String Tough
String Tough
Tips and Accessories to Change Guitar Strings Easily
It not that tough to know when your strings need changing. They’re no longer sound bright and they begin to feel almost dirty or rusty. Breaking a string or two can also cause you to have to change your strings, possibly sooner then you had wanted.
Removing strings and replacing them isn’t a tough job, but there are some simple rules you should follow not to mention some accessories that can make the job easier. In this article I’m going to explain the simple steps to removing and replacing a string along with a couple of accessories worth having.
One String at a Time
Some people might tell you differently but I’m a fan of only removing and replacing one string at a time. This reduces any chance that you could warp the neck of your guitar by removing all the strings, reducing tension on the neck and then adding tension back all at once.
Start at either the 1st or 6th string and work your way up or down until they’re all changed.
Don’t Wind too Tight
Once you remove a string only wrap it 3 or 4 times around the tuning peg on the head stock. There’s no need to have a bunch of excess string that just makes it more difficult to remove next time. Also pay attention to the way you wrap the string around the peg. It’s easy to put one string on backwards. This is another benefit to only taking one string off at a time you can match the new one up to the old strings still on your guitar.
Stretching
It takes some time for strings, especially if they’re nylon strings, to stretch. I suggest you don’t wind the string up as tight as it will go right away. Go slowly giving the string time to stretch. It takes a while for your strings to finally stop stretching and finally remain in tune so don’t rush it. Tightening a string too quickly can result in breaking it.
Accessories to Help
A couple of nice accessories that make changing guitar strings easier are:
String Winder
String Cutter
Electric Tuner
Each of these are ideal when changing strings on your guitar. The winder makes it a lot faster to tighten up new strings. Your fingers can only twist so fast and it can take some time to tighten up a new string. Of course once all those new strings are on you’re definitely going to want to cut off the excess, and an electric tuner helps you find the right pitch and note for at least one string. You can tune by ear if you’d like after that but unless you have perfect pitch an electric tuner will help a lot.
About the Author
If you’re just starting out you might want to read about our guitar lessons dvd that covers the basics right from the parts of the guitar and string names. Also our blog on beginner guitar tips has many useful articles from how to play basic chords to advanced scale and soloing techniques.
How to Sell a Business During Tough Economic Conditions – 5 Tips
There is no doubt that trying to <a href=”http://www.business4sale.co.uk”>sell a business</a> during a recession is a difficult task, but not an entirely impossible one. Yes, credit has dried up and folks are starting to feel the pinch of an economic slowdown that is going to be part of life for the next couple of years, but it’s not all doom and gloom.
Many investors and potential business owners see this slowdown as a golden opportunity. Experienced business buyers look to buy businesses in times of economic uncertainty, in the hope of realising a good profit by the time they decide to sell. It’s a chance to manoeuvre into a strong position ahead of an eventual economic recovery. The bad news is that you will need to be realistic about your price.
With supply outstripping demand, buyers are in a good position to negotiate and selling your business may mean accepting less than you hoped for a year earlier. This is the reality of the situation but there are a few things you can do to help you sell for close to your asking price:
1.) Tighten up the slack – Look at ways to reduce your expenses and review the way you do things. Get rid of any dead weight by searching around for better priced stock, supplies and utilities such as telephone, gas and electricity. Reducing your outgoings should improve your balance sheet and make your business a much more attractive proposition. Don’t settle for a price because it’s what you’ve always paid. You may have established a relationship with the seller which could be keeping you from finding the same product or service for less. Approaching current suppliers and negotiating reduced prices, could be a way for you to still remain loyal while at the same time receive the item for less.
2.) Pile them high – Consider ways to reward customers who buy in bulk. Whether you offer a product or service, offering the customer an improved rate for a bulk purchase lends itself nicely to the mindset during a recession. Purse strings start to tighten and people are looking for a good deal.
3.) Freshen up – As the saying goes “first impressions last forever”. I couldn’t agree more. Now is the time to apply that coat of paint you’ve been meaning to add for the past year, or fix that squeaky hinge that’s been annoying you. The last thing you want is a buyer thinking the place is falling apart and would require some outlay to fix it up. The same goes for maintaining a decent level of cleanliness.
4.) Get rid of clutter – Your business exists to make money, not to store unnecessary clutter. Your clutter may lead buyers to think that you manage your business in an unorganized way and could leave them worried that you may be hiding a few skeletons in the closet.
5.) What makes you special – Take the time to think about what makes your business unique. Why should a buyer choose your business over other businesses for sale? Once you’ve identified your unique selling point, make sure you let buyers know about it.
These tips focus on improving your businesses balance sheet and outward appearance. The great thing is that even if you don’t sell your business, it’s going to leave you in better shape to face an economic slowdown and should put you in a good position to raise finance if you need it. There are of course other factors that influence the value of your business but focusing on the fundamentals in tough conditions will always be a sound strategy for delivering tangible results when deciding to list your business for sale.
About the Author
Ross Withers Author and Co-Founder of http://www.Business4Sale.co.uk .