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

[Toptube]

Its interesting how they recommend "at least 4 times" around the post, where others that are just as knowledgeable recommend far less. There doesn't seem to be much of a consensus.

I put as much string on the machine head as I can fit. Gives a steeper break angle on the nut, keeps the string more secured from slippage, and It anchors the string with more mass.

For Fenders with the fat tuners, the d an g string don't even need to be cut.

I don't understand how you can cut a string just after a bend and then still get it "all the way" into a machine head. I sometimes have trouble inserting a string with just a small bur. That pic from Fodera would not work for my basses.

 

[Technicality]

I've actually ruined a string not doing the bending thing, which I think is pretty rare as for most strings this isn't an issue. I bought a set of cheap flatwounds on a whim just to try them, and at the time my process was cut then bend.

There is a slight ping as the tension releases on the outer wrapping, but nothing dramatic happens. From that point on though the string sounds awful and rattly, and the outer wrapping can twist relative to the core which is a really weird sensation (like having a spring mounted sleeve around it).

 

[Michael4bass]

Back in the 60-70s, most of us learned the hard way to not cut your strings because it could deaden the string/s. Since most bassist back then used Fenders, most string companies, like Rotosound and LaBella, somewhat precut their strings for Fenders, so most of the time we could get away without cutting. Now days with all the advancements in manufacturing, it's usually ok to cut a string and not have it unravel. But, for me anyway, old habits are hard to break, so I still bend mine 90° before cutting.

Bassicallly, Michael

 

[rootbill]

I always bend string prior to cutting. I highly recommend this with coated strings, of any brand. Being coated makes them more likely to slippages. The bend seems to provide extra lockage at machine head,IMO.

 

[Root 5]

Pyramid recommend as an absolute necessity that you must crimp their strings. I don't know of any other brands that tell you to do so. There's no harm in doing it.

 

[JustForSport]

Some do it anyway (along with setting the witness points), and they're not the ones that 'have to keep re-tuning', or 'why won't this string intonate?'.
And others are just lucky, so far...
Or never change their flats.

 

[70'sRockChild]

I use a pair of dull cutters which crimps the string before it cuts through, and I do it at a 45 degree. I can't say if either is needed because I haven't had any problems with rounds or flats. Cutting this way avoids the possible problem of too large of a string end (with bend) for the tuners center hole, as mentioned by another poster.

 

[Batmensch]

One time, when I was installing a set of Fender flats, I cut before bending, and the outer wire wrap unraveled. As a precaution I always bend first now. It may have been a faulty string, but I just feel better bending the string first.

 

[Haji]

I didn't know that was even possible. I certainly learned something today!

 

[Pentatonic]

I didn't know that was even possible. I certainly learned something today!

Me too!