Consequences of NOT cutting

[Ezmar]

So I generally don't cut/trim my string ends at all, and it seems to be something that people do. I guess I was just wondering if there are any real negative consequences to not cutting the strings.

Partially I ask because I got a set of round core Hi Beams, just to try them out, and there's all that about the wire slipping off if you don't crimp before cutting and all that. My question: why bother? I ask this as an honest question.

[khutch]

If you want the string to wrap neatly on the tuning post in a single layer of a few turns (I believe 2 to 3 turns is the commonly accepted number), then you must trim the strings to length. Is that critical? A huge majority here says that it is but they never say why so I cannot tell you if it is or not. It does look neat and professional and it does not take much time or skill so that is the way I do it. I have my doubts that it has any real affect on performance, breakage, or anything other than visual aesthetics.

No, I take that back. There most definitely is one practical consequence of not trimming the strings: you have to do a lot more winding to get the string up to pitch!

Ken

[NicJimBass]

I used to be in the camp of "always having to cut the strings", but since I started using Chromes, my position has turned 180 degrees, at least with these strings. I kept having issues with the silk winding coming off the tuner-end of a couple of the strings, which seemed to make the string not grip as well as it should. It got to the point that if I ever switched strings from bass to bass, they would become unusable. Now, I only trim off the very end of the string, which has no silk, and I have no more problem.

[Luckydog]

One consequence of not trimming the strings is you can put out yours or someone elses eyes! It certainly is not cool to simply leave them sprouted out. They also make the player look like they are trying too hard to be punk (a wannabe). IMO.

[Ezmar]

Originally Posted by Luckydog

One consequence of not trimming the strings is you can put out yours or someone elses eyes! It certainly is not cool to simply leave them sprouted out. They also make the player look like they are trying too hard to be punk (a wannabe). IMO.

Are there bass tuners that really do that? I've only ever seen the kind where you put the end into the hole and then just wind it up. No loose ends there.

[Luckydog]

One could bend the string into a V and insert the angle of the V into hole, without trimming.

[Mehve]

Last thing I need is a bunch of wires dangling off the end of my headstock. They catch and poke everything and just look generally sloppy. That aside, a lot of tuners don't have room for the entire string, certainly not without the string winding back up the post again, so you're cutting regardless.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

You'll shoot your eye out.

[Ezmar]

Originally Posted by Mehve

Last thing I need is a bunch of wires dangling off the end of my headstock. They catch and poke everything and just look generally sloppy. That aside, a lot of tuners don't have room for the entire string, certainly not without the string winding back up the post again, so you're cutting regardless.

I repeat, I've never had wires dangling. I've never cut my bass strings, so what's the problem? Is it just cosmetic, having fewer turns around the post?

[Luckydog]

You're not going to get more than about 5 wraps around the post max anyway, so not sure what you mean. 5 wraps still leaves a lot of excess string to deal with....or cut off.

[mjac28]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

You'll shoot your eye out.

That's what she said .... I always cut mine because I always cut myself when I clean or polish.

[walterw]

cut and wrap neatly, 3 or 4 wraps down the post with no overlap (or on a fender A string as many as will fit neatly, so as to increase the angle over the nut).

anything else is amateur hour.

[Ezmar]

So I just put a set of Hi Beams on, and DID notice a difference when Not cutting, although I don't think it will be enough of a problem to take the E off and cut it now. I usually use Rotos, and they have the silk wrap around the very thin core wire, while the end of the Hi Beams is much thicker, so The difference especially on the E string is pronounced, causing a slight angling of the string after the nut. It's not too bad, and I don't gig regularly or professionally enough to be bothered by something as minorly aesthetic as that, but For future reference, I might cut my strings to length.

I guess it's mostly a personal Preference/aesthetic thing.

[Johnny Crab]

The only consequence I've seen with not cutting is a large wad of silk around a tuner when the string length + bass = too much extra string. I cut mine about 2~3 inches past the tuner, insert the cut end in the tuner hole, bend it 90 degrees(or try to) and then start turning the tuner while keeping slight tension on the string.

The ONLY issue I've ever had is if a bass has rounded edges on the INSIDE of the tuner so it did not hold non-silked strings. I've seen this on a Hondo P clone here that did not have the original tuners AND did not have the Grover wavey tuners. For those, I've had to cut less off and use a set that had silk wrap on the ends AND overlap the winding to "hold itself" in.

[michael_atw]

You look like a lazy goof. That's the downside.

[Ezmar]

Originally Posted by michael_atw

You look like a lazy goof. That's the downside.

Lazy? Maybe. Patient? HOLY CRAP YES. It takes so much longer to wrap. That's the price I guess I'm willing to pay to not bother trimming my strings.

Also I don't have any Wire cutters with me here at college. (More laziness)

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by Ezmar

Lazy? Maybe. Patient? HOLY CRAP YES. It takes so much longer to wrap. That's the price I guess I'm willing to pay to not bother trimming my strings.

Also I don't have any Wire cutters with me here at college. (More laziness)

Maybe about two minutes a string. Unless you change strings more than once every few months, it takes about as much life away from you as one trip through a Starbucks drive thru

On a slightly more serious note, shiny strings on stage flopping around are a moderate distraction if there are lights shining on the band. Sounds aesthetic but for me, I want to walk up on stage and start snipping.

[Ezmar]

Originally Posted by michael_atw

On a slightly more serious note, shiny strings on stage flopping around are a moderate distraction if there are lights shining on the band. Sounds aesthetic but for me, I want to walk up on stage and start snipping.

again with the flopping ends! I've never seen this on a bass, I wasn't aware there were even tuning machines that left string poking out.

[Luckydog]

So what do you do? Overlap the wraps leaving a fat wad of string on the post that can slip or pop up off the post? Or do you leave the string end sticking up away from the post ready to puncture someone's eyeball?

[FanOfAlice]

If you dont have snips just bend it back and forth at the point you need it shortened to and it will break there.