Adding My own colored thread to a set of strings

[free_Bassd]

So you know how some strings have that colored string wound around the end where it makes contact with the tuning nut. well I'm about to do a string change on the old fiver and was curious if I could just put my own colored thread/string on a set of strings that doesn't have any. I imagine it's just to protect the strings, but I wasn't sure if maybe there was another purpose for this colorful addition to otherwise boring old silver strings than just to look cool?

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

These days it doesnt have a function, you can wrap what ever you want around the string and it wont cause any problem / help anything besides looks...

 

[free_Bassd]

cool! baby blue it is to match the pick guard!

 

[line6man]

I can't stand silk wrap, and specifically choose strings that do not have it. Why would you want thread fraying out and making your headstock look trashy?

But I'm in a grumpy mood, as usual.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Dip in latex paint IMHO....

 

[free_Bassd]

is it silk thread that they use? I was just going to use crochet string. latex paint huh. that sound interesting. is that like house paint? I don't really know too much about anything, except biology and how to stay in college for 6 years haha

 

[Ricnroll]

Rather than "silk thread" you probably want "silk floss". Try googling fly tying shops that sell supplies for Atlantic Salmon flies and you'll be able to get silk floss and check out their "bobbins" as well. The bobbin would likelymake the job a lot easier. Good luck with that. As Line6man pointed out it may be prone to fraying.

 

[J Posega]

I don't really know too much about anything, except biology and how to stay in college for 6 years haha

Wow.

The silk is there to help reduce scratching the tuning gear posts. Usually, it just gets in the way, cuts unevenly, is wound too long and goes past the nut, and frays if you decide to take the strings off to try another set.

 

[soulman969]

is it silk thread that they use? I was just going to use crochet string. latex paint huh. that sound interesting. is that like house paint? I don't really know too much about anything, except biology and how to stay in college for 6 years haha

Sounds like you've prepared yourself quite well for a career in politics.

Seriously, just cut it off if you don't like it. Or paint it or dye it or whatever pleases you most. It's your bass.

I've never had much of a problem with it myself and the lack of coordination in the color of the silk on my strings with my pickguard has never come up on a gig.

Is that a big thing where you're from?

 

[free_Bassd]

for one, I wasn't really sure if the silk did anything at all, like maybe it helped with tone or something (and if it did i sure didnt want to miss out!) but alas this is not the case. apparently it has no purpose except to denote a certain type or brand of strings and even more apparent is that people don't even want the silk thread anyway. secondly, I live in south Texas, the people we usually play for could care less about bass and even less how it looks, they are too busy listening to my guitarist sound like Stevie Rat Vaughn.

 

[free_Bassd]

update: I've been in the Virgin Islands for the last week, so I hadn't really had time to really look at my bass, I think everyone who has chimed in here is right. I concede the point, it would look weird with the silk at the end, frayed or not. thanks!