Hey all,
This is not a specific King question but here we go....I have a TK that came with the efranos gut stings on it (raw gut D and G, steel wrapped E and A). Original set except for a replacement A (wrap started to unravel in two different locations at about the C# position). About a month ago, I opened up the case and found that the knot on the A had let go....no biggie - just retied and played the show. This week, I opened up the case and the string was slack again. However, I found that the retied knot had broken off. There was not enough of the gut left exposed below the steel wrap to retie a knot, so I pulled out the old string (the one with the unravelling wrap) and started to put it onto the bass. While I was stringing it up and bringing it up to tension, that knot let go.
I am a bit of a novice when it comes to gut. I have reordered a new steel wound A string and a varnished gut back-up. However, I have two gigs in the next two nights and am facing (gasp) a return to my old Struenel. So, gut people, here are my questions:
1) can I unravel some of the steel winding from the tail end of the a string to give me more room to tie a knot?
2) what is the best way to tie a good knot (soak the end of the string to make it more pliable? How tight to pull the knot?)
3) any mechanical intervention to improve the knot holding ability (small washer between knot and bridge hole, etc)
BTW, I live on the Canadian prairies (about 4 hours north of border between N. Dakota and Montana) where we have a usually dry climate all year round. However, this week we have had humidity in the 70-80% range with higher than average temps (probably didn't help it by leaving the bass in the van for three days!)
I would appreciate any comments you may have.
Thanks,
Cam Ewart
www.hotrodhullabaloo.com
