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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

#623
It’s hit and miss on any type of strings.

Some types are more sensitive than others. If the windings slip relative to each other or to the core wire, the string may not ring true after cutting. Symptoms range from buzzes to rattles to dead spots or intonation problems.

That’s why string changing instructions generally tell you to make a 90 degree bend in the string before cutting off any excess.
 
#625
steve_rolfeca said:
It’s hit and miss on any type of strings.

Some types are more sensitive than others. If the windings slip relative to each other or to the core wire, the string may not ring true after cutting. Symptoms range from buzzes to rattles to dead spots or intonation problems.

That’s why string changing instructions generally tell you to make a 90 degree bend in the string before cutting off any excess.
Click to expand...

In days ago yes. Strings were a bit more lax in their manufacture. With today’s round wounds, I haven’t had any difficulty with this procedure. As I am aware, the instructions for the 90 bend were meant to address the very issue of poorly made strings unraveling once cut. I’ve not seen that as an issue since the late 1980s. I regularly cut all of my strings to length without bending them first. The studious eye will note though that, almost instinctively I bent the string in my video whilst I was mispronouncing different parts of the guitar so...
 
#626
TBLuthier said:
In days ago yes. Strings were a bit more lax in their manufacture. With today’s round wounds, I haven’t had any difficulty with this procedure. As I am aware, the instructions for the 90 bend were meant to address the very issue of poorly made strings unraveling once cut. I’ve not seen that as an issue since the late 1980s. I regularly cut all of my strings to length without bending them first. The studious eye will note though that, almost instinctively I bent the string in my video whilst I was mispronouncing different parts of the guitar so...
Click to expand...
I think the discriminating factor is core shape: up until a point (1980s?) all strings were round-core, and prone to winding slippage if not crimped precisely because of that. (It didn't necessarily occur, but it might. Hence the instruction to crimp before cutting that DR Strings - IIRC - include in their round-core products.) Right now the majority are hex-core, the corners of the hexagonal section bite into the winding wire some and slippage is less of a thing as a result.
 
#628
TBLuthier said:
In days ago yes. Strings were a bit more lax in their manufacture. With today’s round wounds, I haven’t had any difficulty with this procedure. I regularly cut all of my strings to length without bending them first...
Click to expand...
It depends on the types of strings you use.

Flats don’t like that treatment, nor do round core strings (most DR’s), nylon tapes, and nylon core strings.

And then there’s Thomastik flats, which can last forever if treated right, but react badly to small insults like a slight twist...
 
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#631
SBassman said:
So, I actually bought yet another set of CB40s and tried to put them on the new Sojourn.

Didn't fly. The E string must have been sitting much further down. Massive buzz. Had to bail out and put the stock E back on.
Click to expand...
Doesn't the Sojourn 4K runs on steel core strings stock?

Probably just needs you to ease up the truss rod adjuster a few flats, maybe toss a little scrap of paper in the nut slot to test...
 
#632
SBassman said:
So, I actually bought yet another set of CB40s and tried to put them on the new Sojourn.

Didn't fly. The E string must have been sitting much further down. Massive buzz. Had to bail out and put the stock E back on.
Click to expand...
Quick fix if a nut slot is filed too low: remove string and mask off the fingerboard around the slot you want to raise. Then file the top of the nut with a flat file. The file shavings will accumulate in a small pile in the nut slot. Now drop a few drops of super glue into the nut slot. Allow a few minutes for the glue to set and then use a nut file to re-cut the slot to the proper depth.
Although meant as a temporary fix, I’ve played basses for years without replacing the nut after using this fix (learned this on Stew-Mac website)
 
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#633
cavemanbass said:
Quick fix if a nut slot is filed too low: remove string and mask off the fingerboard around the slot you want to raise. Then file the top of the nut with a flat file. The file shavings will accumulate in a small pile in the nut slot. Now drop a few drops of super glue into the nut slot. Allow a few minutes for the glue to set and then use a nut file to re-cut the slot to the proper depth.
Although meant as a temporary fix, I’ve played basses for years without replacing the nut after using this fix (learned this on Stew-Mac website)
Click to expand...
For white and creme nuts, you can also use baking soda to build up the slot.
 
#640
Looks like it is up to me to provide more visual entertainment. :)

Coupla more pics of my 4K. I added wood strap buttons.

MK Sojourn 4K Bass - case.png

MK Sojourn 4K Bass - button.png
 
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