Regardless of the brand or type of string you choose, the technique for stringing the bass is essentially the same. First, remove the old string(s) from the instrument by rotating the tuners in whatever direction slackens the string. Next, remove the string from the tuning peg and slide it out from behind the tailpiece (repeat for additional strings). You may dispose of the string at this time. Also, this is a good time to polish the neck of the bass, since there are no strings there to get in your way!

Next, unravel the first string to be applied. The order of stringing is up to you. First, slide the tip of the string (the part without the attached anchoring piece, called the ball) into the tailpiece hole. Glide the string, carefully, through the tailpiece and up to the tuning peg. Make sure the end of the string with the ball is now snug in the tailpiece socket. Insert the string tip end through the channel or hole in the tuning peg while still leaving enough slack for the string to be wrapped around the peg after winding about three times.

Most bass guitar tuning pegs use a channel rather than a discrete hole. It is often best to manually tuck the string into the channel, give it one rotation around (by hand), and then secure the string tip in the center hole of the channel. This sets the string. After this procedure, rotate the tuner (also called a machine head) so that the slack is drawn up and wound around the peg. Always wind the string in neat rows around the peg. This ensures that any slack will be removed. It will also prevent any slippage. As you might guess, slippage undermines intonation of the bass.

Finally, make sure that as you tighten the string it is further guided into proper placement over the bridge saddle and threaded through the correct groove in the nut. In order to make sure that this turns out well, be patient and orderly in your procedure. Neatness counts. Proper stringing means better intonation. It also means less unexpected string breaks.