can do ?: "squeeze" tape-wound flats in headless headpiece, for mounting ?

[Funky40]

Huhuu, tinkerboy at work here,

i just converted an old cheap 4 string 34" fretless into a headless, and put things for a first test together.
I run la bella flats, tapewound, ...not exactly cheap, quite new.
The headpiece has this typical "clamp/squeeze" the strings with a screw on place, for its fixation.
The clamping screws are bigger than usual, thus more surface (which i think is a good thing)


can i just go and mount them ?
save bet, don´t worry ?
so lala save, might work out or might damage the strings ?
or: clear case, NO, they are NOT made for this ?

 

[Jon Moody]

Well no, they're definitely not made for your application. You run the risk of having the vinyl tape on the strings coming unraveled from the trimming or the clamping screws.

What you "can" do - and I make absolutely no guarantees that it'll work, and take no responsibility if you give this a try - is to put some super glue on the string, roughly where the clamping screws are (and where you're going to trim the string). Put some electrical tape around that, and then try to string up the tapewounds on your headless.

 

[Funky40]

i had a look, turned out, that on this Bass, -and, only on this bass, out of all my headless converts-,
are three strings ok it seems, their tape wound stopps bevore the clamping.
Just the 1st, the G string (EADG) has its tape going till the clamping screw.
i will give the super glue a try, i have some here.


i just recognised, i have no longer any headed 34" bass, where i could put these expensive strings on otherwise,
since this fretless was my last conversion, lol. I just converted 3 basses the last 4 days or so

Jon, much thanks for the input !

 

[johnh89]

2mm shrink wrap around the top inch of the string works .

 

[Funky40]

2mm shrink wrap around the top inch of the string works .

thats an interesting idea !
you mean the shrink wrap would just sit on the string excess, or going till the tithening screw ?

 

[crobasster]

Pics please ?!

 

[johnh89]

Shrink wrap round the part of the tapewound that runs through the screw . Make sure it does not go over the nut . Tidies the end up , stops tape unravelling when cut and protects the tape from the clamping screw .

 

[Funky40]

Thanks @john89 !
got it.
Good tip

i think i will combine both: shrink wrap + superglue

( i used btw. allready on a regular basis superglue on my string tipps, to make shure they won´t unwrap,
since i liked to exchange strings on my headless Basses / but long time not exchanged any strings)