Best Guitar String Winders and Cutters: 6 Restring Tools Compared
Written with AI help · Updated
The D'Addario Pro-Winder is the best all-around restring tool for most players. Per D'Addario, it combines a string winder, a built-in cutter and a bridge pin puller in one compact tool that fits a gig bag. Buy the MusicNomad GRIP ONE if you want a rubber-lined head, and buy the Ernie Ball Power Peg Pro USB-C if you restring often and want a motorized winder.
The short answer
You do not need a fancy tool to change strings. You need three things: something to wind the tuning peg, something to cut the excess string, and, on acoustics, something to pull the bridge pins. The best tool is the one that does all three without getting in your way.
For most players, that is the D'Addario Pro-Winder. It is cheap, compact and covers every job. If you want more comfort, pick a MusicNomad GRIP ONE. If you restring often, a motorized winder saves real time. If you already have a winder, add a good cutter.
We checked every claim below against each manufacturer's own product page. We have not tested these tools ourselves, so specs come from the makers, and we say so.
| Type | What it does | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D'Addario Pro-Winder | Combo tool | Winder, cutter, bridge pin puller | $ |
| MusicNomad GRIP ONE | Combo tool | Winder, cutter, bridge pin puller | $ |
| Ernie Ball Pegwinder Plus | Manual winder | Winder, bridge pin puller | $ |
| Ernie Ball Power Peg Pro USB-C | Motorized winder | Rechargeable power winder | $$ |
| Dunlop System 65 Compact String Cutter | Cutter | Squeeze-action string cutter | $ |
| MusicNomad GRIP Cutter | Cutter | Spring-loaded string cutter | $ |
Pro-Winder String Winder, Cutter and Bridge Pin Puller (DP0002)
Why this one: Our overall pick. Per D'Addario, it winds, cuts and pulls bridge pins in one compact tool that fits most cases and gig bags.
How to choose a winder or cutter
Start with what you already own. A drawer full of loose tools does not need another winder. A player with nothing needs a combo tool.
Pick by how you work
- You own no restring tools
- Buy a combo tool. D'Addario Pro-Winder or MusicNomad GRIP ONE.
- You play acoustic
- Make sure the tool has a bridge pin puller. Both combo tools and the Pegwinder Plus do, per their makers.
- You restring often or own many guitars
- A motorized winder like the Ernie Ball Power Peg Pro USB-C saves time.
- Your cutter is dull or awkward
- Add a dedicated cutter: Dunlop DGT08 or MusicNomad GRIP Cutter.
- You play bass or have large tuners
- Read the maker's fit notes before you buy.
A winder is not a precision instrument. It spins the peg faster than your fingers can. That saves time on a six-string set and a lot more on a twelve-string.
A cutter has one job: trim the string tail close to the post. Sharp ends stab fingers and gig-bag liners, so trim every string.
Best overall: D'Addario Pro-Winder
The D'Addario Pro-Winder (DP0002) is the tool most players should buy first. Per D'Addario's product page, it is an ergonomically designed string winder with a built-in string cutter and bridge pin puller. D'Addario says it works on virtually all guitars, banjos, ukuleles and mandolins, and that it is compact enough to fit in most cases and gig bags.
The cutter uses hardened steel wire cutters, per the page, and the tool is made in the USA at D'Addario's New York facility. It comes in black and white.
The tradeoff is simple. A combo tool is a compromise. The winder is a basic molded design, and the cutter is not as comfortable as a dedicated one. For most players that is fine. Read the D'Addario product page for the full feature list.
Best combo with a rubber-lined head: MusicNomad GRIP ONE
The MusicNomad GRIP ONE (MN223) is the other all-in-one worth buying. Per MusicNomad, it is a winder, cutter and puller for electric and acoustic guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo and mandolin.
The head is where it stands apart. MusicNomad describes a scratch-free, clank-free, rubber-lined head that grips virtually all tuning pegs, plus a narrow profile so you do not hit neighboring pegs. It also lists a precision bearing for fast, quiet winding and a bridge pin puller for popular acoustic pins.
The cutter is made of carbon steel, per the maker, and the grips are rubber. MusicNomad's page lists no dimensions or weight, so we cannot tell you how it compares in size. If you are fussy about your headstock finish, this is the one to pick over the D'Addario.
GRIP ONE All-in-One String Winder, Cutter, Puller (MN223)
Why this one: A rubber-lined, bearing-based winder head plus a carbon steel cutter and bridge pin puller, per MusicNomad.
Best manual winder: Ernie Ball Pegwinder Plus
If you already have a cutter, the Ernie Ball Pegwinder Plus (P09604) is a strong pure winder. Per Ernie Ball, it has an ultra-smooth ball bearing design and a universal peghead, and it is suitable for most electric and acoustic guitars and basses.
It also has an integrated bridge pin puller at the base of the handle, a soft grip and a non-abrasive peghead meant to protect your tuners. Ernie Ball describes it as brightly colored and easy to find on a dark stage. That matters at a gig.
The catch: it has no cutter. You need a separate one. That is not a flaw if you pair it with one of the cutters below, but it is a reason to skip it if you want a single tool.
Pegwinder Plus String Winder (P09604)
Why this one: A ball bearing manual winder with a bridge pin puller and a non-abrasive peghead, per Ernie Ball. No cutter.
Best motorized winder: Ernie Ball Power Peg Pro USB-C
The Ernie Ball Power Peg Pro USB-C (P09626) is for players who restring a lot. Per Ernie Ball, it restrings up to 80% quicker than manual winders. That claim is Ernie Ball's, not ours, and your time savings will vary.
It has a universal head that fits most acoustic, bass and electric tuning machines. Ernie Ball says it has superior torque and works across tension requirements from mandolins and ukuleles to vintage basses. It runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and the fast-charging USB-C cable is included.
It costs more than the manual tools here, and it does not cut or pull pins. Treat it as an add-on to a cutter. If you change strings twice a year, skip it. If you work on many guitars, it earns its place.
Power Peg Pro USB-C Rechargeable String Winder (P09626)
Why this one: A rechargeable, motorized winder with a universal head. Ernie Ball says it restrings up to 80% quicker than manual winders.
Best cutters: Dunlop System 65 and MusicNomad GRIP Cutter
A dedicated cutter is a small upgrade that makes every string change a bit cleaner. Two options stand out.
The Dunlop System 65 Compact String Cutter (DGT08) is the budget pick. Per Dunlop, it has a laser-cut edge for strong, precise cuts, and it is made of chromium-vanadium steel. It works with a squeeze action, and Dunlop says it was tested on a .160-gauge bass string. It is meant to live in your gig bag. See the Dunlop product page for details.
The MusicNomad GRIP Cutter (MN226) costs a bit more and adds comfort. Per MusicNomad, it is a side cutter design that cuts close, with ergonomic TPR non-slip grips and a spring-loaded action. It is made of chrome vanadium steel and has a 4.5-inch design with a storage sheath.
Pick the Dunlop if you want the simplest tool. Pick the MusicNomad if you cut a lot of strings and want a plier-style grip. Either one beats a combo tool's built-in cutter on feel, though neither replaces a winder.
System 65 Compact String Cutter (DGT08)
Why this one: A compact, squeeze-action cutter in chromium-vanadium steel with a laser-cut edge, per Dunlop.
GRIP Cutter Premium String Cutter (MN226)
Why this one: A spring-loaded, side-cutter design in chrome vanadium steel with non-slip grips and a storage sheath, per MusicNomad.
Winder, cutter or combo: which should you buy?
Here is the plain answer for each type of player.
Beginner or first toolkit. Buy the D'Addario Pro-Winder. It does everything and costs little. You can upgrade pieces later.
Acoustic player. You need the bridge pin puller. Any of the three tools that include one will work.
Gigging player. Carry a winder and a cutter you trust. The Pegwinder Plus is easy to spot on a dark stage, per Ernie Ball, and a small cutter like the Dunlop DGT08 fits in a pocket.
Tech or collector with many guitars. Add the Power Peg Pro. The time savings add up when you change many sets.
Floyd Rose or locking trem. Winders still help, but the job is more involved. Read our Floyd Rose string change guide first.
A winder or cutter does not fix a bad string change. Technique matters more. Our walkthroughs show the full process on electric, acoustic and bass.
What to buy next
Tools are the easy part. The strings are what you hear. Once your toolkit is sorted, see our picks for electric strings and acoustic strings, and pick a gauge with the gauge chart.
Bottom line
Buy the D'Addario Pro-Winder if you want one cheap tool that does the whole job. Buy the MusicNomad GRIP ONE if you want a gentler, rubber-lined head. Add the Ernie Ball Power Peg Pro USB-C if you restring a lot, and a Dunlop DGT08 or MusicNomad GRIP Cutter if your cutter is the weak link.
Specs here come from the manufacturers' own pages. We have not tested these tools, so treat comfort and speed claims as the makers' claims.
Pro-Winder String Winder, Cutter and Bridge Pin Puller (DP0002)
Why this one: The tool most players should buy first. One compact tool for winding, cutting and pulling bridge pins, per D'Addario.