A Reminder About Stringing..

[vvvmmm]

Hate me, but another reason I never change strings.

Yes, I am

 

[JohnEdward]

I just cut the string length, run the ball end back out through the bridge and wind up. The ball end will turn when it needs to all the way to the bridge…then tune up. I do hold the string at the nut or slightly beyond to keep the string somewhat tight on the post and going downward.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The first ~15 years of playing for me was on double ball headless instruments. A Cort and then a real Steinberger. I bought a Stingray 5 and had no idea how to change strings on it.

 

[Iristone]

Some bridge designs really help with it: Gibson, Steinberger, Hipshot Rickenbacker.

 

[Just go for it]

For anyone that has started stringing their bass themselves:
You will notice, the key is to let the ball end spin freely, while winding, until it seats itself upon the bridge. This method should relieve you of numerous and common string issues.

IMHO this is very important advice and saves a lot of misery. The strings are much better balanced among themselves and the sustain is much better, especially the B and E. I always did it this way but thanks for the reminder!

 

[joeLowB]

All of this is helpful. And may explain a muddy D string I have at the moment

 

[JakobT]

For anyone that has started stringing their bass themselves:
You will notice, the key is to let the ball end spin freely, while winding, until it seats itself upon the bridge. This method should relieve you of numerous and common string issues.

​

___________________________


"I've been using the same brand of strings for years... Super Slinky 45-100. With almost every set I install, the E string has that out of phase/flanged sound. I've read up on this and it appears..."

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/string-phase-flange-wobble-etc.1341745/

What about bridges that seat the ball end at a specific angle, like the Fender Hi-mass bridge found on the string-through USA models?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

If you wind around the tuning post by turning the tuning key, there is zero twist in the string. The twists come from holding the string and wrapping around the post without turning the post.

 

[Geri O]

What about bridges that seat the ball end at a specific angle, like the Fender Hi-mass bridge found on the string-through USA models?

In that case, simply make sure the string stays straight as it’s wound on the tuner, best done with a hand-held tuning machine winder.

This also helps when stringing through the body.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

I also never had any problems with string changes. Many hundreds of them. How did I get by without knowing what a witness point was or worrying about twist?