I've always found that my low stings, particularly the 12th string on my U12 (0.068), can only take about 1-1/2 turn before doubling over or squeezing out from the tapered area of the peg onto the full diameter portion, making tuning very touchy. Today, when restringing my whole guitar, I inadvertently cut the 12th string a bit short and it kept slipping and unraveling the wound outer portion. My solution was to manually unravel about 1-1/2" of the string to expose the single string innards, and use just that on the tuning peg. Not only did it solve the short string problem, but it made the string easier to tune. See here:

I'm now considering unwinding the ends of maybe the 12th-9th strings (next time I change them) on my U12 to make winding and tuning easier.

Does anybody else out there already do this?

Is it "legal"?

bob

My first guess is that it'll be ok. When I unwound the outer string from the core, it took some work. It was on there tight, so I think there would be a lot of resistance to slippage of the coils over the core wire. Secondly, at the point that the string passes over the roller, there is a lot of pressure forcing the outer windings to dig in to one side of the core string, further anchoring it in place. But, as you said, time will tell.

[This message was edited by Bill Llewellyn on 28 November 2004 at 07:55 AM.]

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Here's how I do it (after hooking the string at the changer)...

I insert the string through the hole from the back side, pull it through enough to allow the 1-2 wraps on the big strings, then wind the key a couple of turns (until the end is sticking straight up), and then cut the string off and finish winding the key up to pitch. (No more than 1-2 turns is required on the "big wires", and if you pull them up tight afterwards with your hand - to remove any slack or slop, there's negligible retuning due to compacting or movement.)

In addition, piano strings don't get changed very often for several reasons. First, pianists don't really crave the bright, sharp sounds that guitarists do. Second, piano strings are not subject to dirt, oils, and perspiration from the player's hands. Third, piano strings aren't constantly being pulled and relaxed like those on a guitar. Fourth, piano strings are not subject to fret wear, or wear from a sliding bar. Fifth, piano strings are much heavier than those on a guitar, so they just naturally last longer. And lastly, it's pretty darned expensive!

I've heard a restringing on a piano would normally be done every 50-100 years, or perhaps sooner in severe climatic conditions, or conditions of very heavy useage (many retunings).

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 15 November 2006 at 02:12 PM.]