Cutting Flatwounds

[petrus61]

If anyone does any of the things talked about in this thread, please follow up with pictures and detailed results so others may peruse the findings at their own merriment/peril.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Why would any string? You cut every one that is ever placed on your instrument, and nothing ever happens. It gets pulled at the post. Not at the 1/4" that you place in the post before winding. This whole thing makes no sense.

supposedly if you cut into the main part of the string (where it's at it's thickest), then it can unravel. The silk is supposed to keep the string from unraveling, and you'd be cutting past the silk. I say supposedly because I've never had that happen but I've also never tried to cut that far.

 

[La Faro]

Shrink wrapping is an interesting idea. putting it on and shrinking before the cut. I've two sets to put on later today, I may give this a go.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

supposedly if you cut into the main part of the string (where it's at it's thickest), then it can unravel. The silk is supposed to keep the string from unraveling, and you'd be cutting past the silk. I say supposedly because I've never had that happen but I've also never tried to cut that far.

I've only ever used two kinds of strings that have silk on them. All others are metal on both ends.

 

[HaphAsSard]

It sounds like Labella/Gold tone have crossed this bridge and found it unsuitable for 25.5" scale fretted basses.

If you're referring to the warning in the Gold Tone product page, that is specifically regarding the acoustic-electric Gold Tone MicroBass, not any and all fretted guitar scale basses. The hollowbody GT MB comes with polymeric strings, and the bridge is glued with this in mind. Using steel-core strings guarantees bad intonation, because they're way stiffer and would need more compensation; if the acoustic MB is fretless, one can circumvent the problem by learning where to put fingers regardless of markers; the solid-body models have continuously adjustable bridges, so they can be set for whatever strings you have on the bass. With a fretted hollowbody you're SOL, hence the warning.
If, however, you use the La Bella/Gold Tone MBLS with another instrument, with bridge saddles that can be adjusted for intonation, Bob's your uncle. It's just that the set is currently out of stock. Or discontinued because of poor sales (and/or/due to bad promotion, I'd add)?

 

[PotsdamBass8]

I've only ever used two kinds of strings that have silk on them. All others are metal on both ends.

I think all flat wounds have silk. I don't know for sure though.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I think all flat wounds have silk. I don't know for sure though.

Nylon tapewounds need silks for the tape not to unravel. Flatwounds don't have to have silks, per se (I've had to remove silks on mine on a particular instrument, with no ill effects), some come with no silk at one end (IIRC pre-2010 Fenders silk only at the bridge, La Bella and GHS only at the tuners), and I've also read of flats with no silk at all (Curt Mangan, maybe Webstrings Detroit Bass flats too?). But most definitely are silked.

 

[La Faro]

I have to admit, I do like silks, they are pleasing. Any little spalshes of colour is cool with me. Pressurewounds have black, which won't clash with anything, and is a bit safe, but dig the purple more.