What the heck, Ernie Ball??

[Geri O]

Yeah, a little frustrated here.
Had a phone call this morning that made for good playing opportunities all week with both Lulls and the Stingray. They could all use strings and action going-over. So I run to the local GC for 3 sets of strings. Dang, No D'addario EXL160s, but they have the old standby, EB Power Slinkies.

I de-strung all 3 basses, cleaned fingerboards and under-the-string areas, then restring them all, just putting on strings, not quite pulling them all up to pitch. This is where I messed up.
As I tuned the basses, I discovered that 2 sets of the 3 had dead-sounding E and A strings, with the second set having a near-worthless B string. Dang it!! The 3rd set sounded just fine, go figure. Never has this happen with EBs.

I went to GC because they are the only store in town that's open on Sunday. I can get through tomorrow's session with the one bass with good strings. I'll have to hit up the other 2 places in town tomorrow, which should the D'addarios. And I guess I better stock up!

 

[Gorn]

User error during installation may be a more likely explanation.

 

[Geri O]

User error during installation may be a more likely explanation.

Shouldn't even dignify this with a response. Been changing strings a very long time.

The end.

 

[Gorn]

Shouldn't even dignify this with a response. Been changing strings a very long time.

The end.

But you did, and sometimes people who have done something for a very long time can make mistakes.

 

[AppalachianBen]

I've never had problems with D'addario strings. Ernie Ball Slinkies have given me two sets with a dead E string in one and a dead A string in the other.

 

[Jon Moody]

But you did, and sometimes people who have done something for a very long time can make mistakes.

This x100

We can all make simple mistakes from time to time on tasks that we have a tremendous amount of experience with, like changing strings.

 

[Paradilum]

Did you kink the string before trimming it?

 

[michael_t]

Did you kink the string before trimming it?

The chances of hex-core rounds going dead as a direct result of not being crimped are very very slim.

 

[Paradilum]

The chances of hex-core rounds going dead as a direct result of not being crimped are very very slim.

I was not aware that this was only needed for round-core.

 

[Geri O]

I've put a 90-degree crimp just past where I trim the strings as long as I can remember. Regardless of the core.

I imagine I still did something wrong on two of the three sets of strings I put on all at the same time.

 

[GTHintz]

Just gotta run this out here; never been a fan of slinky anything. They are typically cheap but to me they sucked every time I've ever tried them. For the money there's better out there. Dunlop stainless are impressive as well as super brights. Labella Rx are going really cheap lately and are a great reputation string. For you I'd say Dunlop will feel closer to the slinky strings but should be more consistent. I've bought a few sets and always have had good results. They seem to last pretty well too. So yeah man, slinky's suck. Case closed.