String problem/solution (Elixirs)

[TrooperFarva]

I bought a set of Elixir Nanowebs today, because I had played them on some basses at Guitar Center, and liked them. I've changed strings before, no big deal.

I usually leave about 3 inches past the tuner in terms of string length. I cut the string, insert the end of the string into the center hole in the tuner, lay it in the slit in the tuner, and then start to wind it up. I usually get about 3 windings on the tuner. After I do this, I pull on the strings at about the 12th-15th fret, away from the fretboard, to minimize the loss of tension then get while playing new strings. I did this on the E, A, and D no problem. I pulled on the G, and I heard noises, kind of high-pitched pricks, and the string lost a lot of tension. I initially thought I broke the string, but I inspected it, and it was fine. So I tuned it up, started to play, and it lost tuning really bad, really fast. I rewrapped the string, same problem. But this time, I watched what was going on, and basically, the piece in the center hole was getting pulled out, and the string wasn't being held properly by the tuner. I had heard that Elixirs were 'slippery' and they are pretty low friction, but damn, I didn't expect this. I rewrapped the string, pushing the end of the string into the tuner as far as possible, and it still got pulled out.

Musicmans have the 3+1 headstock. So from the tuner, to the nut, the low 3 strings (E, D, and A) go clockwise, and the G string goes counterclockwise.

What I finally did, and I apologize if this description sucks, but I attached a picture, was put the string in the tuner hole, lay it in the slit, then pull it around the tuner, a half turn, clockwise. Then, I laid it in the slit, all the way across the tuner, pull it out the other side, and then started to wind it counterclockwise. Again, sorry if the description sucks.

Is this a problem that anyone else has encountered?

Also, because that string went from tuning tension to no tension real fast a few times, is the life on that string drastically shortened?

[HELLonWheels187]

This hasn't ever happened to me, but i just thought of an idea.

Have you tried lightly sanding the top of the strings to increase the friction?

[Thomcat]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

I bought a set of Elixir Nanowebs today, because I had played them on some basses at Guitar Center, and liked them. I've changed strings before, no big deal.

What I finally did, and I apologize if this description sucks, but I attached a picture, was put the string in the tuner hole, lay it in the slit, then pull it around the tuner, a half turn, clockwise. Then, I laid it in the slit, all the way across the tuner, pull it out the other side, and then started to wind it counterclockwise.

Is this a problem that anyone else has encountered?

Also, because that string went from tuning tension to no tension real fast a few times, is the life on that string drastically shortened?

Well, what you just did is tie a knot in the string through the center of the tuning peg. This is standard practice on the 1st (and sometimes 2nd) strings on guitars. Those little .010 strings are slippery as all get out. There should be NO problems in doing this. I have done it before when I had a Flatwound that was slipping, though that was more down to the cheasy-ass tuning peg I was working with, but anyway, it worked fine.

I'm surprised that the Elixirs are that slippery, but it could be a combination of them being slick and your tuning peg being slick also.

As to the quick change in string tension, I wouldn't worry about it. It was probably no worse than the workout a Tremolo would put on the string. Yes, people (not me, though if someone has a Bass TransTrem they want to part with??) do still use Bass Tremolos so most strings are made strong enough to take the abuse. Play it and see how it sounds. If it really doesn't match the other 3 strings' timbre, then you have a problem.

Thomcat

[jp1994]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

What I finally did, and I apologize if this description sucks, but I attached a picture, was put the string in the tuner hole, lay it in the slit, then pull it around the tuner, a half turn, clockwise. Then, I laid it in the slit, all the way across the tuner, pull it out the other side, and then started to wind it counterclockwise. Again, sorry if the description sucks.

Is this a problem that anyone else has encountered?

I saw this as a tip in an older issue of one of the bass magazines a few years ago.
It was a solution to a slipping string problem.