Step-by-Step Guide on How to String a Bass Guitar

Step-by-Step Guide on How to String a Bass Guitar

Is your bass guitar no longer sounding like it used to? A new set of strings may be all it needs. Like every stringed instrument, the strings on your bass eventually wear out. For someone who’s never done a bass guitar string change, though, it can seem like a daunting task.

There are a lot of questions about changing bass guitar strings — and the bassheads at Strings and Beyond are here to answer them. This guide provides the information you need about why to change bass strings while going through the process step by step. If you need new strings, we have hundreds of bass string sets from leading brands such as Elixir, D’Addario, La Bella, Rotosound and Ernie Ball.

When Should I Change Bass Guitar Strings?

Over time, dirt, oils, skin flakes and moisture get into the winding of your bass strings, causing corrosion and changing the string characteristics. Although some people prefer the warmer, rounded-off tone of older strings, they still eventually need to be replaced. Here are some signs that it’s time to change your bass strings:

• The strings are constantly falling out of tune.
• The intonation is suddenly off.
• The strings sound muffled and don’t have much sustain.
• There are visual signs of wear such as discoloration and even rust.
• The windings look like they are unraveling.
• A string breaks.

Depending on the type of strings you play and how hard/often you play them, you might need to change bass strings every one to three months. Regularly cleaning your strings as well as washing your hands before playing will help the strings last longer. Coated strings also last longer because they resist dirt and grime, though the coating eventually wears off.

Should I Change My Strings One at a Time?

One of the most frequent questions we get is whether to replace each bass string in sequence or to remove all the old strings before adding the new ones. The one-at-a-time method helps new strings stabilize faster and lets you look at the old strings for guidance. Removing all the strings at once makes it easier to do other maintenance such as oiling the fretboard and polishing the body. However, add the new strings as soon as maintenance is completed since the neck can warp from too much time without tension.

Guide to Restringing Your Bass Guitar

It’s finally time to go through the steps of changing bass strings. Note these instructions follow the one-at-a-time method. If you want to remove the strings all at once, do steps one and two for all strings before proceeding to step three.

1. Turn the tuning peg of the lowest string — E on a four-string bass, B on a five-string bass —using your fingers or a peg winder to reduce tension. Pluck the string as you start to confirm you’re turning the peg in the right direction (the open note will get lower as the tension drops).

2. Once the string is visibly loose, remove it from the peg and pull it back through the body or across the bridge assembly (this depends on the bass design). Some people will cut the loose string in the middle using wire cutters or string clippers to make removal easier — but be aware this will create more sharp ends that can cut your finger or nick your bass.

3. Unwrap the replacement string and pull it through the bridge or body, reversing the method from step two.

4. Insert the string fully through the tuning peg hole, then bring it back 3-4 inches. Place a notch in the string where it will enter the slot on top of the peg to prevent slipping.

5. Cut off the excess string just past the notch using your string clippers.

6. Wind the new string around the tuning peg. You should wind outward with each winding going beneath the previous one. This creates a sharper angle from the head nut to reduce string buzz. Guide the string as you turn to make sure it sets in the correct bridge and nut saddles.

7. Tune the new string using a bass tuner.

8. Repeat steps 1-7 for the remaining strings, working your way from low to high.

9. Go back and re-tune each string. The tuning will change as the strings stretch and the neck tension fluctuates.

10. To help the strings stabilize faster, lightly pull on each string a few times to stretch them, re-tuning the instrument after each stretch. (If you’re not in a hurry, you can let the bass sit overnight.)

Do I Need to Change the Bass Guitar Setup?

If you are switching to a different string gauge or brand, you may need to make other adjustments. Lighter string gauges will reduce the amount of neck relief (how much curve the neck has) and increase the amount of action (how far the strings are from the frets). Heavier gauges have the opposite effect.

While ideal measurements vary, the general rules of thumb are to have between 0.2mm and 0.35mm of relief and 2mm to 2.8mm of action, adjusting from there based on playability and preferences. You can use calipers to measure them. To adjust the relief, use an Allen wrench to turn the truss rod nut (found at the top of the neck) a quarter-turn at a time. The action is adjustable via the bridge height. Remember to re-tune the guitar after each adjustment

Once these things are set, check the intonation by playing each string on the 12^th fret. If the note is off-pitch, use a small screwdriver to adjust the saddle’s distance from the head nut (farther = flatter, closer = sharper). Tune the string before re-checking the intonation.