Benefits or Lack thereof with Cutting Strings - Let's Talk

[wisconsindead]

I'm curious as to why people cut their strings when putting them on. It seems the majority of people cut their strings.

Negatives I can see...
You lose the silk if its provided.
You increase your risk of the strings unwinding.
You diminish the break angle at the nut.

Positives I can see...
You don't have to turn that damn tuning peg as much.

Why would those that manufacture guitar strings (i.e. the experts) make them longer than they should be? If cutting guitar strings is the way it should be then certainly they would've caught up on this, but they havent done so. They still make them "too long"

So why do you cut your strings?

 

[BioWeapon]

I cut my strings because I don't like a messy tuning post. It's also what I was taught is convention.
When I cut my strings, I place the end into the hole in the middle of my tuners so that they don't risk being unwound or popping out of the tuner.

 

[wisconsindead]

I don't like a messy tuning post.

As in having string hanging off of the tuning post or a lot of string wrapped around the tuning post?

 

[BioWeapon]

As in having string hanging off of the tuning post or a lot of string wrapped around the tuning post?

Both actually! I have some hanging string ends on one bass (probably 3/4 inch out of each post) that causes me trouble when I stick in the gigbag such as taking the strings right off the post when I pull it back out. Too much string wrapped around the post really bothers me too, for some odd reason...

 

[RAMUSIC]

I ended up wrapping my daddario tapewounds around the posts a bazaillion times because I was afraid that cutting them would cause them to unwind catastrophically. Might try trimming them when I replace em, they are wound into obnoxiously large wads of string, even through I wound them pretty neatly and uniformly. It's the worst on the B string because of how Fo*okin' thick that thing is.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I also like the clean look. I am not a fan of guitarists that have long strings poking out all over the place!

I am not sure there is any audible difference as long as you wind them on correctly.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Most bass tuners require a cut string in order to string it properly. There is nothing more embarrassing than a guitar eyelet-style string job on a tuner that is meant to have the string end inserted into it.

I also hate people that leave their string ends on guitars with eyelets, looks unprofessional and they hurt when they poke you.

 

[RAMUSIC]

When I trim steel strings I just make sure to leave a few inches to make sure it can wrap around the post a couple of times. Never had an issue with unwinding or snapping strings doing it this way.

 

[wisconsindead]

I too hate loose strings (don't get me started on my guitarist friend lol), which is why I wind them around all of the way...

Most bass tuners require a cut string in order to string it properly.

On my P bass and Guild starfire I have never had the problem of having too much string to fit on the tuning post. Though cutting the string makes sense with a B string as most tuning posts are of equal size (and my post is maxed with my E string). But why wouldn't the manufacturers consider this?

Paging Jason from BSO!

 

[Winfred]

Clip the string, stick the end in the hole in the tuning peg, tune it.

That works every time. Silk doesn't unwrap, string doesn't slip.

 

[bolophonic]

The level of drama on here is astounding sometimes. I just cut the string like everyone else and tune up.

 

[Gorn]

Best not to over think these things.

My bass has big fat tuning pegs. I don't cut strings.

 

[Lee Moses]

I've done both. I did it for years without ever cutting a string, then I heard that I was supposed to cut the strings so I started cutting them. Now, it depends on the mood I'm in. But I never notice one way or the other after the strings are on.

 

[mambo4]

there is a functional reason to trim the strings and keep the tuning pegs neat:
too many overlapping windings around the tuning post can increase the chance of slippage.
Conversely, too few and the string can pop out all together.
3-4 wraps around the post , with the 'long end' at the bottom of the coils, is usually optimal.

 

[Awesome Sauce]

...Why would those that manufacture guitar strings (i.e. the experts) ...

Never confuse a manufacturer with an expert. Most of these guys are just following suit, like any other industry. Would you consider SX an expert in guitars and basses? Westinghouse an expert in TVs? Remember, every one of these companies have been making string sets w/ completely out-of-whack tensions since their inception. They've all gone by what looks good, i.e., 45-65-85-105, rather than what feels best- until the last few years.

In other words, just because they make 'em long, doesn't mean they should stay that way.

Rob

 

[devinp17]

My old bass was a Squier P Bass Special and I couldn't get very many wraps around the post, maybe 3, so I had to cut them. The posts on that bass are really stubby and curve outward at the top... very annoying. I don't have to do that anymore with my new bass, the posts are nice and long.

 

[Rocky]

I do it because that's the way I was taught many many years ago. I pull the string somewhat tight then measure passed the post I'm going to use about 2 1/4 inches ( 1/4 or so less for the D&G strings) I then bend the string at the point where I will make my cut. After I cut the string I wanted I only have about two turns around the post of string showing when I'm done. I do one string at a time, and so far I've never had a problem with this method. In fact on my new bass it has not gone out of tune in the month. Every time I check it it's still in tune.

 

[Stealth Fighter]

Me thinks somebody is hitting the sauce a little too hard.

 

[Rocky]

Me thinks somebody is hitting the sauce a little too hard.

My damn iPhone likes to change words on me.I hate this friggin phone

 

[wisconsindead]

Best not to over think these things.

My life revolves around asking "Why?". Its a mixed blessing...