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Double Bass shortening strings for Eminence electric upright?

There are certainly advantages to cutting if you know the strings can be cut and not lose their integrity. I'm sure you can cut the Helicores Gary puts on the Eminence, but besides buying 1/2 size strings, you better be careful cutting strings. That being said, I don't thing the string length has much to do with breaking the tuners? There is the same amount on tension on a tuned string other than binding on the tuner/pegbox, right?
 
There are certainly advantages to cutting if you know the strings can be cut and not lose their integrity. I'm sure you can cut the Helicores Gary puts on the Eminence, but besides buying 1/2 size strings, you better be careful cutting strings. That being said, I don't thing the string length has much to do with breaking the tuners? There is the same amount on tension on a tuned string other than binding on the tuner/pegbox, right?
No, Gary told me over the phone that the extra length binds against the pegbox and tends to blow out the tuners and I expect that he knows what he's talking about. How much trouble is it to slice off a few inches, really? Penny wise, pound foolish.
 
No, Gary told me over the phone that the extra length binds against the pegbox and tends to blow out the tuners and I expect that he knows what he's talking about. How much trouble is it to slice off a few inches, really? Penny wise, pound foolish.

Steel strings are probably fine to cut but it can mess up some of the hybrid/synthetic core strings, from what I've heard. I bypass the hole in the tuner and go straight across, then bind the string in with the windings, giving me a few inches of loose string out the other side. It works without having tons of winds on the peg and the string stays in tune.

I'm not surprised that the tuners on the Eminence would blow out if you bind the strings up against the pegbox. The strings get ruined, too.
 
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Just let the string stick out of the peg hole a few inches to reduce the number of windings as described before. Doesn't look very nice but works.

If you want to cut the string only do this in the silk wound part and before cutting put a drop of (general purpose) glue on the ilk below/at the cutting point, let it dry and cut then. This avoids unraveling of the silk and the windings.
That should work with any kind of string that has silk wound ends, but maybe except on strings with a synthetic outer winding.
 
In my experience, most strings can be cut without any problems provided your carefull. The Clevenger Keyhole Bass I own has a small pegbox with Schaller BG Gears. I've had Heliocore Hybrids, Spirocore Weich, Corelli, Zylex, and Evah Parazzi Weichs
and Zyex light gage strings on this bass.

Ric