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Can't anyone wind strings correctly?

#81
countbassiedad said:
They don't call Clapton slow hand because he's a slow player!

If you want a job done right (setups included) do it yourself!

On a used bass - crappy windings would mean I would probably not be a buyer - who knows what else was handled poorly.

;)
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Some of the best deals(steals) I've found on CL were missing strings, wound backward/poorly wound, etc. Many times it's a sign that the bass is collecting dust and/or the owner is completely uninterested in the bass, or any bass for that matter..they just want to dump it to make space and get a little cash.
 
#82
Fishheadjoe said:
Some of you guys need to visit the Roscoe forum, where you absolutely must match up your ball ends, so that they all point the same way!;)
Adds an additional step in the re-stringing process!!! LOL
Fishheadjoe
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I can't believe you dudes! Lining up ball ends???!!!

Are bass players all this anal? Hey, I never cut strings, I just let them stick out in all directions from the slots. Who shoves them down the holes? I mean, like, a headstock with string-ends sticking out in all directions and wobbling just looks SOOOOO Kewl on stage! Sure, maybe a bass player can't wear leather pants like a guitarist, but hey he CAN have a headstock that is as cool! So what if the tuning slips? What do you think that tuning key is there for anyway? Tune it back up, doood!

Ball ends aligned! REALLY!
 
#83
bassbenj said:
I can't believe you dudes! Lining up ball ends???!!!

Are bass players all this anal? Hey, I never cut strings, I just let them stick out in all directions from the slots. Who shoves them down the holes? I mean, like, a headstock with string-ends sticking out in all directions and wobbling just looks SOOOOO Kewl on stage! Sure, maybe a bass player can't wear leather pants like a guitarist, but hey he CAN have a headstock that is as cool! So what if the tuning slips? What do you think that tuning key is there for anyway? Tune it back up, doood!

Ball ends aligned! REALLY!
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You really should check out the Roscoe forum!!!!
Fishheadjoe
 
#84
okay so I am a Cajun-Creole from way down south. I never knew any other bass players when I was growing up. I was it.
So I guess I am little unorthodox
I wrap the string around the peg a few times then I pull it off and re wrap it. I do it in this way so that the very last bit pokes out of the peg and is bent at a right angle. One wrap goes under that, the next turn above, so its locked on the peg like a knot.
Then there are another 3 or 4 turns on top pushing down.
Never had any intonation, buzzing or tuning issues. The only time I ever had a problem with this method is when using Rotos on my magnum. They weren't long enough.
 
#85
Just spotted on local Craigslist (!):

Pi4Hn.jpg
 
#89
bassman314 said:
I guess I don't understand. My tuning posts have a slot that I use, but there's no hole in the tuning post for the string.

I do one wind over to lock, and then 2-3 under for winding. Whole process (for 5-string bass) takes maybe 5 minutes. Am I doing something wromg? Did I enter anal-retentivlandia and miss the sign?

:confused:
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IMO, that "lock" doesn't do anything but make the strings harder to get off when you change them. I have a friend who insists on running the skinny strings on his guitar twice through the hole in the peg to "lock" them. It takes him 10 minutes to change his high E string and his guitar doesn't stay in tune any better than mine. It's another case of something that sounded like a good idea to someone without any data to back it up.

But, hey, whatever floats your boat.
 
#90
ggunn said:
IMO, that "lock" doesn't do anything but make the strings harder to get off when you change them. I have a friend who insists on running the skinny strings on his guitar twice through the hole in the peg to "lock" them. It takes him 10 minutes to change his high E string and his guitar doesn't stay in tune any better than mine. It's another case of something that sounded like a good idea to someone without any data to back it up.

But, hey, whatever floats your boat.
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I've dealt with that when I bought a guitar and took off the strings. A pain in the ass.
 
#91
The only reason I can see for not cutting strings might be if you may want to try them on different instruments. (different tuner layout)
Other than that, I do the old in the hole, 90 down, and wrap 3 times around the peg, while holding a bit of tension with my other fingers until securely set into bridge and nut.

I still have to remind myself to allow a bit more length as the gage of string increases.:) Nothing worse than only 1 wrap on your E string.......

Not that I have done that before.:eek:
 
#94
on the subject of changing strings - from playing guitar, I picked up the habit of using a capo when I change a set of strings. Once I put the ball end in the tailpiece, I use a capo around the third fret or so to hold the string in place without a whole lot of slack. it frees up a hand to measure and cut the string.
 
#95
Geroi Asfalta said:
I think you're right....when I picked up my first bass, that's how I strung it the first two or three tries....

but now....I'm super anal about how strings get wound onto the pegs...I watch youtube videos on occasion, and when I hear people say Just put the end of the string in the hole then twist it around the peg a few times" I cringe and die a little inside. I spend about 10 to 15 minutes per string making sure that i have exactly between 3 1/2 to 4 winds around, winding down. If I can't get it right, I take the strings off and try again. If I fail after 3 attempts, I buy new strings.

Yes, I'm sick in the head ($250 a month on strings)
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What???
 
#96
I was at a rehearsal a couple of months ago and the guitarist kept positioning himself so that all six of his eye-poker strings were about a foot away from my face. He got super huffy when I stopped the session and made him trim the strings. He complained that he might prick himself on the ends, even after I pointed out that a finger heals much faster than a cornea.
 

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