Tuning new strings

[oc chuck]

I saw this tip and it made sense (to me).

From Frets.com
"Nylon strings, especially the trebles are incredibly stretchy. For the first day, it will seem as though you'll never get them in tune. They'll stabilize by the next day.

Some people try to pre-stretch the strings in an effort to make them stay in tune better right away. Don't do it. Stretching the strings (beyond normal tuning to pitch) will cause them to develop thin areas, changing the distribution of mass. Uneven strings do not play in tune!
Most of the intonation problems on classical guitars are due to uneven strings." -- Frets.com


I have always stretched or over tuned new
strings to make them settle in sooner.
I think this is a fairly common practice.

[Sandra]

I'm guilty of this as well, however, I haven't had it be an issue with causing the strings to be unevenly tuned once they've settled in.

I think it's a matter of degree. I'll take a string envelope and slide the flap under the string and then tug it out over the length of the string a few times. And I'll tune it up a few cents before I put the guitar away.

I do remember buying a batch of Augustine Blues from Guitar Center some years ago. They would not tune properly no matter what. Maybe it was a defective lot or they were subjected to extreme heat at some point or whatever, but several sets all had the same problem. Turned me off to Augustines and I haven't tried them since. I still have a couple sets sitting at the back of my string shelf in case there's ever a day I'm totally desperate and all the stores are closed.

Come to think of it, I do recall the trebles being the problem. Maybe one of these times I should just try the basses as a replacement, since trebles typically outlast the basses anyway. :)

[Mister Lovaguitara]

this is from Strings by Mail:
The Augustine Classic series strings have sweet trebles and rich warm basses. A beautiful sounding string, (but can be prone to inconsistencies in intonation in the trebles due to a softer formulation of nylon). These strings were the ones Segovia himself made famous. Models: Blue, Red, Black (S.P.), Gold (note that the Gold have Gold basses and all other models have silver basses). *Previously referred to as "Traditional"

out of all the Augustine I like the Imperials the best.

and Thanks for the tip chuck! though I find if I tune them right away, let the guitar sit for 5 minutes, the tune again and then play for 5 minutes or so thay stay in tune pretty fast. I tune once before I putting the guitar away of course. during the day I sometimes open the case and just tune them, but only about once or twice.
the next morning thay need a tuning but after playing a bit thay seem to stay perfectly in tune. also, I tune all the time while playing because I don't like when the guitar is out of tune, so that might make a difference.

[Sandra]

this is from Strings by Mail:
The Augustine Classic series strings have sweet trebles and rich warm basses. A beautiful sounding string, (but can be prone to inconsistencies in intonation in the trebles due to a softer formulation of nylon).
Interesting that they should say that. I had bought Augustine Blues several times before and been quite pleased with them until I decided to stock up and got that "bad batch".

Nonetheless, I won't go back to them. Ever. Kinda like if you get food poisoning at a certain fast food chain and swear it off.

[Mister Lovaguitara]

I think thay say it because thay are a good honest dealer, I have never had any problems with them. I understand what you mean about the Augustine, I feel the same way after having one cardboard like sounding basses.

[brian richardson]

my 0.02-
the pulling (of the trebs) that some people do probably, has
more to do with the actual tightening of
the knot at the saddle
than actually stretching the string itself.
and no, i'm not a stretcher....

[Sasquatch51]

I install my strings with no slack so there is very little string on the rollers. That seems to reduce the "stretching time" by a considerable margin. I do not pull on the strings to stretch them...I have experienced first-hand the intonation problems that can result from that practice. I also interlace the tag ends of the strings at the bridge and melt a ball of nylon on the ends of the trebles.