How to restring a bass?

[Annoying Twit]

I've just received a set of new bass strings (D'Addario EL 165-6), and now need to restring my bass.

I thought I'd look here for a sticky on it, but there isn't one. I didn't look through all 34 pages, but looked through

My bass at present seems to be strung - strangely. It was bought second hand from ebay. The strings all are wrapped around the machine heads from the inside, except for the B and G string, which are wrapped around from the outside. That means that those tuning machines tune in the opposite direction from the others. So I don't think just copying the stringing style is a good idea.

There are lots of sites showing how to tune a bass, but which give the best advice? Or is it such a trivial change that pretty well any site is going to give as good advice as any other?

[url="http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_string_change/"]http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_string_change/[/url]
[url="http://www.wikihow.com/Change-Strings-on-a-Bass-Guitar"]http://www.wikihow.com/Change-Strings-on-a-Bass-Guitar[/url]
[url="http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1412620"]http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1412620[/url]
[url="http://www.davidgage.com/z_david_strings.htm"]http://www.davidgage.com/z_david_strings.htm[/url]

[Jarhead]

TuneMyBass is what I would recommend, very easy to follow and it includes pictures as well. Make sure you have all the stuff you need as well, IE string cutters, that kinda stuff, just makes it easier.
Zach
EDIT for poor spelling.

Edited November 29, 2008 by 5_string_death

[OutToPlayJazz]

Just take your time, change one at a time so you keep the neck tension roughly the same. Make sure you wind the strings from top to bottom on each post, holding the string down to the surface of the headstock near the post as you wind, in order to ensure the best string tension. No need to cut strings really, unless you have a short scale like a 30" Hofner.

[Annoying Twit]

Everything went well except for the C string which just broke for no reason I can see. I'm pretty sure it was faulty, as I was just tuning it up. I've emailed the suppliers to see what they say.

Otherwise no problems. I didn't get the wraps around the machine heads nearly as neat looking as in some of the pics though. But better looking than in that advertisement for "Bass Day" that was up the top of the forum for a while.

[josh3184]

take it this is a 6 string?

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='josh3184' post='341612' date='Dec 1 2008, 05:36 AM']take it this is a 6 string?[/quote]

Yes. A Shine 6 string I bought for £60+ p&p on ebay.

To be honest, it feels a bit chintzy. E.g. the machine heads with no strings on were a bit loose. And there are file marks on the fretboard. But it tuned up OK, and I enjoy playing it.

[josh3184]

ah fair enough- odd choice for a first bass!
Then again, I don't suppose there's any harm as long as you enjoy playing it. Like everyone said, those sites are pretty comprehensive- its just unfortunate about the C string!

[Mr. Foxen]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='341284' date='Nov 30 2008, 06:15 PM']Everything went well except for the C string which just broke for no reason I can see. I'm pretty sure it was faulty, as I was just tuning it up. I've emailed the suppliers to see what they say.

Otherwise no problems. I didn't get the wraps around the machine heads nearly as neat looking as in some of the pics though. But better looking than in that advertisement for "Bass Day" that was up the top of the forum for a while.[/quote]

Thats the Spirit of Bass trying to tell you something. If enough people believed the Spirit would have had enough strength to brerak the B also.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='josh3184' post='341862' date='Dec 1 2008, 01:25 PM']ah fair enough- odd choice for a first bass!
Then again, I don't suppose there's any harm as long as you enjoy playing it. Like everyone said, those sites are pretty comprehensive- its just unfortunate about the C string![/quote]

It's my second bass this time around. Apart from ill-planned bass playing in my teens - wish I had the internet etc. resources then that I had now. So in reality my fourth bass. Some months ago I bought a five string here. Some time after I tried a Yamaha 6 string in a shop and really liked it, but thought it wouldn't be worth me spending £500 or so on a bass yet. But then the Shine turned up. I really like the wide neck with lots of strings. There just seems to be so much choice of where to go next. Maybe I'll change my mind if I get more dexterous.

Now, I've got to decide what to do. It seems silly to have both a fretted 5 string and a fretted 6 string. But the 5 string has at least better hardware than the six and doesn't have file marks on the fretboard etc.