YEp, changing fiddle strings not too bad! ENjoy the new strings!

Vs. classical guitar strings…six of ‘em…and tying knots at both ends…and the knits have to be a certain way…it took forever, and I dreaded doing it! I’ve got ancient ones on the guitar now, due for a change- urgh.

On guitar I always changed all six at once…I think that’s the usual way for guitars?
With fiddle I tend to change one only if it starts sounding dead or unraveling - will rarely change all at once. (I don’t know why I have different habits for guitar vs fiddle)

I change all my fiddle strings at the same time, even if there's a problem with only one string, it gets a whole new set.

But, I only release the tension of one string and replace with the new string and bring it up to pitch, then continue same with whole set. Then it has a few days to settle before I play it again.

This prevents having to reposition the bridge, and may prevent the sound post falling over.

I just got a new set of flatwound strings for my bass.
[Prims (for violin) are similar but much smaller. ]
Along with a special mute, it sounds more like a doghouse!
Me Happy! Me go play along with YouTube. Bye bye

Well, yes changing mandolin strings can be a hassle. Unless I break a string in the middle of a show all strings get replaced together. I have a battery powered drill with an attachment that fits over the tuner button. I take all the slack from a string, two complete winds on the post, then bring them up to pitch by hand. I change those strings four at a time. I set the outside G and E strings to pitch and check the instruments intonation. For fiddle I change them two at a time replacing the inner then outer strings. This seems to be sufficient tension to keep the sound post in place. Setting the angle of the bridge after all strings are in tune I use a tool to that lifts the strings enough to set the bridge. And of course, then I wait around for the strings to "settle". Which is the one thing I prefer about metal core fiddle strings. Alas my fiddle prefers a fiber core string. Ahh the things we do for love. R/

If you put the fiddle on its side. Treble side down obviously the sound post just sits in place by gravity. Then you can safely take all the strings off or even change the tailpiece if you want.

Nothing to add about changing strings, but I recently posted this song of the season by Doc and Merle Watson, and it hasn't gotten the attention I'd hoped for. Maybe it would be good accompaniment for a string chaging session.

Doug, it's SO good. THanks for sharing!

Updated lyrics for 2026 :-/

Summertime...
And the wildfires are burning...
Smoky air, floating in clouds...

Gets better with each listen.

I know…I’m listening to it again right now!

I will say only 3 words.
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12 string guitar.

Yah, one time a friend gave me a 12-string. It made a huge sound. The instrument itself was also quite huge.

I gave it away before I had to change the strings — maybe that’s why that guy gave it to me, haha.

The only thing simpler than changing fiddle strings would be a balalaika. Somebody gave me one of those too, but it was just too weird…