work fine.

 

[GGJaguar]

needle-nose clipper

I had a childhood friend that we used to call needle-nose. I don't know why I just remembered that.

 

[plaidseason]

I use a smallish jewelry wire cutter. Similar to this:

String Cutter - StewMac

A must for every string change!

www.stewmac.com

 

[jedzep]

Often, needle nose cutter doesn't stay sharp, and the 5th and 6th can be harder to snip. I'd stick with what electricians use for long life.

 

[WaltW]

I have always used a pair of "diagonal cutters" with heat treated (hardened) cutting edges. The heat treated edges stand up tp the hard to cut wound strings and keep a sharp enough edge that the unwound B & E strings can be cut cleanly and not flattened. cutters of this type will frequently have "heat treated" stamped on them or etched.

 

[GSFV]

I bought this a couple years back and like it! Mine was black, but same idea. winder and cutter in one. I keep one in my bag in case I need to change strings on the go. Very handy!

Amazon.com

 

[crank]

Anything that cuts wire works as well as anything that cuts wire as well.

 

[wileypickett]

I bought this a couple years back and like it! Mine was black, but same idea. winder and cutter in one. I keep one in my bag in case I need to change strings on the go. Very handy!

Amazon.com

+1

Several versions like this. Here's one for $2.49, with free shipping, from China -- exactly the one I use:

Pro Winder String Winder and Cutter Guitar banjo Mandolin Tool D'CA | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Pro Winder String Winder and Cutter Guitar banjo Mandolin Tool D'CA at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

They don't rely on sharp edges to actually cut the string, so there are no cutting edges to chip or get dull. Rather they shear the string. And they last forever.

 

[Westerly Wood]

 

[chazmo]

Well, that's one solution. Hope this guy doesn't blind himself when he puts ihs guitar back in its case.

 

[kostask]

Planet Waves used to make a good cutter, the same one is probably sold by D'Addario these days, what with D'Addario seeming to want to do away with the Planet Waves name.

Any cutter that is designed for electrical work will wear out quickly cutting guitar (or any other musical instrument) metal strings. Musical instrument strings are very hard, and electrical wire cutters are designed to cut copper wires, so are not hard enough to stand up to musical instrument wires for long. You will notice that they either go dull, or even develop dents/divots on the cutting edges pretty quickly.

 

[Rocky]

I just buy a bunch of the Harbor Freight-type small diagonal clippers. Sure they wear out, but they're pretty darn cheap. Buy several, and put one in the case of every gigging instrument, along with a set of strings. Heck, you'll probably lose them before they get dull.

 

[davismanLV]

MY EYE!!!

 

[Rocky]

MY EYE!!!

Putting the "Ola!" into Craviola.

 

[Roland]

I'm a retired airplane mechanic. I have a whole tool box full of cutters of every persuasion. Any hardware store has a wall full of them. Go into a store and pick the one you like.

 

[jedzep]

As kostask mentioned, the basic electrician wire cutter/stripper tool is inadequate.