Replacing the Pickups in Your Guitar

Step 5 Remove The Strings

In order to remove the strings without scratching the guitar, you should pull one string through the body at a time.

Also, some people advise against taking all the strings off the guitar at a time, instead of taking off and replacing one string at a time. This keeps the tension of the neck constant.
That being said, you have to take all the strings off to change the pickup. If you're worried about neck tension, take them all off over the course of 15 minutes of so, that might help. Minimize the time that the strings are all off at once.

For me, I take all the strings off at once when I change strings. It lets me clean and oil the fretboard and do all those kinds of things I can't do if I only take one string off at a time.
I haven't had any problems.


So the basic procedeure is to loosen the tuning machines until you can unwrap the strings. A peg winder comes in handy(see the one I made in the pictures).
Remember to watch out for the tip of the wire, they're sharp and can poke you(or scratch the guitar).
If you're removing the strings from a Gibson style neck, remember to keep the sides balanced(don't have the E, A, and D strings on while the other three are off.)
When pulling the strings through the neck(if that's how your guitar is made) pull them through one at a time so that you don't accidentally scratch something.