Ralph McTell's Nashville string tie

[StringPicker6]

The English folk musician Ralph McTell uses a special technique to tie his strings to the tuning posts that he was once taught, and he said it was called "the Nashville tie".  Well, I finally found a nice video of him teaching how to do this string tie off, so I'm going to give it a try next time I change strings. Here's the youtube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3aevStYahg

[ducktrapper]

The English folk musician Ralph McTell uses a special technique to tie his strings to the tuning posts that he was once taught, and he said it was called "the Nashville tie".  Well, I finally found a nice video of him teaching how to do this string tie off, so I'm going to give it a try next time I change strings. Here's the youtube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3aevStYahg

Well, I don't get it. Personally, I hate strings that are tied to the posts in any manner, have never done so in nearly 60 years and have never had a problem. IMO it's not necessary and it just makes it more difficult to change strings. Just put the end through (like he starts out), leaving the appropriate length, and wind. Once you get them tuned, give the string a few upward tugs (tune/retune) to stop them from slipping. Never had a problem with the dreaded slippage and the strings come off with ease next change. Tell us how it works for you.

[StringPicker6]

Now that you mention it, I've never had a slippage problem in 20 years either.  Perhaps it's because he changes strings right before performing, so he doesn't want to mess with a lot of fine tuning on stage? I did like his method for whipping out the new coiled strings, that saves some time. 

[Silence Dogood]

Tied strings _are_ a pain to take off.  I always end up poking myself and drawing blood every time I do a string change on a guitar with tied off strings.

I've long used the over-under method and had good results.  I think I learned this from Taylor guitars decades ago. Can't remember now. 

[ducktrapper]

Now that you mention it, I've never had a slippage problem in 20 years either.  Perhaps it's because he changes strings right before performing, so he doesn't want to mess with a lot of fine tuning on stage? I did like his method for whipping out the new coiled strings, that saves some time.

Well, I just tug upward on the strings a few times until they stop slipping. Always worked for me. A folded piece of thin cardboard like a matchbook cover works on the treble strings to avoid a little pain.