As the title suggests I am wondering what you all think are some good small size cutters for trimming guitar strings. I use 6" Channel Lock cutters now but I am looking for something smaller. Think small electric wire cutters but strong enough for music wire.
Good small cutters for guitar strings
- Thread starter mechcsu
- Start date
bwringer
Well-known member
A, err, umm, uh.... guitar string cutter?
www.guitarcenter.com
Music Nomad GRIP Cutter - Premium String Cutter | Guitar Center
Shop for the Music Nomad GRIP Cutter - Premium String Cutter in and receive free shipping and guaranteed lowest price.
www.guitarcenter.com
Zeus36
Well-known member
Felco C3 Cable cutter if you want a good tool:
I guess I should have mentioned that the dedicated guitar string cutters like these last about 2 string cuts before the cutting edge is dented. About 4 or 5 strings in and they cut so bad they go into the garbageA, err, umm, uh.... guitar string cutter?
Music Nomad GRIP Cutter - Premium String Cutter | Guitar Center
Shop for the Music Nomad GRIP Cutter - Premium String Cutter in and receive free shipping and guaranteed lowest price.
Ooooh those do look pretty nice, thanks.Felco C3 Cable cutter if you want a good tool:
RTM
Well-known member
Starrett? But not from here. Not cheap. Google isn't taking me to the starrett website right now
gemmpianosupply.com
Piano Pliers Starrett Wire Cutters, 7" - Gemm Piano Supply Company
SECURE ONLINE ORDERING Professional Piano Wire Cutters with Carbide Tipped Jaws for efficient and clean cutting. For many years we have...
gemmpianosupply.com
bwringer
Well-known member
Ah, sorry. I never had any trouble with guitar store string cutters, aside from losing the damn things, but then again I played bass... maybe we have squishier strings.I guess I should have mentioned that the dedicated guitar string cutters like these last about 2 string cuts before the cutting edge is dented. About 4 or 5 strings in and they cut so bad they go into the garbage
K13
Well-known member
I've never had an issue with them either and worked at a music store for 11 years and used them when changing strings all the time.
rlitman
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What about orthodontic wire cutters? Small, designed for tough spring wires, and also cheap.
MFortie
Well-known member
I would've suggested a guitar string cutter as well...
But on a side note, why cut the strings? I've only changed a few sets of strings (newbie 'player') and am wondering. So they don't get re-used?
But on a side note, why cut the strings? I've only changed a few sets of strings (newbie 'player') and am wondering. So they don't get re-used?
The strings are typically 8-10 inches longer than the length from the bridge to the tuners, way too much to wrap around tuner (you usually want 2-5 wraps) when you tune up. So you need to cut about 6" off each new string when you install them.
RTM
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geojag
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Chrome Vanadium Cody
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I worked in a guitar repair shop for ~4 years and used a pair of 6” Channellock cutters the whole time. I was taught you don’t want to cut the string off completely flush anyway, you want to leave a little stub of string sticking out for the wound parts to bear against more securely to eliminate slipping over time.
LeeG
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Merry CT55
www.nilemerry.com
CT55-120 Electro Nippers (carbide tipped)
CT55-120 Electro Nippers (carbide tipped)
www.nilemerry.com
I use Tsunoda PW-322 semi flush hard wire cutters on guitar strings. Very inexpensive but made in Japan and typical good Tsunoda quality and a good size. I hate sharp ends on guitar strings and use locking tuners on at least a dozen guitars but I still like the way the PW-322 cuts a clean end.
jonesg
Well-known member
i use my milwaukee 12v dremel type rotary tool with carbide disk.
clutch47
Well-known member
Best I've ever used. Jaws are sharp, cut clean, and last.
Hardness of 62 means they'll be around a long time with a good edge.
https://www.knipex.com/products/cutting-pliers/diagonal-cutters/diagonal-cutters/7001110
Hardness of 62 means they'll be around a long time with a good edge.
https://www.knipex.com/products/cutting-pliers/diagonal-cutters/diagonal-cutters/7001110
seber
Well-known member
Greenlee makes a nice hard wire cutter.
Carbide is a poor choice for anything that tends to snap. They chip very easily.
MFortie
Well-known member
Doh! I actually knew that and wasn't thinking in terms of new strings.
More wondering about what seems to be the common practice of cutting the old strings after unwinding the tuning machines.
Interesting. These are holding up very well for me cutting a ton of hard stainless wire…
And for $1.99, you might give it a go.
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Those are about 400€ overpriced. The German-made Schmitz is more than 5 times cheaper and still pricey.Starrett? But not from here. Not cheap. Google isn't taking me to the starrett website right now
Piano Pliers Starrett Wire Cutters, 7" - Gemm Piano Supply Company
SECURE ONLINE ORDERING Professional Piano Wire Cutters with Carbide Tipped Jaws for efficient and clean cutting. For many years we have...
Personally, I'd go for Knipex 67 05 140 (or maybe the 160 version just cause it's easy to hold). Chrome coated Knipex quality for ~30-40€.
I was working with the electricians on an airplane and they used Xuron which are cheap, industrial quality, and USA made. They make 1000 different styles so you have to pick the right ones.
I also play guitar and like to carry these in my case, which is why I didn't choose bigger tools. I also like the little plastic winder tool, which has a pretty poor cutter that I don't use.
I also play guitar and like to carry these in my case, which is why I didn't choose bigger tools. I also like the little plastic winder tool, which has a pretty poor cutter that I don't use.
WAID
Well-known member
I prefer one of the string winder/hard wire cutter tools. I think I have the planet waves one. Never had any problem with the edges cutting guitar, bass, or mandolin strings.
MarvinBerry
Well-known member
Cutting used strings in the middle is more about speed & ease of removal... Otherwise you've gotta pull the curly Q tuner winds through the saddles / bridge block which can lead to scratches & the inevitable finger pop & bleeding.
25 year pro player & studio rat here - use regular 6" diagonal or needlenose all the time. Have a few different brands & they're all fine. Wiha duralast channelock Milwaukee... gig/travel kits get the Stanley & craftsman grade pliers.
Most of the "guitar specific" tools & kits are junk grade... think of the cheapest equivalent at hazard freight, tack on premium prices and well there ya go.
That stuff is aimed at the same kinda people who'll pay $7 for a single 4mm hex key to adjust the truss rod... they just don't know any better.
Alas I think these aren't carbide, per their catalog those would be "M409C"
MFortie
Well-known member
OK, that makes sense. I've only changed acoustic strings where you just pull the peg and out comes the ball end...
MarvinBerry
Well-known member
Another difference is with acoustics the bridge & it's saddle adjustments are pretty well fixed. String height / action and intonation are usually tweaked by adding or removing shims.
Most electrics have 3 screws per string saddle... 2 for height & 1 for intonation. And generally the less they get knocked around when not under string tension the better. They rattle around too much and the whole guitar needs another full setup.
That's also why most techs are going to change & stretch one string at a time. Generally don't cut them all off in one shot unless there's some kinda guitar surgery... fretwork like crown & polish... pickup replacement blah blah
Wamsutta
Well-known member
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