How to Restring a Silver-tone Electric Guitar
Silvertone was a Sears brand name from the 1930s until 1972 and was featured on the company's line of Silvertone guitars. Silvertone guitars were inexpensive and of decent quality. Musicians such as Jerry Garcia, John Fogerty and Bob Dylan had Silvertones as their first instruments, along with countless others. Changing strings on your Silvertone is the same as changing strings on any other guitar. The process requires very few tools, little time, and can help keep your vintage Silvertone sounding as good as it did the day you bought it.
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Instructions
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1
Turn the tuning keys on your guitar headstock to loosen the old strings on your guitar. When the strings are loose enough, pull them from the hole at the base of the tuning key mechanism, then move down to the bridge of the guitar and pull each string through the bridge string slots to remove them.
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2
Open your new strings and take the individual sleeves from inside the package. There will be six sleeves. Each will contain a string for your guitar. Lay them out in the order they appear on your guitar to help keep you from placing a string in the wrong place on your guitar.
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3
Place each new string on your guitar. Start at the bridge. Silvertones have simple bridges with holes located in front for the strings. Slip the thinnest tip of the string (usually smooth and unwound) through the string hole on your bridge and pull it along the next of your guitar to the appropriate tuning key. Be sure the string rests in the appropriate slot on the guitar nut (the bar across the top of the fretboard). Slip the end of the string through the hole at the base of the tuning key and wind it around three or four times, then slip it through the hole again to secure it. Do this with each string, giving the tuning key two or three turns to ensure the strings don't slip.
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4
Tighten each string two or three additional turns, just until there is a little tension on them, then grasp the strings between your thumb and index finger one at a time. Lift each string away from the fretboard until it stretches tight. Do this a couple of times to help break the strings in. New strings often stretch. Stretching them before you tune up can help keep prevent your Silvertone from going out of tune later.
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5
Tune your strings, preferably with a digital tuner or reference note. Begin on the first string (thinnest) and slowly bring it up a little bit. Don't fully tune it yet. Go to the lowest string and tighten it a little bit. Now move to the next strings (second and fifth) in this pattern and tighten those strings. When all of the strings have been tightened and you're sure they aren't slipping, continue to bring the strings up to pitch with this alternating string method.
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Tips & Warnings
Wind the old strings from your guitar before disposing of them. The ends of guitar strings can easily puncture your skin or trash bag. Put the old strings in the packing from your new strings.
