excess string length

[BadJazz]

Howdy,

I was reading up on a webpage about cleaning guitars and such and there was mention of not winding the entire string length around the peg. As in, it's a bad idea for keeping the string in tune, as well as extra tension on the peg/neck/etc.

I've pretty much always wrapped the entire thing around. Any opinions on this?

Thanks.

EDIT: I do mean for bass, not for guitar!

[allexcosta]

Shouldn't be too long in the first strings of a guitar.

Not true in basses, though... 4 turns is quite standard... I never overlap turns, no need for that... It's actually good to use many turns on the tuners closer to the nut, as it helps to achieve a better/tighter angle there...

[SGD Lutherie]

I measure up two tuners length of string past the tuner I'm going to wrap it on. So figure 2-2.5 inches past the tuner you are putting the string onto, and then cut it. You don't want the string to wrap around itself. Just wrap a single layer from the top to bottom, so when you are finished the string is resting against the bottom of the tuner shaft. This keeps the string low and provides a better angle to the nut.

Wrapping too much string on the tuner will allow the string to slip out of tune. You only need three or four wraps tops.

Also remember to stretch your strings after you put them on! Just tune them to pitch, and then grab them around the 12th fret, and pull up slightly about an inch or so, and then retune. I do that twice on every string. After that my bass never goes out of tune.

[6bassist9]

Ive always just used the 4 finger rule. Make the string straight to the tuner ur putting it on and cut it at 4 finger widths farther than that tuner. My fingers seem to me to be a little too narrow so I put a little space between each finger just to satisfy my OCD.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by 6bassist9

Ive always just used the 4 finger rule. Make the string straight to the tuner ur putting it on and cut it at 4 finger widths farther than that tuner. My fingers seem to me to be a little too narrow so I put a little space between each finger just to satisfy my OCD.

That's a good idea. I count tuners, but fingers will work as well.

[BadJazz]

Thanks for the replies. I'm just about to string up my three L2Ks so I'll get the snippers first and see how it goes.

[darkstorm]

The two abslolute minimum things to avoid are: haveing string wraps on top of string wraps. And having the bottom wind right next to or worse, below the tuning peg nut. For bass, 3 to max of 4 wraps is great. The four finger, 2- 2 & 1/2 inch guide are great measuring methods. Runs off to shake off the image of OP's bass with 2-3 layers of string wraps from top to below nut on each tuner. Lol.

[stflbn]

Depends on the tuners... you're starting to see tuners out there now that are tapered (Wider at top than bottom) that greatly help to move the string down to the bottom of the tuner for better downward tension on the nut, rather than relying on string wraps to push the string to the bottom of the tuner.

The tuners on my Big Al are this way and fantastic (IMHO). No need to do more than a couple wraps... in fact... it's challenging to do more than a wrap and a half or two on this type of tuner. I believe it came from Musicman new with a wrap and a half or two on each.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by darkstorm

The two abslolute minimum things to avoid are: haveing string wraps on top of string wraps. And having the bottom wind right next to or worse, below the tuning peg nut. For bass, 3 to max of 4 wraps is great. The four finger, 2- 2 & 1/2 inch guide are great measuring methods. Runs off to shake off the image of OP's bass with 2-3 layers of string wraps from top to below nut on each tuner. Lol.

How do you get below the nut, when it's flush with the surface of the headstock of the bass? You do want the last wrap to be against the headstock, as that maintains a steep angle over the nut. That's why heads with no angle have string retainers. But you don't have them on the E and A strings on a Fender.

I think it was Music Man that tapered posts to keep the string down against the headstock.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by 6bassist9

Ive always just used the 4 finger rule. Make the string straight to the tuner ur putting it on and cut it at 4 finger widths farther than that tuner. My fingers seem to me to be a little too narrow so I put a little space between each finger just to satisfy my OCD.

Yup...four fingers and snip. Wind from the top down. I lock one wrap over the spot where the string exits the tuner slot.