How to get the perfect wind everytime?

[bassmastan]

I've been putting on strings on my bass since I was 14, but to this day they never look very good but do hold up well. Any tips on doing it great once(I wind the tuniners by hand)

[96tbird]

Measure, bend, cut, insert in hole I'm bottom of tuner slot, bend around the tuner slot, guide it with your thumb so they wind down and don't come back over top of the previous wind.

And don't wrap them around the post by hand, turn the key; prevents twisting and dead strings.

Care to explain what doesn't look good? Do you overlap winds?

[charlie monroe]

Originally Posted by bassmastan

since I was 14

How old are you now?

Here is what I do.

Uncoil the string. Measure it against the string that you are replacing. Trim to the same length. I am assuming a) the old string is off the bass and b) the old string is long enough to get two - three complete wraps on the tuning machine

Feed the entire string through the bridge (and body if possible and preferred). Pull the string tight with one hand, and press down on the string in the saddle to give it a good witness point.

Turn the tuner until the slot is parallel to the nut. Push the string into the hole in the machine, bend it 90 degrees out of the hole and then 1/2 wrap around the post on the side away from the nut.

Holding the string with the thumb and second finger of one hand guide the string over the nut with index finger. Keep reasonable tension on the string, and keep the feed lower than the prior wrap.

Wind away...

When you are almost out of slack, run the hand holding the string close to the bridge (keep holding tight) and ensure that the ball is free of the bridge. Continue winding until you reach pitch. This will avoid twist in the strings.

No big deal, just focus and pay attention.

Hope this helps.

[Pilgrim]

Please reflect:

Perfect isn't required. Pursuing the "perfect" in life leads to much disappointment.

(As the Dread Pirate Wesley/Roberts said, "Get used to disappointment.")

"Well done" is a better standard to pursue. Get the end in the hole, make the wraps neat, and install the string so that it holds its tune. That's enough to strive for.

If it works and holds tune, you've done well. Enjoy.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Please reflect:

Perfect isn't required. Pursuing the "perfect" in life leads to much disappointment.

(As the Dread Pirate Wesley/Roberts said, "Get used to disappointment.")

"Well done" is a better standard to pursue. Get the end in the hole, make the wraps neat, and install the string so that it holds its tune. That's enough to strive for.

If it works and holds tune, you've done well. Enjoy.

But what's the best way to wind strings for metal?

[walterw]

Originally Posted by 96tbird

And don't wrap them around the post by hand, turn the key; prevents twisting and dead strings.

a bass pegwinder is the ticket, don't leave home without one.

Originally Posted by charlie monroe

When you are almost out of slack, run the hand holding the string close to the bridge (keep holding tight) and ensure that the ball is free of the bridge. Continue winding until you reach pitch. This will avoid twist in the strings.

these are the two key things, i think;

wind up the tuner, don't wrap the string around it.

push the ball end out of the bridge just before the string goes tight, so it can spin around and un-twist the string.

[96tbird]

I just can't find it in my cheap mind to drop five bucks on a winder! Even counting how well they work. I should ask for one for my birthday, only seven months away! Hyper.

OP, I would add that imho, it's best to always put a bend in the string before cutting just to be safe. I have killed a hex core G string once before and always bend first now... round cores it's not optional.