Are silks supposed to line up?

[dbsfgyd1]

I just put on these LaBella 760FL set. Surprised that one of the silk lines doesn't line up with the others. My previous flats, and current tapes are in a nice row. Wondering if there is a reason these don't? Curious if it bugs you when they don't line up?View attachment 5308595 I am the first to admit this is not an important issue.

I got to be honest, after 50 years of being a bassist, mostly one that has been changing his strings every 75-100 hours of use (which means I’ve gone through innumerable sets of strings over the decades), I’ve never given that a thought. Now ya got me with my tape rule in hand and a new project to do….Thanks LOL!!!

Seriously,I wouldn’t worry about it as long as the silk is wrapping the tuning peg.

 

[logdrum]

What's up with your string retainer, looks like the D is catching something.

I always wondered if La Bella E's would make it on those flipped headstocks where the E is the farthest or for the left handed players that string upside down. They do not like the metal portion to be wound on the peg. I have experience putting a long scale on a short scale and it unraveled, same with EB Cobalt. GHS have no issues with that.

 

[Sid s]

If this was deemed important, they would have to make different string sets for each kind of headstock. Not likely to happen.

 

[tpaul]

I never even thought to notice if my silks aligned. They might, but I still haven't thought about it enough to check. What is the best number of windings of silk to compliment each of the various fingerboard woods? If I play a 6 strings with 66 windings of silk, is that the most metal string choice?

Aim for 668. The Neighbor of the Beast.

 

[jmlee]

How about this E-string courtesy of Thomastik-Infeld? [Just as a note, EADG are through-body while B is top-mounted.]

 

[Leigh Semmens]

They won't line up on a fan fret bass either..........just saying.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

Dogal CS flats, did not even trim them. Perfect. Looks the same.

 

[Keither]

This is just because TI flats aren't made to be strung though-body.
I understand flats in general don't get along with the break angle at the bridge.
Looks like its working out, how long have they been on?

View attachment 5309436

How about this E-string courtesy of Thomastik-Infeld? [Just as a note, EADG are through-body while B is top-mounted.]

 

[Peter - Oregon]

As I said, this isn't world beating information. All my previous sets had lined up, so I thought something was off. It was explained right away why the LaBellas aren't even.

 

[wiscoaster]

...How about this E-string courtesy of Thomastik-Infel....

Aren't T-I strings just a little longer? That's just barely long enough by the skinniest of your teeth!! Well done!!

 

[Peter - Oregon]

I got to be honest, after 50 years of being a bassist, mostly one that has been changing his strings every 75-100 hours of use (which means I’ve gone through innumerable sets of strings over the decades), I’ve never given that a thought. Now ya got me with my tape rule in hand and a new project to do….Thanks LOL!!!

Seriously,I wouldn’t worry about it as long as the silk is wrapping the tuning peg.

My wife is always giving me crap about how unobservant I am about everything, yet I notice this when apparently many (most) guitarists don't. As much as people care about the look of their axes, it kind of surprises me.

 

[Peter - Oregon]

What's up with your string retainer, looks like the D is catching something.

I always wondered if La Bella E's would make it on those flipped headstocks where the E is the farthest or for the left handed players that string upside down. They do not like the metal portion to be wound on the peg. I have experience putting a long scale on a short scale and it unraveled, same with EB Cobalt. GHS have no issues with that.

It looked a little off because of the kinks in the string. Touching it straightened it out.

 

[jmlee]

This is just because TI flats aren't made to be strung though-body.
I understand flats in general don't get along with the break angle at the bridge.
Looks like its working out, how long have they been on?

They’ve been that way since Day One without apparent change. The B string wouldn’t even fit through the thru-body ferrule and it was apparent that top-mounting was the way to go for that string. Due to the bridge design for that particular M-2500, you can’t top-mount all the strings without adding some extra screw support. So…four through the body and a top-mounted B!

 

[WestyBassBob]

Thanks for confirming that. I thought there might be some type of mix-up in the string set.

it would be impossible for them to be lined up unless you were some sort of mathematical genius. But if you measure carefully past the winding post and are consistent with your winds and such you can get close. But you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to do that.
I saw an episode of the woodwright shop and the guy was talking about getting screws set so they all tighten to the same angle is called soldiering. He said once you start doing it you can’t stop but therapy helps.

 

[GIBrat51]

I just put on these LaBella 760FL set. Surprised that one of the silk lines doesn't line up with the others. My previous flats, and current tapes are in a nice row. Wondering if there is a reason these don't? Curious if it bugs you when they don't line up?View attachment 5308595 I am the first to admit this is not an important issue.

After playing basses with Gawd knows how many different strings with silk on at least the tuner end of the strings, for 55 years now? No, it doesn't really bother me. It's nice when the silks do line up, and it does make me happy; but, there are so many variables at work that IME, it doesn't happen all that often. Sure does look good when it does, though...