Why do people do this?

[Bassdoggydogg]

Ive scoured the web to find out why people string this way. Why do people string basses like this? Is there any benefit? Can it harm the bass? (Refer to pic)

 

[Gorn]

It's a thing guitar players do. It's not correct when they do it on guitars and it's less correct when they do it on a bass.

 

[Hot Rats]

Ive scoured the web to find out why people string this way. Why do people string basses like this? Is there any benefit? Can it harm the bass? (Refer to pic)

it won't harm the bass.

 

[two fingers]

I learned to do it that way back in the 80s from a guy who did guitar and bass tech work for Bob Marley, the Rippingtons, and several other national acts. One loop over the string excess and the rest under. I've been doing it that way for 35 years with zero failures. There's nothing "wrong" about it. And there are exactly and precisely zero disadvantages to doing it that way.

So what's the problem and why do you care? Why is it worthy of "scouring the internet"?

 

[Lesfunk]

It a six string guitar method of wrapping strings

 

[Johnny Fingers]

Whatever wraps your post. And some people tie a knot, but I'm not into that. If I ever change strings again maybe I'll do it differently. What bugs me is when people don't cut of the tag ends leaving a bird's nest or string ends hanging out of the case.

 

[Bassdoggydogg]

I learned to do it that way back in the 80s from a guy who did guitar and bass tech work for Bob Marley, the Rippingtons, and several other national acts. One loop over the string excess and the rest under. I've been doing it that way for 35 years with zero failures. There's nothing "wrong" about it. And there are exactly and precisely zero disadvantages to doing it that way.

So what's the problem and why do you care? Why is it worthy of "scouring the internet"?

I never said there was a problem dude. I was just curious, as it seemed like more work then putting the string in the hole and turning.

Well, learn something new everyday.

 

[SLPimp]

My luthier strung a bass like that once, and I thought it was strange since he'd never done it before. He's never done it since. I do my own setups now.

 

[Iristone]

It works for a Telecaster guitar, where the thin, unwound strings might slip from the centre if you just insert it there. I'd be careful not to hurt myself, or my bandmates that stand/sit near my headstock, though.

 

[FoghornLeghorn]

It's not going to hurt anything strung like that pic shows...that is, if you don't have Fender type tuners or others in which you stick the end of the string into the hole in the tuner shaft, bend it at a 90 degree angle, and wind.....and even then, you CAN string it the way pictured, but I wouldn't in those aforementioned tuners. And without those type of tuners I, aside from my PRS guitar, always do the one over and three under approach that locks the string from slipping. Whatever works. Just don't put too many wraps on the tuner post.

 

[Crunchy Growl]

Just sayin that Peavey is nice!

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Can it harm the bass?

It won't harm the bass, but you can take your guitar player's eye off if you don't trim the string ends short.

 

[Killing Floor]

I don't string a bass that way. BUT it's not really wrong. As long as it holds tune there isn't really anything bad about that. It just isn't done as common on a bass.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

Its a disrespect to the instrument.

 

[MisterUbu]

I've seen it done on cheap 60s' basses that had guitar tuners on them prior to the advent of closed-gear compact tuners that weren't just small open gears covered with rectangular rear plates (were those even around in the 60s'?). I'd personally just insert them the intended way and not have any string ends exposed, whether on guitar or bass. But then again there's guitarists who don't even crimp off excess string and loop it around to leave them sticking out so what do I know.

The only real issue I would find is that those bits of exposed excess string ends would scratch up the lining of a gig-bag when taking the bass in or out possibly.

 

[2tonic]

To my aging eyes, @Bassdoggydogg, in the photo you reference 8nly the A and D strings have a loop over the string end.
It appears the E and G string are wound spirally down the tuner capstan.
If your question is "why half and half", I surely don't know.
If your question is "why the loop over top", because that's the way some guys do it.
If your question is "why not poke the string end down the hole and then wind" I can only tell you that some players, who boil their strings, and have "Fender-esque" bent plate bridges, or string thru body, or any other bridge where the string has to be withdrawn thru a hole, find it somewhat easier to remove and replace the string if it doesn't have a 90° bend at the end.
I, however, am not one of them, as I've never found it difficult to get the bend thru the hole (I've also installed Hipshot or Ken Smith bridges on most of the basses I've owned, so the string just lifts out of the slot).
That being said, I have always strung my basses by poking the end in the hole and winding spirally down the capstan. JMTC.

 

[Topkat13]

In a live situation it will cause patrons to leave the bar, mess up your Hz's and it will sound like your playing through a 4 x 10 over a 1 x 15…one of the 7 deadly TB sins.

 

[jpmcbride]

Ive scoured the web to find out why people string this way. Why do people string basses like this? Is there any benefit? Can it harm the bass? (Refer to pic)

Most guitars are strung this way. And basses like Danelectro that don't have a hole in the post.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Ive scoured the web to find out why people string this way. Why do people string basses like this? Is there any benefit? Can it harm the bass? (Refer to pic)

That's how everybody who doesn't know that there are holes in the center of the tuners strings their bass. I didn't know the strings went in the holes for about 20 years. I learned that from a Scott Devine video on YouTube, that just came on after watching something else.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Sharp points of metal poking around where you put your hand to tune? I give that a 1 out of 10. Also handy for ripping up gig bags and case lining, so maybe 0 out of 10.
Headstock looks cool though.