Hmm.. how's this sound for getting exact string length?

[mrfunkwool]

So, I was changing strings this morning and really wanted to get the string length right for once...  
 
I looked on the web and found things like stretch string in the palm of right hand at 5th fret.. you know... then balance on one foot...  
 
However, I figured if I want the string to wrap around the post 3x... Shouldn't I just determine the circumference of the post? and multiple by 3?
 
Circumference being  Pi x diameter.
 
So my Alembic post is ~8mm x 3.14  ~25mm.
3 wraps around post... 75mm.
 
oh don't forget add measure the distance to go into the hole...(25 mm)
 
So basically, the string should be 100mm beyond the post for me.  
 
let me know, if I may have missed anything but this seems easier and more accurate than sliding strings thru my palm...
 
 
-Jeff

[rogertvr]

I tend to chop the ends off my new strings with a pair of wire cutters and an educated guess, as supplied by my eyes!  ;-)
 
I think your system has more mileage in it, Jeff, so I'll give that a go next time I'm changing strings!
 
One question though - does the diameter of the string have to be taken into account, or is it minimal enough not to worry about it?
 
Cheers,
 
Rog

[adriaan]

On my 4 string with a standard cone, I hook up the string on the tail, and lay it in-line going over the nuts and past the tuner, pulling it straight. For the E and G strings, I cut the string off where the A and D tuners are, and the A and D strings at the tip of the headstock. And sure enough I end up with about three wraps around the tuner posts (45-100 strings).

[mrfunkwool]

Hmm... good point.
I didn't think to account for the diameter of the strings themselves.
 
but if the strings are wrapped directly underneath each other and not wrapped over and over each other...  I'd guess minimal.
 
If you did want to try and account for the size of the string it would get much more complicated... cuz the string starts off small and gets larger.
 
Overall, I think there is tons of room for error, cuz I like you have until today been doing this by eye, which I really hate to trust...
 
Adriaan, that 's a great shorcut for our cones.
 
 

[rogertvr]

If you did want to try and account for the size of the string it would get much more complicated... cuz the string starts off small and gets larger. - the strings I use don't.  They're the same diameter for quite some way from the end of the string towards the part near the nut.

[lothartu]

I use the distance across my middle 3 fingers at the first knuckle to measure the length I need to leave past the post and then that's where I put the L bend in for inserting into the post.
 
It works out to about 3 winds for me.

[geddy]

Well if you have it how you like it just measure the old strings when you take them off  

[mrfunkwool]

Hi Geddy...
 
That's how I used to do it.
but, I just got this guitar and I didn't like how they were...  
So I started thinking how long should they be...  
 
searching I found most web sources state stuff like lothartu.  (no offense meant lothartu!)
 
I just threw my solution up here. (albiet geeky solution) figuring this group gets a kick out of these extreme precision techniques...

[geddy]

Oh it's not geeky, we all love Pi around here. Mmmm. . . PI