We’d write up a big long answer for you, but our friend Kirk Harris has put together an amazing video here, that not only explains in words, but in sound!  Check it out and feel free to provide feedback.

Well that depends on 2 things; the gauge of the string and the manufacturer of the tuner.  But in most cases anything over a 0.082″ (or as low as an 0.072″ on some manufacturers) on guitar will require modification of the tuner.  We recommend you take it to a local shop/luthier and have it done (for them this is a standard procedure), or if you DO feel comfortable doing it yourself you can, BUT – and here is the Kalium disclaimer – we are not responsible if you break your stuff doing this modification yourself.  Hipshot Products will modify new tuning machines purchased directly from them upon request – for details reach out to them by telephone at 607-532-9404.

Well another yes/no answer.  All of our strings up to about .098 work fine because there is no taper at the tuner end, however that does not mean it will fit through the holes in your guitar.  Anything OVER that has a taper at both ends, so these will NOT work on through body because you would end up with the full wrap on your bridge saddle and that is not recommended (and more than likely they won’t fit through the holes in your guitar anyway).  This also rings true with bass guitars, anything with a taper will put the full thickness of the string on the bridge saddle, and again that is not recommended.

 If your string set has nothing larger than a 0.098” you have nothing to worry about. You will more than likely have enough string length to reach your tuner. If you need a 0.102” or larger you will have to know some specific information about your instrument – specifically, how long the string is from the ball end to the nearest tuning post. If you make any part of the taper or full thickness of the string wrap around your tuning post the core is probably going to break. You can get measurement specifics of our different available lengths HERE.

Again, a yes/no answer – but first, a little instruction; a 90 degree bend needs to be put on wound strings 1/4” or more before the cut is made to secure the outer wrap layer.  Because all of our strings 0.098” and smaller are a universal length, so you can cut these strings to length as you need to. If your string is tapered at the tuner side you will need to make your cut on the thinnest portion of the string after the taper – reminder; no part of the taper or full thickness should wrap around the tuning post. Your string will break if you make it do that.