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Tip from LaBella tech regarding string breakage

L

lowjoe1

Feb 3, 2011
175
2
tennessee
#1
I've noticed that a lot of people seem to have complained lately about different brands of strings breaking. This info probably isn't news to many of you, but I thought it might be helpful to someone. I've been using this for awhile, and have had no more issues with broken or unwound strings.

The tech told me that it was VERY important to crimp the strings not only before winding them, but before cutting them as well. he said that this was a very important step in preserving string life, and ensuring that the windings stay where they are supposed to.
So... the steps are:
1. string through the bridge
2. crimp string (bend sharply at a 45 degree angle) about 5 inches past desired tuning post
3. cut
4. wind string

Made sense, and I've done it from then on with no probs. .
 
#2
Good advice.

For basses with fat tuning posts like most Fenders, I would go 7" past the post.

For flats, I have taken to not just bending the string before cutting it, but crimping it into a very, very tight "V" shape, and inserting the "V" into the hole.

Also before tuning to pitch, make sure the string isn't twisted at all by letting out a little slack at the bridge so the string can untwist if it needs to.
 
#4
jasper383 said:
For basses with fat tuning posts like most Fenders, I would go 7" past the post.
Click to expand...

7 inches ?! How many wraps does that put on, 5 or 6? I cut all mine maybe 4 inches past the gear after putting a nice 90 degree bend in it, that gives me about 2.5-3 wraps. Any more than that and it can strain the tuner and actually go out of tune more easily.
 
#9
TheEmptyCell said:
7 inches ?! How many wraps does that put on, 5 or 6? I cut all mine maybe 4 inches past the gear after putting a nice 90 degree bend in it, that gives me about 2.5-3 wraps. Any more than that and it can strain the tuner and actually go out of tune more easily.
Click to expand...

You need at the very least three wraps on the A-string tuner on most Fender P's, three and half or four is probably better. Though two and a half to three on the other posts sounds about right.
 
#11
Sounds like good advice...not that I've had a problem with string breakage since my early years of playing (oh well...just jinxed that!).

Regarding number of string wraps: on my MIJ '62 RI J-bass which has tall/wide tuning posts, I go for 3 wraps around the E, as many as I can on the A to get a similar break angle over the nut as on the E, and don't worry about it at all for the D/G because the string tree takes care of the break angle. My '98 AmStd P-bass has shorter tuning posts that are also somewhat tapered, which I find unfortunately limits the number of wraps I get around the E/A strings.
 
#12
Root 5 said:
Are you supposed to cut it at the crimp, past the crimp, or before the crimp?
Click to expand...

Get 5 inches beyond tuner, crimp, then cut about 1" below the crimp. Stick the cut end into the hole in the center of the tuning peg and start winding, from the top down. You want the string coming off the peg close to the bottom to get the aforementioned "breakover angle." Otherwise, open stings sound funny.
 
#15
The only string I cut, following the OP's formula, is the E string from my Roto RS66 sets. I just wind the entire string on for the other three. I do have the fat non tapered Fender type tuner posts however. When I do other basses I follow the crimp cut wind plan as stated above.
 
#17
lowjoe1 said:
I've noticed that a lot of people seem to have complained lately about different brands of strings breaking. This info probably isn't news to many of you, but I thought it might be helpful to someone. I've been using this for awhile, and have had no more issues with broken or unwound strings.

The tech told me that it was VERY important to crimp the strings not only before winding them, but before cutting them as well. he said that this was a very important step in preserving string life, and ensuring that the windings stay where they are supposed to.
So... the steps are:
1. string through the bridge
2. crimp string (bend sharply at a 45 degree angle) about 5 inches past desired tuning post
3. cut
4. wind string

Made sense, and I've done it from then on with no probs. .
Click to expand...

Why don't you guys just get your bass techs to restring for you?
 
#20
TheEmptyCell said:
7 inches ?! How many wraps does that put on, 5 or 6? I cut all mine maybe 4 inches past the gear after putting a nice 90 degree bend in it, that gives me about 2.5-3 wraps. Any more than that and it can strain the tuner and actually go out of tune more easily.
Click to expand...

I use the width of my hand (just grab the string) beyond the post to measure where to cut. Works perfect every time.
 

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