What happens if you remove the thread from your string?

[TombassCaton]

I've just bought a set of D'addario flatwounds and the bridge end of the B string won't fit into the hole in the bridge because of the amount of blue thread theyve wrapped around it. What would happen if i was to remove some or all of the thread? Would i be better to make the hole in the bridge a little bigger?

Thankyou
Tom

[SLaPiNFuNK]

It is common that this happens. The silk wrapping on the D'Addario's is very thick in general.

You can cut part of it with a razor blade (not too deep) and unwrap it. Some say "Burn" it off, but I would just unwrap it...

You will not damage the string. It is mostly for appearance and protection of your hardware (not scratching it). Under the silk will just look like rougher metal string winding that is not as neat as the rest of the string.

Good luck!

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

It is mostly for appearance and protection of your hardware (not scratching it).

Heh! I always find this funny ... who cares if the tuner post gets scratched? ... the scratches won't be visible anyway .. and besides it's not meant to be smooth and perfect, it's there to have a steel string wrapped round it at high tension.

I used Elites strings for a while, there was even thread wrap next to the ball end too .. as if the possibility of tiny scratches on the inside surfaces of the bridge slots was such a big deal, and hypocritical too since the ball end itself digs notches into the bridge anyway.

Unnecessary costly gimmick!

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Personally I don't care about scratches either. I am pretty harsh on my instruments.

However.. Strings with no silk are wound different at the tuning posts.

[hdracer]

I like silk on my strings.
and it better line up!

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

However.. Strings with no silk are wound different at the tuning posts.

Ah yes, i've noticed they have the outer wrap 'pulled out' into a long spiral that is thinner and wraps around the post with a smaller radius, for more leverage and tuning precision. Perhaps the thread actually helps to stop that spiral slipping ... Personally i would like to see core only going to the tuner post for minimum winding radius but there may be a practical reason that is not possible ...

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Although if I didn't have silk on the strings I use my hardware wouldn't be in such good shape

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Get some Hofner Beatle bass strings

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

Get some Hofner Beatle bass strings

Some LaBella's?

Why can't they EVER get the silks to line up?
Not even close

[tylerwylie]

Universe implodes. Don't do it

[TombassCaton]

Universe imploded.

Thanks for the help, all sorted now