Bass Setup | How to Restring a Bass Guitar with John Carruthers | ELIXIR Strings

Master Luthier John Carruthers walks you through restringing a bass guitar.
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[@Andydoesales]

As a new bass player, I really find these videos by John so helpful....managed to set up my home made bass with no problem. Quite proud of myself, but John made it so easy.

[@khennybothier6191]

Pouvoir vous avez reçu ce message

[@Redhollow]

Hey man, out of curiosity, how goes your bass playing journey?

[@Andydoesales]

@@Redhollow All good, still learning as we all are, playing in a band.... Well, will be again when covid buggers off.

[@PeterPrestonUK]

Most informative video I've seen on the subject, and good to hear a string company not telling us to cut our old strings in half. Strings can be reused, and aren't always changed because they're dead. Thanks for the honest, helpful non-sales instruction.

[@ericschwartz9982]

To help your strings last longer, wash your hands before you play and wipe the strings down after you finish playing. John's videos are always helpful and informative. No fluff. No filler. Excellent job.

[@tun-tunninc.6492]

Stretching the strings is something I never thought of doing while restringing. Very appreciative of this video.

[@Asthmos]

best video for restringing a bass right here . measure, kink, cut, and wind. when you do it the way this guy shows, it comes out looking good every time

[@macdongr]

Simple, short video that explains everything with enough detail that makes it easy to understand for people who have never done this before.

[@GfnWiz]

Dude…out of appreciation for your videos…just wanted to thank John Carruthers… (I bought your book) it is amazing I could be changing my strings for years and always got upset when I ruined a string because it unwound…the most simple things in the world often allude us.

[@ElixirStringsMedia]

Glad to hear it!

[@Luqmas]

Mad props for these vids, the whole series on bass guitar setup. There are tons of vids on this by all kinds of people, but it adds a sense of safety when it's done by a professional and you wanna follow it.

[@michaelmilburn3094]

Thanks for video. I laughed at around 1:16-1:32 when he referenced box: "this is our 45 to 105 set" then opens box and the low string is 100, not 105. ;-)

[@skinnydoggyz]

one thing i would add to this, although it doesn't happen too much, is make sure the strings aren't twisted before tightening them. I took an old pair of strings off once to work on the guitar, and weeks later after having them back on, I noticed one of the strings had fret marks in a spiral pattern, versus on the underside only as I would have expected (they were a couple years old). so what i've been doing is wrapping the string a couple times around the tuning peg, then pull it tight towards the bridge, so that i can see how the ball-end is oriented. Then I will proceed to pull the string tight and tune it up making sure the ball-end wasn't twisted in the process, if that makes sense. Like flattening out a wrinkle in fabric. I don't think the twisting would affect the sound or feel very much, but now I try to prevent it all the same.

[@Martin-gg1up]

Fast Bass setup with all important steps and all need to knows is right here. Haven´t seen it better. Watch before you setup your base and save money before making mistakes. Thank you very much, you saved me time and money.

[@ryanbennett8434]

I love how johns videos aren't 594748473 mins long. They're short and too the point.

[@dylanmeredith5417]

Ryan Bennett I know right

[@behindthen0thing]

Yeah

[@Joetime90]

He seems like a sweet guy. Granted the video is ten years old, wonder what he's up to now?

[@dangermoose666]

Wish more video's were like this. Short, accurate and to the point.

[@VegetaSoup]

Not even 5 minutes after playing my new bass did I accidentally break the G trying to tune it. I never had luck with strings and breaking them, especially violin ones. That being said, since I'm new to having a bass guitar, thank you for posting this video so I can restring it on my own.

[@mastod0n1]

Sionnanful did you get really heavy gauge strings so that you needed a lot of tension? I have abused the hell out of sets of strings and have never broken one. they're super hard to break

[@JameseyFrey]

Sounds like you were tuning it too high. Probably an octave higher than needed. Resulting in far greater tension.

[@NICUofficial]

This is so cool, just stumbled upon it while restringing my bass - for the past 14 years my finest guitar has been a vintage Blue Paisley Fender Strat with an aftermarket hand-turned neck supposedly made by John Carruthers. I've never cared enough to verify the supposed providence of this guitar or its neck, mainly because it sounds and plays so stupidly amazing that I wouldn't care if it was made out of balsawood by a 3rd grader. Anyway, that's all I've got to say

[@tonyperri5663]

This is great INFO, thank you very much for sharing!

[@Vdeogamer]

I got some RotoSound 45-130 and I'm just about ready to restring. This guys video is very informative and helpful. Thanks!

[@SadowskyGuitars]

Perfect, John. Could not have done better myself!

[@sagsquad5ever]

thank you, john! easily explained for me to do it myself :)

[@Avaadorey]

I love these videos where they do it with their hands. I don't have all the fancy tools.

[@kerseya]

Re strung my bass for the first time I forever and this really helped! Thanks!!

[@littlemisspurrfect4000]

I'm brand new to bass so this was really helpful. Thank you John!

[@TheJazzocaster]

You can change all strings at once, it shouldn't hurt the typical (maple) neck, but it's good idea to recheck the relief is too your preference.

[@dylanmeredith5417]

thank you John carruthers without you I wouldn't be able to fix my bass guitar

[@dontbelievethehype4149]

Best videos on the subject I have ever seen.thank you

[@GrimSchwede]

great info, just had to do this for the first time, video was is to the point and did help me with what I came here for.

[@jackpops3613]

Interesting. I was taught by a local guitar shop to cut my Bass strings 2" past the tuning post. Thankfully we now have expert advice at the touch of a button!

[@milk2meatKJV]

I actually believe that 4.5'' is a better length to cut from. It gives you enough length for two full winds and it eliminates extra slack responsible for tuning instabilities. I am firm believer in having as little amount of string on the post as possible. But that's just me.

[@be4stable]

great video thank you

[@ElixirStringsMedia]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ppanamenoify]

Great to-the-point tutorial

[@radiodjkevin]

Well done the right way, thumbs up!

[@Brad5161]

Good video. While that general measurement for string length is cool, bear in mind that the posts can vary in diameter from bass to bass and that could be way too long on a thinner post. I go for the maximum length to have the maximum downforce at the post and nut. IME through trial and error you can figure out what extra length you need to have the string end up pressed down by the wraps above on the bottom of the post. Once you've done that, use the old string to measure the length of the new one. Easy. Also, I've experienced less neck movement when I change strings one at a time. YMMV

[@foxcheese8917]

thank you so much great sir!!

[@geoffstokes]

Very helpful thanks

[@ElixirStringsMedia]

Glad it helped

[@lurklingX]

thank you!! new bass, popped e-string and figured needed new ones anyway. coming from regular guitar was like............. "what am i looking at?" didn't know about putting the end in straight down. and whoever owned this one before me apparently didn't either. (unless some come without it, gonna check) thanks for the no TALKYTALKYBLAHBLAH spacefiller fluff. this will be a great reference vid!

[@ElixirStringsMedia]

Glad that it's helpful!

[@Rockford03]

I would clean the neck while I have the strings out .Very helpful video and made easy thanks .

[@_istudywater]

He’s like the Bob Ross of guitar maintenance.

[@james3727]

Thank you for your video. It was so helpful. If worked out how to restring it but I didn’t know about stretching the strings to get the inequity out, that’s a really good tip. I’m getting back into bass at 34. I bought one at 14 but fell out of it due to various reasons. I have a question and am hoping you may be able to help. I’m using the same bass I bought 20 years ago and it has been say unstrung for about 5 years. When I changed strings today it was really rattley. I adjusted the little spring things on the bottom so they stand higher which has fixed the issue as they’re further from the neck now. But I was wondering, do you think leaving the bass unstrung for so long has caused the neck to warp and that’s why it rattled so much?

[@waitin4winter]

5 inches past the peg head results in a fair number of windings (4 or 5) around the peg head. Is this common? I thought I'm looking for 2 to 3 wraps around the peg head.

[@fullmetal_3961]

I've seen people say anywhere from 3-5 myself

[@4ster15]

this is so relaxing

[@WILLIAMSESSIONS9305]

I would like to work with you and your shop!!

[@Phicxtion]

Good to see Arn Anderson found another job after WCW.

[@maddogk5667]

I can't understand what holds the string onto the spindle since the wrapped string doesn't cross over itself once it's tuned. I'm trying hard not no string it like my banjo but I'm just not seeing how my bass strings are held on the tuning peg.

[@KZHX]

I always come back to this video so I can get the cut off point (12cm) :)

[@sugaryhull9688]

Thanks for the metric conversion

[@DullSkaterBlade]

Thank you sir

[@JapanoiseBreakfast]

Does the 5" rule of thumb also apply to flatwounds, which tend to have thinner ends?

[@hdrjunkie]

I love the big milling machines in the back ground….lol I can just imagine people seeing those and thinking, “if I had access to those types of machines, I’d be a great bass player too!” Lol,lol,lol,lol,lol.

[@TThompson79]

Great video, thank you very much!

[@fndr4strngr]

Purchased a set of Elixir Medium .045-.105. Started with the new E string and found that the ball end is too large for the ferrule. I stopped there. Is this telling me I purchased the incorrect gauge ? Does ball end correspond with string gauge ? I did tell the sales person at Guitar Center the type of bass I have. Great tip for cleaning the fretboard btw. Would never have thought to use steel wool

[@whyush.k]

John Carruthers is Da Man!!!! :D

[@yucatansuckaman5726]

Davie504 is that you??

[@5amJones]

Thanks John.

[@powerkraut007]

If I order a 45-100 set I will get a 105 e-string?

[@billys5965]

John, thank you very much. I’ve watched your series. Would the same approach hold for a short scale bass?

[@guilhermemello553]

Great video ! Thank you !

[@fndr4strngr]

Hi John, I have a 2000 Epiphone Les Paul Standard Bass.Bought the bass second hand. I have no idea what gauge or how long the strings have been on the bass.There is some discoloring in spots on the E and A strings. Wanted to change them out.

[@crystalslushee]

What tool does he use to cut the string, and where can I get one?

[@TeeAreify]

@eggobass Those are actually what I've used for years on my other basses and loved them. Finally picked up a set of HiBeams last week for the J and I'm hoping they work out. I agree with the overpriced notion, and I also don't care for coated strings. Thanks a lot for your input!

[@hades18360]

I should probably get new strings for my bass but I'm just learning how to restring it cause my frets NEED to get cleaned

[@mattermontaigu1646]

To furthermore prevent twisting, resist the temptation of winding the string by hand around the tuner pole, take the time and wind it with the tuning key. And about the bending of the string before cutting, it’s to prevent the string core from slipping back into its own actual winding, which like John said will result in a dead string. Nothing like your own experience will determine better your ability.

[@patrickhale424]

Did you get a wrong set of strings? You showed the box being 45-105 but when you pulled them out of the box you said it was a 45-100 set. What's up with that?

[@rosienieder7081]

Very helpful, good job :)

[@TeeAreify]

Just wondering, what Elixer strings would you recommend for a Fender J-Bass?

[@TheEviltaco666]

nice and very informative, but who would dislike this?

[@warthog5562]

What a gorgeous p bass that is.

[@quintinolix1035]

man, I love elixir strings, but it hurts that a single one of these bass strings will cost more than an entire set of your average guitar strings

[@mugz90]

The round part that you twist the string around it On my bass guitar that part came out of the socket and idk how to put it back, can anyone help me plz

[@marktimmer2212]

We love utube.we would no sjit withoutit.

[@alexc61972]

dam my string keeps flying out of my peg every time i try to turn it and tune the guitar. Any help?

[@usupim]

It has been 7 years, did it stay in the peg?

[@f.androo]

It’s now been 8 years, and I’m curious as well. Did it stay in the peg?

[@JonathanMirus]

all the roto sound strings are expensive but yet powerful

[@TylerMillsftw]

Why does the set gauge say 45-105 but when he opens the package there's a 100 instead of 105.

[@terrapin6352]

Tyler Wylie Mills Unsolved Mysteries John Carruthers Exposed!

[@JameseyFrey]

It's doesn't say 105. He just mispoke.

[@xsodxgeez]

this dude is the shit

[@fndr4strngr]

I should have also mentioned that the bridge/tailpiece looks very similar to what is on the Epiphone Allen Woody Bass.

[@tetra3000]

looked like there was too much string around the post especially after you stretch the string and re tune (which isn't shown in this video) I would go for 4 inches of slack to prevent that instead of 5

[@deo.strengthspan.project]

I've heard it may be better for the neck to not remove all the strings at once before replacing them and instead remove and replace each string one at a time. It does seem to make sense to me that removing all the strings at once will relieve the neck of the tension due to the strings and may affect the neck in some way. Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?

[@Ffwee]

I realize that I'm responding to a question that was asked many years ago, but someone else may have the same question. I was always told to change my strings one string at a time, for the reason mentioned above This was a royal pain and made it extremely difficult to clean my bass. I own a Ken Smith bass (google it if the name isn't familiar) and I asked Ken himself this exact question while he was doing some work on my bass a year or so ago. He said there is no reason for you to change the strings one at a time. Take them all off, clean your bass if you want, and put them all back on. In other words, exactly as shown in this video. Seems to me that a man who owns a company that hand makes basses that sell for $7,000.00 (and up) and who once employed Vinnie Fodera, probably knows what he's talking about.

[@def2008]

Vous enlever toutes les cordes en meme temps pas peur pour le manches?

[@jasonmare33]

thanks

[@feliciastuddard6458]

is that a vintage fender bass guitar?

[@Pinnethewoo]

It's a vintage p bass remake

[@my79kz]

The box said .45 thru 105. Yet when you pulled them out of the box they were .45 thru 100 ????

[@jameshunt8373]

So we've got a set of strings 45-105 So we're going to take the first string which it a 100.... He's been setup!!!

[@xGoldriever]

how are daddario bass strings? anyone?

[@mr.hedgehog420]

I wish this guy would lean over my bed at night and read me stories to put me to sleep

[@tekonix6211]

Is it just me or does this guy sound like Adam Sandler?

[@mastod0n1]

Tekonix I didn't notice before, but now I can't not hear it lmao

[@clinteldorado]

No. Adam Sandler's a dick, John sounds like a nice guy.

[@hognip]

I've heard that it's important to restring one string at the time not removing them all at once. Is there any merit to this?

[@JameseyFrey]

That's just to avoid "shock" to the neck. If you're changing them right away there usually isn't an issue.

[@AWrinklySnake]

But I can get 2 sets of similar electric guitar strings for around 10 bucks. Not to mention the bass strings he is using in this video are around 30 bucks for 1 pack.

[@jamesbutterworth4313]

Sorry we wanted to know where to cut on every string not just one 😮

[@AshtrayAnnie]

GHS is also great

[@christopherfidler3019]

I wonder how many Homers poke themselves in the eye with a string 🤔

[@deancomeau2894]

First who changes bass strings ? I have had the same set on my p bass since 1976. Something is screwy in this video as he shows the package as being 45-105 then when he describes what is inside its 45 alright but 100 for the heavy side. 5 inches is too much on most basses as you will run out of peg for winding. I measure past the peg I am doing two full pegs and it works out just right.

[@alexmurphy5289]

98% of bass players change strings, I bet if you changed yours you would be amazed at how much better it sounds. John knows more about bass guitars than you do, trust the man.

[@dietwater9772]

Dean Comeau rule #2

[@SpectrumAudiophile]

JoeyLP it makes me very happy to find Glenn's influence in random places

[@joshstarkey8883]

I think people usually don't replace or clean flats, but if you're playing rounds you probably want the sound of new, clean strings

[@JameseyFrey]

The box very clearly says 100. He just says 105 by accident.

[@kosmicbubble5]

is this the nerdy guy from Office Space??

[@stratodude9219]

When you're treading the nanoweb strings through the bridge, you have to be very careful. If not, you're scraping off the thin coating on the strings. I'm just saying man.

[@jehovahuponyou]

Stratodude92 IF YOU USE SELF-HEALING SPIDER MAN COAT STRINGS, THE NANNER WOB WILL REPAIR ITSELF, UNLESS IT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO FROST DUST.

[@miketheterribleguitarplaye6074]

i did it the way you said and fucked up my tuner. i sure as hell aint gonna give it no 5 inches of slack next time

[@pastrings]

Bass Strings? Expensive? Did I hear that right? 2 sets of EXL 160's for $28.

[@_Majoras]

it gets very expensive if you always want the new string sound constantly replacing sets

[@NiegelDK]

the more wraps the better it stays in tune. im usually wrap mine with 4-5 inch extra string. if you only use 2 wraps the bass will go out of tune all the time

[@xasia_]

who cut him off Dx haha

[@dscdrkel5546]

VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND ***DR KEL

[@perpetualgrimace]

2:00

[@johnnybgoode2333]

Bass strings expensive? Compared to replacing drum heads a pack of bass strings is nothing...

[@alexis9198]

John Michael Halbig those are two completely different things. Why even compare them?

[@johnnybgoode2333]

Because I play both drums and bass, and changing out drum heads is the equivalent of changing out bass strings. My point is bass and guitar players are lucky that changing strings is not expensive compared to other instruments.

[@atoka2206]

Bass strings compared to guitar strings are very expensive

[@clinteldorado]

They are indeed. I can get a pack of guitar strings for under £10. The pack of bass strings I recently bought that I'm putting on my bass now cost me over £30. Guitar players don't know how bloody lucky they are.

[@JameseyFrey]

How often do you need to replace drum heads?

[@seanm.9942]

Yeah, this guide was not clear enough. I broke the part of my guitar between the scroll and the neck that has grooves for the strings

[@justingivens6799]

Well, this ruined my brand new strings. Thanks for the misinformation.

[@NiegelDK]

Please tell me, how does body oil ruin strings? Your argument is invalid since you play bass with your FINGERS! or do you play on your brand new strings with gloves on?

[@ThomasCYallouris]

So aggressive

[@thatoneguy611]

It takes a toll on the strings over time. By the way it’s been 8 years. Have you calmed down yet?

[@7caesar7]

Great job, thank you for share it!!!