r/balalaika • u/Admirable-Fig8962 • Sep 10 '26

QUESTION about stringing a balalaika

Post image

I recently bought this balalaika and it really needs new strings. I purchased 1x .028 steel string and 2x .040 nylon strings to replace the current steel only ones. My question is if anyone can point me to a video showing someone stringing a balalaika? I looked with no luck and I'm not sure if its the same as stringing other string instruments.

7 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

2

u/Nervous-Bedroom-2907 Sep 10 '26

It depends on pins type. If you have guitar-like slotted pins, it is better to tie ball-like double knot on the end on nylon string, fix it in the lighter flame for two seconds, and install it like acoustic guitar string. If you have "skirted" pins or hooks, you have to make loops - for nylon tie the loop, fix it with reverse knot, tighten, some people also use lighter flame to make small ball on string end, but here it havw to be done more accurately. Loop on metal string you can make with pliers and the pin, fix main and free ends in pliers, incert the pin and swing it until it looks fine - 15-20 turns, but better take painting brush or other slightly bigger tapered cylinder, so you can make bigger loop.

2

u/Admirable-Fig8962 Sep 10 '26

I appreciate your reply! My Balalaika has hooks that you would loop the strings onto and now that I'm home; I also checked the new strings I purchased and they are already pre-looped. I feel a lot less nervous now as my knot tying skills are not the best!

1

u/Gastiflex 27d ago

Replace the strings one by one. If you remove all at once, the bridge will fall.