String Too Short

tonyciv · #1 09-20-2010, 05:26 PM

My E string wraps only one full time around the tuning peg. Is it good, or is there a chance that it will slip-especially if played hard?

Bass_Thumper · #2 09-20-2010, 05:31 PM

what scale is your bass? Did you get short scale strings or is your bass extra long scale? My main bass is a 35" scale bass and I don't have any trouble getting at least a wrap and a half on there.

tonyciv · #3 09-20-2010, 05:36 PM

No, it's a 34" P-Bass. I messed up and clipped it a bit too short. I usually like to get 2 full wraps around the peg-but messed up with the wire cutter. At any rate, any issues with the wrap and a half? Thanks for responding.

elgecko · #4 09-20-2010, 05:37 PM

I used to cut my strings so they did one full wrap...never had any problems.

ggunn · #5 09-20-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyciv

My E string wraps only one full time around the tuning peg. Is it good, or is there a chance that it will slip-especially if played hard?

It will be OK, IMO. It's certainly worth trying, anyway. Did you stretch the strings out after you put them on? If the string in question survived that, it's unlikely that it will fail under playing conditions.

tonyciv · #6 09-20-2010, 05:46 PM

Thanks. I was really angry with myself for doing what I did by getting a bit too happy with the wire cutter. I thought I had ruined a set of fairly expensive DR Legends. I was trying flats on my P-Bass for the first time, and I must have gotten a bit over-anxious. It's a '75 and sounds great with this new set. I was just concerned as to whether the wrapping would hold.

ghostjs · #7 09-20-2010, 06:02 PM

ahh i think it's fine. My Lakland is like that right now since i decided to string through the body.

tonyciv · #8 09-20-2010, 06:10 PM

The more people who say it's all gonna be fine, the more confident I am to play it hard and not care! To me, that's the definition of Rock & Roll!

tonyciv · #9 09-20-2010, 06:21 PM

Hey ggunn, yeah I did stretch the string out a bit, but only tentatively. All was good. I'll give it a tougher tug later when I get back home.

elgecko · #10 09-20-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyciv

The more people who say it's all gonna be fine, the more confident I am to play it hard and not care! To me, that's the definition of Rock & Roll!

Actually, rock & roll is playing hard and not caring REGARDLESS of what other people say!

Pilgrim · #11 09-20-2010, 07:12 PM

In the future, remember what my dad used to say:

"No matter how many times you cut it off, it's still too short."

Sartori · #12 09-20-2010, 07:25 PM

If it survived being stretched out, it should be fine.

I've often had strings only wrap around once. My Db tuned guitar is like that right now on almost all the strings. Plays fine.

Usually for bass, when I take the old strings off, and go to put a new string on, I line it up against the old one and cut off the end so that it's about the same length. Never had any string problems on bass, though I've often had them wrap around only once.

Joe Nerve · #13 09-20-2010, 08:34 PM

It's not the length of the string that matters, it's how you use it. At least that's what I've always been told.

tonyciv · #14 09-20-2010, 09:21 PM

That's right, Sartori. That's exactly what I do. I line the old string up with the new and snip it from that point. For some reason, I then went ahead and took off another inch or so from the E. You're right Joe, it's not the length of the string that matters-but it's the gauge that makes all the difference!

cap'n crunk · #15 09-20-2010, 09:31 PM

When changing strings in the future, run the new string about two inches past the post, two-and-a-half if it's the A string on a Jazz or Precision bass (the extra wind helps force the string down on the post and gives you better tension over the nut). Execute a 90-degree bend in the string at that point. Cut off the rest of the string after one-half inch of the bent section. Drop bent section into hole in post, wind, stretch, tune, rock out. No mo' problems, son.

willg95 · #16 09-20-2010, 09:32 PM

you should be fine, man. the D string on my p bass only wraps about 3/4 around because i did that same stupid mistake and got mad thinking it wouldn't work. but there's no way that's moving with the way it's angled. but mine are roundwounds which gave it the extra friction on the pegs. i still think you've got nothing to worry about.

tonyciv · #17 09-20-2010, 09:34 PM

Good suggestion, cap'n crunk! I'll employ that method in the future.

tonyciv · #18 09-20-2010, 09:37 PM

I hear you, willg95. I'll bet you silly mistakes like this happen all the time!

Bassdirty · #19 09-20-2010, 09:40 PM

I'd just get a new string.

and then play the one you got on there until it breaks.
(you should have a spare on hand anyway)

Sartori · #20 09-21-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyciv

That's right, Sartori. That's exactly what I do. I line the old string up with the new and snip it from that point. For some reason, I then went ahead and took off another inch or so from the E. You're right Joe, it's not the length of the string that matters-but it's the gauge that makes all the difference!

Well, sometimes I've trimmed them a bit shorter if I felt that last time around they were too long, or I've overestimated how much they stretch over time.

Next time you change strings, just remember that you'd like it slightly longer and leave on 3/4" more or so than this time.