Carvin B String too long, will not take tension

[DavePlaysBass]

I thought I would try the cheap Carvins nickels. They are labled as a 34"-35" scale bass string. However the B string is too long for my 34" RV5. When I attempt to tune it up, the fat part of strings starts to go around the post. As the tension is increased the fat part on the post starts to unravel or stretch out and the pitch decreases. I have not seen this happen before. I have put long scales on a short scale bass.

I am wondering if I got a bad string (actually two, I tried a second one with the same result). I question how these strings would go on a 34" bass if the fat part can't take being wrapped around the post. Are the Carvin 34" basses a thru body bridge?

[Doodaddy]

That's a really odd thing and I've never seen it before...

[HogieWan]

It's just bending around the post. Keeps cranking it up and it will settle

[Ric5]

Could be a broken or defective string ...

[Osborne Instr]

Hard to say without seeing it but its a pretty common problem.
b strings taper down after the nut, if the string is to long you will try to wind it and the core will break every time, thus you will be winding the wraps and not get any tension due to broken core wire.
an easy way to fix this problem is to unwrap the string, ive done this many times and works perfectly. Just be sure not to unwrap it to far.

[DavePlaysBass]

Originally Posted by Doodaddy

That's a really odd thing and I've never seen it before...

Meen either. Glad I'm not the only one. And I have gone thru a lot of different strings on a few different basses.

Originally Posted by HogieWan

It's just bending around the post. Keeps cranking it up and it will settle

I did this but it was futile.

Originally Posted by Ric5

Could be a broken or defective string ...

I will drop customer service at Carvin an email. Especially given that no one up to this point seems to think I have completely violated the laws of physics.

Originally Posted by Osborne Instr

Hard to say without seeing it but its a pretty common problem.
b strings taper down after the nut, if the string is to long you will try to wind it and the core will break every time, thus you will be winding the wraps and not get any tension due to broken core wire.
an easy way to fix this problem is to unwrap the string, ive done this many times and works perfectly. Just be sure not to unwrap it to far.

I will take a look at it closer when I get a few minutes. I was thinking about adding some spacers to extend the ball end anchor on the bridge. But I hear what you're saying.

[JustDavid]

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

I was thinking about adding some spacers to extend the ball end anchor on the bridge.

Dave, thanks!! I'd completely discounted ball-end spacers as I'd only heard about BS contentions about increasing tension. But that's a solid reason to use them.


On your posted problem, any way to post a pic? All I think I have to offer is that I've had to "squish" some B's to get them to fit into the groove on the top of the tuning machine.

[DavePlaysBass]

I will track down my wife's camera tonight and see if I can get a pic of the situation. BTW, no word back from Carvin. I may need to call them.

[DavePlaysBass]

So I email Carvin. No response. I sit on hold for 1/2 hour one day, and they agree to send my two new B strings. I wind up B string #3 and it does the same thing as the first 2. Here are some pics.






If I put a 1/2" space at the bridge, the 4th string will take tension. Kinda cheesy but it works.

So why can't the Carvin strings wind around the post. Bad batch of strings I am guessing. Am I the only one seeing this? Maybe I am misapplying these string by putting them on a 34" scale instrument that appears to have a shorter length from the bridge termination to the post than the 34" Carvin basses.

[bass4worship]

Have you check the nut, is the string sitting properly in the nut?

[DavePlaysBass]

No problems there. I go thru a set of strings a month. Have done that for the last 8 years or so. Never seen anything like this.

I talked to Carvin again on the phone. They let me talk to a Guitar Tech this time. He thought maybe its because the fat part of the wrap can't take the post. He is sending me two more.

I can't complain about the customer service. Just wish the strings were a better fit scale wise. I like the sound of the strings. The B is focused as I hoped it would be. Better than the Sadowsky Blue Nickel B. Although I prefer the Sadowsky Blues on the other four strings. I may try the Slappers set next.

[bass4worship]

It look like the outer core is separating from the inter core which mean that when you wrap your strings you may not be putting the proper number's of turns around the peg. You may need at lease 3 wraps. Make sure you push the string all the way down the hole of the turning peg and then bend at a right angle, this should help.

[DavePlaysBass]

The tuners are the mini variety. I give them 3.5" to 4" of string which is more than some of the people give with the small tuners. This could be a part of the factor given they are smaller diameter. However, this again points to a string that is not well designed or constructed. The package claims 34" and 35" instruments. I appreciate your responses, but these are defective or poorly designed strings. I have played about every string out there and have not seen anything like this. I would not recommend these strings for a 34" scale instrument with bridge termination unless you are only a 4 string player.

In fact I bought my daughter a 30" scale SX. I restrung it with long scale Hartkes I had laying around. These "free" strings did not have any issue with the fat part going on the post. Of course those are vintage diameter posts which again may be a factor.