To get the most out of your bass guitar, it’s important to keep it well-maintained. This includes regular string changes. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to restring a bass guitar like a pro!
I’ve made some mistakes over the years but with practice and advice from some great players, I’ve nailed down a faster process that seems to work well every time. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be playing with those fresh strings in no time.
Choose the right strings for your bass guitar
I guess it’s pretty obvious, but before you can restring your bass guitar you’ll need a new set of bass strings. You want to select strings that will complement your playing style and the type of music you’ll be performing. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on strings, but make sure you buy from a reputable brand. I usually go for Fender or Ernie Ball strings.
If you’re not sure which type of bass strings to get, here are a few things to think about:
The “gauge” or thickness of the string
This is measured in thousandths of an inch. For example, a string with a gauge of .45 means it’s 45 thousandths of an inch thick. A thicker string will have a bigger sound, but will be harder to play. A thinner string will be easier to play, but won’t have as much power. The new string specifications and gauge should be listed on the string box or as part of the online listing. A lot of times people will refer to string size or gauge based on the measrurement of the thickest string.
The “material” the string is made from
This can be steel, nickel-plated steel, or even synthetic materials like nylon or fluorocarbon. Each type of material has its own unique tone and feel.
The “scale length” of the string
This is the length of the string from the nut to the bridge. Longer scale length strings will have a lower pitch, while shorter scale length strings will have a higher pitch.
Wind type: Flatwound, Tapewound, Groundwound and Roundwound strings
Flatwound strings are wrapped in a smooth, flat ribbon of material. Roundwound strings are wrapped in a thin wire that gives them a slightly rough texture. Each type of string has its own unique sound and feel. Check out this article about bass guitar string types for more details.
Recommended tools & equipment
Before getting started, grab the stuff you’ll need to get the job done.
- Wire cutters
- New bass guitar strings
- Bass guitar tuner (optional but very helpful)
- Needle-nose pliers (optional but very helpful)
- Bass guitar string winder (optional but very helpful)
How to restring a bass guitar step by step
Step 1 – Remove the old strings
If you’re just changing one or two strings, you can leave the others on the guitar. This will help to keep the bridge in place and save you some time. However, unless the other strings are really new, I find it’s easier to just change out the entire set of strings at once so that they keep a consistent feel and tone.
To remove old bass strings, start by loosening the tuning peg one string at a time until the string is loose enough to slip out of the peg. Then, gently pull the string out of the bridge starting from the ball end. If you’re having trouble, you can use a pair of needle-nose pliers to grab the string and pull it through.
A note on removing strings for acoustic bass or acoustic guitar with bridge pins:
If you have an acoustic bass, after you loosen the strings, to remove the old string you’ll need to remove the bridge pins. The bridge pin is a plastic piece that keeps the ball end of the string secured to the bridge. (The ball end is the end of the string with a small circular tab that makes sure the string stays in place under the bridge).
The bridge pin that holds the bass string in place can sometimes get stuck and be pretty tough to remove. If that happens, first try gripping the string and pushing down – sometimes wiggling in this way is enough to loosen it up. If not, another option is to remove all the strings, reach inside the bass, and push the stuck pin upwards from inside the instrument. If that doesn’t work, many string winders come with a small notch that is cut out specifically to make it easier to slide under the bridge pin and wedge it out. If all else fails, needle nose pliers are a last resort but you need to be extremely gentle to avoid damaging your bridge pin or your acoustic bass.
Step 2 – Cut the new strings to remove some excess length
Once you have the old string out, it’s time to cut the new one to length. To do this, start by threading the string through the bridge hole and then hold the other end of the string up to the tuning peg (sometimes called the tuning key or machine head). Leave at least several inches of slack and then cut the string, you want to make sure you still have some extra string to maneuver and tie to the tuning peg or tuning post.
Step 3 – Tie the new string to the tuning peg
Now it’s time to tie the new string to the tuning peg. Start by threading the string through the hole in the tuning peg and then make a small loop. Next, take the end of the string and thread it through the loop. Pull tight and then trim off the excess string, but leave enough string to wind with. Usually a few inches is good, you can always trim it later but if you cut the string too short you will be out of luck.
A note on inserting bridge pins for acoustic bass strings:
If your bass uses bridge pins to hold the strings in place, you’ll need to insert the bridge pins at this stage. Just put the ball end of the string into the bridge pin hole a little bit deeper than the length of the bridge pin itself. Then, insert the bridge pin, and holding the pin down with your finger, gently pull the string up until you feel the ball end of the string catch against the underside of the bridge.
Step 4 – Wind the string around the tuning peg
Now you’re ready to start winding the string around the tuning peg. Start by holding the string down against the headstock and then turning the tuning peg clockwise. Be sure to wind the string in the same direction as the peg is turning.
As you’re winding, be sure to leave some slack in the string. This will make it easier to tune the string later on. Once you’ve wound the string a few times, hold down the end of the string against the headstock and give the tuning peg a final turn to lock the string in place.
Using a string winder:
Winding bass strings by hand can be therapeutic when you’re not in a hurry. If you’re scrambling to get ready for a gig or jam session though, a string winder can help to speed things up. Basically it is a form a ratchet that grips onto the tuning nut and let’s you quickly wind the string using a quick circular wrist or arm motion instead of twisting the nut with your fingers one turn at a time.
Step 5 – Tune the new string to pitch
Now it’s time to tune the new string up to pitch. Start by plucking the string and then turn the tuning peg until the string is tuned to the correct note. If you’re having trouble, you can use an electronic tuner to help get the string in the right ballpark.
Step 6 – Repeat for all remaining strings
Repeat steps 2-5 for each of the remaining strings on your bass guitar. Once you’re finished, your bass should be all restrung and ready to go!
Step 7 – Stretch the new strings
Once you’ve got all the new strings on your bass, it’s important to stretch them out. This will help to keep them in tune and prevent them from going out of tune too quickly.
To stretch the strings, start by holding down the first fret and then plucking the string. Next, lightly pull on the string while maintaining tension on the first fret. Do this a few times and then move up to the second fret and repeat. Continue until you’ve stretched all the strings.
Step 8 – Apply string lubricant
Depending on the bass strings you’ve chosen, you may want to apply some string lubricant to make sure they stay in good condition and remain comfortable to play. String lubricant helps to reduce friction and can make playing a little easier on your fingers. It can also help to prolong the life of your strings.
To apply string lubricant, start by applying a small amount to the part of the string that makes contact with the bridge. Then, work the lubricant into the string by plucking it or running your fingers back and forth along its length. A soft cloth also works great for spreading the string lubricant.
Some bass guitar strings don’t need lubricant because they’re already treated with a coating that helps to reduce friction. However, if you’re not sure, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and apply a small amount of lubricant to the strings.
Step 9 – Tune all the strings again
After stretching the strings, it’s a good idea to tune them up one last time. When you put on additional strings as well as when you stretch them, it will most likely result in at least one of your other strings being slightly out of tune. Use your bass guitar tuner to dial in the tuning for each string one more time.
Step 10 – Get to jamming
That’s it! You’re now ready to rock out with your newly restrung bass guitar. Keep in mind that newer strings may need to be tuned more often as they stretch out more fully with initial use. But once they’re broken in, you should be good to go for a while.
When to restring a bass guitar
So how do you know when your bass needs new strings? As a general rule of thumb, you should restring your bass every 3-4 months if you play regularly. If you don’t play as often, you can probably get away with changing strings once every 6 months or so.
Of course, this is just a general guideline and your mileage may vary depending on your playing style and the bass guitar’s strings. If you find that your strings are starting to sound dull or worn out, it’s definitely time to change strings. Over time, old strings naturally collect built up skin debris so your strings will start to look dull and dark, especially in the areas where you touch your strings the most.
Do you need to adjust the truss rod when changing strings?
The truss rod is a metal rod that goes through the neck of your bass guitar to help control the slight curve of the instrument’s neck. Although the difference is small, a line drawn along the string straight between the nut and bridge saddle will have a different distance to the fretboard at different points along the neck, and the truss rod helps to adjust this.
Usually a bass guitar is already set up and doesn’t need to change when you change strings. The only exception might be if you are changing from a very light gauge string to a very heavy gauge string. Since heavier bass strings place more tension on the neck of your instrument, you may need to make a slight tension change using the truss rod if you’re finding that your bass is too hard to play or if your strings are buzzing after making a change. If you do need to make adjustments, check out this separate article on how to adjust the truss rod on your bass.
If you aren’t sure about doing this yourself, most of the time a music store or guitar shop can help you figure it out, and will already have all the right tools to adjust the rod properly for a small fee. Many, if not most bass players leave this to the experts to avoid the risk of messing up their basses accidentally. The rod, tuning nuts, and strings can all break and you can end up with an unplayable instrument if these adjustments aren’t done correctly.
Maintaining your bass guitar strings
There are a few things you can do to help your strings maintain a good sound for a longer time. Bass strings aren’t cheap, so it’s worth taking good care of them. Some of the biggest things you can do to extend the life of your bass strings are:
Keep your hands and your strings clean
One of the biggest things that dulls strings is the grime and skin that collects naturally over time from rubbing your hands and fingers on the strings. Giving your strings a regular wipe down with some string cleaner and a dry cloth can really help with this. Doing this after every time you play can make a big difference. For more detail check out this article about how to deep clean your bass strings with rubbing alcohol. Also, make sure your hands are clean before you play.
Store your bass inside its case
Storing your instrument inside the case prevents dust from gathering on the strings. The case material often helps to absorb excess moisture as well.
Use pre-coated strings
One of the great things about coated strings, in addition to not having to use string lubricant, is that they tend to last longer. This is partly because the coating slows down the accumulation of skin debris and dust that gets rubbed into the strings over time.
Bottom line: Don’t put off changing strings for too long
Restringing your bass is a relatively simple process that only takes a few minutes once you get the hang of it. By restringing your bass regularly, you’ll be able to keep it sounding its best and avoid losing sound quality over time.
