Now that the first half of the guitar has been cleaned, you can install the new strings. Open your pack of stings - I recommend Elixir 80/20 Bronze Medium Nanoweb strings for the Taylor 816CE - and lay them out with the packaging so you are 100% certain which string gauge is which.

Starting with the smallest string (high E), take the ball end and thread it into the first bridge pin hole. Take a bridge pin (the pins are uniform so it doesn't matter which) and, pointing the small cutout toward the string, push it back into the hole with the string. As you push the pin down, pull the string up until it is snug.

Thread the other string end through the hole in the first peg. You may need to twist the peg until the hole is aligned straight with the string. Once the string is threaded , begin twisting the peg until you can tell which way the string is bending.

The goal is for the string to bend toward the center of the neck so the the final result looks like a waterfall with all the strings bent toward the center. For the first three strings, this is counterclockwise. After you establish the direction, make sure the string has some slack between the bridge and the headstock to wrap around the peg.

When you have verified that you are twisting in the right direction and have some slack, crimp the string in the same direction of the bend, toward the center, by bending it with your finger at a right angle at the peg. No knots are necessary. Cut the excess string about 1 cm from the bend with the cutter part of your string winder.

While keeping the string taut with one hand and with your string winder in the other, continue winding the string. When the string begins to overlap the crimp, make sure the winding is above the crimp and the hole in the peg. As winding goes on, move upwards on the peg while ensuring the string remains flush with itself.

By this point the string should be getting tight - ensure it is sitting in the correct slots on the bridge and nut (the part that divides the fretboard and headstock).

When the string has completely straightened out, stop winding. Tuning will come later. The goal here is to make sure you don't over-tighten and break your brand new string! Repeat this entire process for the next two strings.