Tuning trick

Many people may experience problem with tuning a guitar which was just recently restrung with a fresh set of strings. We all know that we have to stretch our strings so that the tuning would be much easier. Some of us will pull the strings with our hands. Well, it works perfectly fine but not all of us know how hard we are supposed to pull. This is how I stretch my strings.

When I tune the guitar for the first time after its strings are changed, I will always tune half a step up for the 3rd to 6th strings, and a 'quarter' step up for the 1st and 2nd strings. According to my experience, this is the fastest way to tune a guitar with fresh set of strings. Tested and proven. 

This trick isn't my creation and idea. It was someone else's but no harm sharing them here!

Shopping (again)^3

Alright. Everybody needs a break, agree?
Well, doing Physics for continuous 6 hours yesterday without budging a single inch from the table is not at all healthy. So I decided to take a break by going out for shopping (at City Hall~)

These are what I bought.

From right>>
GHS Coated Guitar Boomers (10-52). Well, my usual stocking of electric guitar strings. Until now, I still prefer GHS coated boomer the most; it is the cheapest coated strings. I usually buy the 10 gauge ones with thicker bass strings. The normal type is (10-48)

Cherub WST-900 Clip Evo Tuner. Bought this from SV Guitars. I have been looking for a new tuner since my old tuner has spoiled. This sounds pathetic but my one and only tuner is my Zoom G2.1u. So I decided to get this chromatic tuner. Why chromatic? I usually play dropped-tuning so it's necessary. And (obviously) it is the most flexible type of tuner. I prefer clip tuners more than the pedal types. They are cheaper and much lighter. Adding another block of metal in my pedal case is not a very good idea. The Vox Wah already weigh a tonne. xD

Gallistrings Phosphor bronze round wound: Again, my top priority in getting strings is to get a coated one. So I decided to give this a try. Haven't string them onto my acoustic as I can't find plier and I borrowed my Planet Waves Clipper to my friend.

Audio Technica? Nah.. that wasn't part of my list. It's just my headphone =P.

Suitable Gauge

This is one of the problem that had been discussed in the local forum.

A fella changed his strings to 0.12 gauge. As a result, the whole bridge was lifted up by 2 cm++.

Different gauge will provide with different tones, sustain and etc. Normally a larger gauge will provide a louder volume and sustain. This guy probably string these strings because

1. He doesn't care about gauges so much

2. He wants a louder volume.

What he failed to realise is this: Not all guitars are made for gauges so high. The thicker the strings, the more tension they has and more pull exerted on both the bridge and the neck. Luckily, his bridge was a floating bridge, so it takes much of the pull from the strings than the neck. Has it been a locked bridge, the neck will suffer a enormous damage. Sadly, this dude tried to reinforce his bridge by adding 2 more springs. So where does all the resultant tension acts on? The neck~! He also said he has difficulties tuning (turning the tuners), proving that the stress is on the neck.

Thicker strings are made usually for drop tunings. Usually when a guitar is drop tuned, there is a tension slack on the strings especially on gauges like 0.09 . Thus thicker strings helps to lessen tension slack. So what he fails to understand is the following,

• Large gauges are made for drop tunings.
• He doesn't know how to choose suitable strings

Some of the guitars are made to cut the tension slack as well.

Normal a scale of a guitar is 25.5'', like Ibanez RG (for example). There is also Ibanez RGD but the D makes a difference. D refers to "drop tune" and also it has a large scale (26.5) and has a slightly thicker neck as well. With larger scale, it reduces the tension slack in the strings. These kinda guitar will allow you to drop tune more freely with less slack.

The whole main thing about this post is you must know the suitable strings for your guitar. =)