I'm pretty stupid...forgot to cut strings. Help!

[Purj]

So yeah, I'm pretty dumb and I changed the strings on my bass the other day, and couldn't figure out why I had to wind it so much. Soon after I realized that I never cut them :\ I feel like an idiot xD so now the strings are wound around my tuners like 5 times. Although I'm not getting any slippage, I was wondering if it would have a negative effect on my sound or tuning precision if I took the strings off, rewound them and cut them this time. Thanks for any help!

[lowregister]

I did that once, you're totally fine snipping them and putting them back on. Just make sure you measure the length right, it can be hard to see where to cut when they're all tangled up on themselves.

[Calebmundy]

I never cut my strings-I don't have any trouble with them wound that many times.

[G00D+~VIBES]

Depends on the set up of the bass, but for me I prefer several winds around the peg so as to help/ensure a good consistent break angle at the nut.

[MooseLumps]

I also wind a bunch. I feel better with 3+winds, particularly on fender style headstocks

[zachbass02]

if it's a Fender, you're supoosed to wind the string all the way down to the bottom of the tuning peg to ensure a proper break angle at the nut, especially on the E and A string. If it's not a Fender, then just pull 'em off and cut them if the excess winding is bothering you. no big.

[Spinal Tapper]

I've never cut my strings. I just wind em around as many as they'll go and keep the last wrap at the bottom to keep the break angle sharp.

Dunno if that's not the "proper" way to do it or whatever, but it works fine for me...

[Purj]

Its not a fender, but by the sounds of it, it doesn't really matter. What does the break angle do?

[G00D+~VIBES]

Ensures downward pressure on the string in the nut slot. Prevents the rattle. Keeps intonation.

[SteveC]

I always have 3-4 wraps around the post working from top to bottom to keep as good an angle as I can at the nut - no matter what kind of bass. I don't know how much it matters but I feel better.

[bass player 48]

If they are wrapped from top to botom on the peg, and they don't "bunch up" or over lap themselves, then it's fine.

If they are bunched up in a wad, just take them off and cut them to the proper length and put them back on. There's no problem doing that - why would there be?

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by zachbass02

if it's a Fender, you're supoosed to wind the string all the way down to the bottom of the tuning peg to ensure a proper break angle at the nut, especially on the E and A string. If it's not a Fender, then just pull 'em off and cut them if the excess winding is bothering you. no big.

Actually Fender recommends cutting these lengths (past the peg) for all of their basses:
E - 3"
A, D, G - 3½"

This gives between 2 & 3 winds per tuning peg. I've done this for years without any issues.

[MatticusMania]

I always snip my strings a little. I dont like having 5 or more winds around the peg. I put some new D'Addario Chromes on my SX the other day and I didnt have my wire cutters around. Afterwards I went out a block to my car to snip and restring them.

[pacojas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCJYH...=youtube_gdata

[zachbass02]

Originally Posted by MonetBass

Actually Fender recommends cutting these lengths (past the peg) for all of their basses:
E - 3"
A, D, G - 3½"

This gives between 2 & 3 winds per tuning peg. I've done this for years without any issues.

Fender also specifies vintage or modern tuning keys. 4" past the tuning key on a vintage tuning key is pretty much gonna put the string all the way down to the bottom. The newer tuning pegs are shorter than the vintage ones it doesn't take 4" to get to the bottom of the tuning peg. So, whatever works for you....keep doing it I reckon.