Installing Steel Strings
The vast majority of steel string guitar players fail to do a very simple but important procedure in the process of installing a new string. To optimize the volume of a guitar’s voice and avoid damage to the bridge it is necessary to bend the string in a specific manner before inserting it into the bridge pin holes.
Observe the core of the string as it wraps around the barrel end and is then secured by the bronze winding. While positioning the string so the core end is on top slightly bend the string downward over your thumb nail.
The location of the bend should be where the string exits the bridge pin hole. Under normal conditions this would be near the end of the core.
If the bridge is thin however, or if you use a brand of string that has a longer wrapping, the location of the bend will be closer to the barrel.
If the bridge plate is worn or damaged the barrel end of the string will rise into the bridge pin hole.
This condition is clearly evident when the core of the wrapped core end of the string extends excessively beyond the surface of the bridge. If the saddle is low and close to the holes the wrapped core may come in contact with it. This condition effects the action, intonation and the overall performance of the string.
If the string rests upon the core end it will exit the hole at a higher elevation. This will make the angle that the string makes when bending over the saddle more obtuse. Depending on the height of the saddle the volume of the plucked string may be noticeably diminished. To optimize the energy that is transmitted to the saddle you want to have the string launch from the hole as low as possible making the break angle at the saddle as acute as possible. This is of particular importance to instruments that have low saddles.
The bend insures the correct orientation of the wrapped core when locked in place with bridge pin. The end of the core will automatically be located on top and will not come in contact with the bridge. If it is located to the side or the bottom when the pins are inserted it will encourage chipping of the bridge pin holes.
TIPS