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Bending your string tips when restringing and other stringing practices...

KickingBass

KickingBass

Look into it
Aug 7, 2014
1,815
1,384
Deep south Texas, The RGV
#1
Ive searched around and haven't found anything on this subject on TB but if theres a link please direct me to it. My question is: Do any of you all bend your string tips and cut them just after the bend before stringing them on your bass? I do, im just not sure if it makes a difference. Also, do you do anything kind of unique or different when you string? (just curiosity on that second question)
 
#2
It's often recommended for whenever you cut strings. I think it only really matters for round core strings.

I play Fenders with big fat tuners and I don't cut strings at all if the windings can fit around the tuning post without overlapping.
 
#5
KickingBass said:
Ive searched around and haven't found anything on this subject on TB but if theres a link please direct me to it. My question is: Do any of you all bend your string tips and cut them just after the bend before stringing them on your bass? I do, im just not sure if it makes a difference. Also, do you do anything kind of unique or different when you string? (just curiosity on that second question)
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It's often recommended for round-core and flats, so I just do the same on all of them- never have a problem that way.
 
#6
I cut the string about 4" past the post, and it only gets bent when it gets wrapped around the post. That's how I was taught to do it way back in the 80's and never changed because I never had an issue. I think its one of those things where there are many ways to accomplish it but there's not a huge difference between them; whatever way you like that works is right.
 
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#7
Follow the Haji cut-past-the-post and try to cut at 45 degrees(read decades ago in Bass Player Mag or somewhere concerning roundwounds). Since there are a few spare basses here, they then sit in a spare bedroom on a stand for a day or 2 and then play for an hour or 2 and then do a complete setup/check(see if neck moved, action, intonation). Although I use the same brand and gauge for the new set sometimes changes do happen and it's a good time to verify setup and intonation. The worst(IMO, YMMV) is putting fresh strings on directly before a gig b/c you have to re-tune a lot(too much).
 
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#8
Haji said:
I cut the string about 4" past the post, and it only gets bent when it gets wrapped around the post. That's how I was taught to do it way back in the 80's and never changed because I never had an issue. I think its one of those things where there are many ways to accomplish it but there's not a huge difference between them; whatever way you like that works is right.
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Well the justification I heard for bending them is so that the core wouldn't slip and supposedly that gives your strings a longer life
 
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#9
Johnny Crab said:
Follow the Haji cut-past-the-post and try to cut at 45 degrees(read decades ago in Bass Player Mag or somewhere concerning roundwounds). Since there are a few spare basses here, they then sit in a spare bedroom on a stand for a day or 2 and then play for an hour or 2 and then do a complete setup/check(see if neck moved, action, intonation). Although I use the same brand and gauge for the new set sometimes changes do happen and it's a good time to verify setup and intonation. The worst(IMO, YMMV) is putting fresh strings on directly before a gig b/c you have to re-tune a lot(too much).
Click to expand...

hadn't heard of the 45 degrees thing but those sound like good tips, thanks
 
#10
It's come up before, and it was a fairly long thread; but it's been a long time and I don't remember if it was even on the Strings forum or not. Someone in the string business (he might have been from D'Addario-can't remember) recommended bending the string first before cutting, for the reasons mentioned above. I've always done it that way myself, anyway, but just 'cause it was easier to do it that way. I've never had a string come apart, regardless, but IIRC, that's what started that thread in the first place. :)
 
#12
I swear by this from Fodera on my roundcore strings.....

161d324bd6743fca72946ad467d8f3dd_zps1d30bd6d.jpg
 
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#14
I think it's really a matter of "2's better than 1, and 3's better than 2..." Depending on the tuner post and string guage, I try for at least 3, but not so many that they start making a glob on the tuner post. But that's just me. (And, looking at those pictures, that doesn't look hike "4 times" around the E string post).:)
 
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#15
GIBrat51 said:
(And, looking at those pictures, that doesn't look hike "4 times" around the E string post).:)
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Right! This I do not understand. Ultimately I don't think it matters one way or the other as long as it doesn't unwind. If the string stays and holds position at the tuner (therefore holding its position at the nut) then its good enough whether it be a 1/2 winding or 7. I personally wrap them all the way and dont cut the strings to torture myself for a few minutes just to remind myself of another reason why I enjoy playing flats.
 
#16
I agree with you, but I also seem to remember reading/hearing that it's a good idea if the string coming from the nut winds up as low on the tuner post as possible. Something about the proper break angle; otherwise it causes bad things; like flatulence, or sterility, or something..:D
 
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#19
megafiddle said:
Aren't the ends of new strings already cut? I've never seen a new end unravelling.

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The end of the final wrap is a 'locker' wrap, also used on the ball end. Once that's cut, the wraps are no longer 'locked'.
I use similar to Fodera method, but cut 1/2" or so past the 90 bend, and that bent section goes down the center of the tuner post before wrapping the post.
This for round-cores, flats, hex-cores, and tapes.
DR and/or Dean Markley also recommend bending before cutting.
Also, I don't count wraps on the post, just cut far enough past the post so that the wraps go all the way to the bottom of the post (one layer, of course).
Installed this way, with the witness points set, there shouldn't be much re-tuning req'd.
 

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