silked vs. unsilked ends

[TallPaul]

Is there any benefit or drawback to strings with unsilked ends? Will the metal damage my tuners if the ends are unsilked?

[mdangelo]

Not really.

The silk does add maybe a little bit of protection, but there's really no danger to the tuners, less a little metal on metal contact, but the strings don't really create friction on the tuners. If you're careful with your strings it wouldn't damage your body, but I see some protection factor on painted bodies with a clearcoat and a string snapping or getting out of reach.

Most companies actually use the color of the silk as kind of free advertising so other bass players know what brand it is, for example: MTD strings use yellow silk. D'Addario has the same effect by coloring the end-balls.

[haloonpc]

Ughh I love my Blue Steels but i hate the silk at the top.... whenever i restring it, it comes off and gets all over my head

[ibz]

Originally Posted by mdangelo

Most companies actually use the color of the silk as kind of free advertising so other bass players know what brand it is, for example: MTD strings use yellow silk. D'Addario has the same effect by coloring the end-balls.

+1 Makes identifying easier.

[papadesophie]

anyone have like a key to which companies use which color silks??

Quite a few using red though i think?

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by papadesophie

anyone have like a key to which companies use which color silks??

Quite a few using red though i think?

This should be a whole new post!

[saxofunk]

Originally Posted by TallPaul

Is there any benefit or drawback to strings with unsilked ends? Will the metal damage my tuners if the ends are unsilked?

One of my basses has black tuners, there is some damage where bare metal has been exposed due to string tension gouging away at the coating. I have used both silked and unsilked sets, that thin layer of silk probably makes no difference. It would take decades to wear to the point where the tuners had to be replaced. FWIW - this is my MIK Tobias Deluxe, so the hardware is not high quality to begin with.

[Asa Samuel]

plus some people get custom silks.

steve harris from iron maiden has a custom set of rotosounds that have his football clubs colours on the silks.

though there is one great thing about unsilked strings, they're usually cheaper for some reason.

[Asa Samuel]

bump.

[Lorenzini]

They are not usually cheaper. DRs are some of the more pricey strings(and highest quality) but have no silk.
Fenders are some of the cheapest and use black silk most of the time.

[Depth_Charge]

My bass teacher recently gave me an article on stringing up the bass.

In the article, it said you should only use 2 winds on the tuning peg. In order to do that, you have to cut your strings.
In order to avoid the internals of the strings unwinding after cutting them, it's advised to use silk ended strings, which hold better. Thats what the article said anyway. It was written by Rick Turner, if that helps anyone.

I rarely post in the strings forum actually! But I came in chasing advice on silk strings since my ESP is due a new set, and lookie what I found a discussion on silkies LOL