Music

String Stretcha breaks in new guitar strings in just five minutes

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String Stretcha is a tool to consistently and evenly stretch and settle new guitar strings in a few minutes
A string is fed through the hook and heel, and then moved up towards the nut and back again
String Stretcha is a tool to consistently and evenly stretch and settle new guitar strings in a few minutes
String Stretcha is made from a crush-resistant epoxy material and features a hook and heel that grips the string while the player/tech runs the tool up towards the nut and back again
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Stretching guitar strings using finger and thumb can be a very fiddly pain in the behind. String Stretcha makes the process a lot less random and a whole lot easier. Made from a crush-resistant epoxy material, the ergonomically-shaped tool features a grooved hook and heel which grip the string between them and allow the player/tech to give the strings a proper and consistent stretch in about five minutes.

String Stretcha was designed and developed as a result of studio discussions about the frustration and time wasted waiting for strings to settle down and stay in tune, and is the combined effort of veteran Rock Producer/Engineer Duane Baron, Canadian singer/songwriter Jamie Van Scott and their machinist friend Bud McNair. Several prototypes were tested before the final design was road-tested on tour and in the studio.

The device has been designed to feel comfortable in the hand and uses a pivot action similar to the familiar finger/thumb method but should be quicker, easier and result in a more consistent stretch. A string is fed through the hook and heel, and then a little weight added to the back while sliding Stretcha up towards the nut, parallel to the other strings. It's then moved back down towards the bridge and the process repeated on the other strings. The guitar is then tuned and the stretching repeated once more, which should result in the strings staying in tune.

String Stretcha is available now direct from the company or via national and international retailers, at a cost of US$14.50.

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4 comments
asninsp
This is not new, I had a string stretcher 20 years ago, same material, same basic design.
Mr Stiffy
String stretching? Simple enough with a finger.
Bill Rhynes
14 bucks? I\'ll keep doing it the old fashioned way.
windykites
One of the reasons that strings go out of tune, is the way the string is usually wound round the tuning peg. Don\'t wind it round the peg several times before putting the end through the hole, or don\'t wind up lots of slack. Instead, put it straight through the hole, with very little slack on the string. Bend the string back round the peg, and bring the end up from under the string. Hold the end upwards whilst tightening the tuning knob. This locks the string.Try it out! Just think, if you put a bend in the string as it comes out of the hole, it can\'t possibly slip. I used to leave a little slack, then wind the short end round the string a couple of times. this will give a greater grip. You can still stretch the string and retune as necessary. Another reason for tuning problems is the standard tremolo arm.