How to get the silk ribbons off the strings?

[FergusMc]

That's easy. Use fire and burn them off before you restring.

Do not do this. I just lost some good flatwounds cos of this advice.

 

[Linnin]

Do not do this. I just lost some good flatwounds cos of this advice.

What happened? Post photos. It takes a whole lot of fire to melt steel.

 

[FergusMc]

Id didn't melt that would take loads of heat, but having dabbled in metalwork myself i can completely explain what happened. The strings have a certain temper giving them the right amount of strength and flexibility, the heat from burning the silk changes the temper and makes the strings very susceptible to snapping. Tbh I should have realised that would happen.

 

[michael_t]

Id didn't melt that would take loads of heat, but having dabbled in metalwork myself i can completely explain what happened. The strings have a certain temper giving them the right amount of strength and flexibility, the heat from burning the silk changes the temper and makes the strings very susceptible to snapping. Tbh I should have realised that would happen.

You said they were flats. What kind?
Were they top-loaded or strung thru-body?

 

[FergusMc]

You said they were flats. What kind?
Were they top-loaded or strung thru-body?

I'm not completely sure, I don't know much about gear, they were top loaded, and i was removing the silk on the machine head end.

 

[michael_t]

I'm not completely sure, I don't know much about gear, they were top loaded, and i was removing the silk on the machine head end.

Gotcha. Thx.

 

[Rabidhamster]

Id didn't melt that would take loads of heat, but having dabbled in metalwork myself i can completely explain what happened. The strings have a certain temper giving them the right amount of strength and flexibility, the heat from burning the silk changes the temper and makes the strings very susceptible to snapping. Tbh I should have realised that would happen.

I also wouldn't use fire ----

But pics or it didn't happen!

 

[Rattman]

Uh, anybody know why the Trammps had 2 bass players? Early attempt at a pj before someone realized you could do it with 1 bass?

I had to do a 'triple take' watching that '70's video. "What.. two bassists? How in the world do you work with that?" The arrangement would get plenty muddy in hurry...
. .

 

[FergusMc]

I also wouldn't use fire ----

But pics or it didn't happen!

Not the best picture, but it's the only one i have, as i threw out the string.

 

[Luckydog]

1) The amount of flame to burn off a little bit of silk is negligible. Just dont let it keep flaming like a torch for long. Blow it out and relight as required. Definitely not enough to change the temper of the metal.

2) why would you want a big bar of something behind the bridge? If all you want to do is shorten the effective string length, simply add 2 or 3 very small diameter washers or bushings to each string. You wont even notice them.

 

[zontar]

I remember seeing ads for a string that had the core go over the bridge-- and the wind started after that--I wondered how that woudl work--anybody else remember that or see them--or use them?