odonovanr Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) I set up my bass with Innovation strings a few months ago and was very pleases with the sound. Then the sound of my E string deteriorated, but I first thought that maybe I was playing as usual. I decided to put one of my previous strings to feel if there was a change, and: surprise, the string is broken is a most unusual place. I don't even see how I could have done this myself. Richard [url="http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/odonovanr/media/string_zps786fa0ff.jpg.html"]http://s1303.photobu...6fa0ff.jpg.html[/url] Edited June 1, 2013 by odonovanr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 Hi Richard, Any chance of a picture and description of where the break is? Ta! Daf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) Ah sorry, just saw your edit... You need to upload it to Flickr or photo bucket then post a link. Ta. Edited June 1, 2013 by daflewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odonovanr Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 OK, I think the picture is posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 All of my Silver Slaps looked like that after I took them off the bass. I thought it was just a point where the construction of the string changes? Is that not normal, Daf? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I'm meeting Richard in about a week and he's going to bring the string with him for me to take a proper look... My first thought was the same as yours, but apparently the tone of the string has gone as well, so there would seem to be something else going on... I trust you've not had an issue with the sound going off...? (Other than the natural loss of top end over time) Cheers! Daf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I don't think so, no. They sounded good when I took them off, but at first I did think something inside had broken when I took them off and saw them all floppy like that. When I saw they were all like that I just assumed it was normal. Would be nice if you could find out if this is normal though, given that I was going to sell the set to a friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Certainly! I'll report back as soon as I've checked them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Right, we had a look at the string and i removed the silk wrap to take a look inside... The string is fine - Whew! the core is folded back on itself to make the loop for the bar, and the point where it appears to kink is where the double thickness core ends and the metal wraps coming down from the playing area also end; so it's the only bit of the string that is only core, which means it's much more flexible. (hope that makes sense!) - see pic... (The scrubby look of the core is just glue) [url="http://s91.photobucket.com/user/daflewis/media/IMG_1564_zpsa013fe96.jpg.html"][/url] If that's a rubbish explanation please let me know!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Only just seen this but thanks Daf. I have taken the Slaps off and put them back on again half expecting them to pop but they were fine, so I was assuming it was something to do with the construction. Great strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odonovanr Posted July 30, 2013 Author Share Posted July 30, 2013 After meeting Daf, I went to Wales and visited the factory. A string was made before my eyes and having seen that, it seems obvious that the kink is inevitable and that Daf's explanation is right. Because the core is not metal, it will be much more flexible than steel core strings. When the strings are wound, the core has a quite thick sticky stuff around it. I suppose that this glewy substance gets cracked under tension, but since it has no part in the string resistance - given exclusively by the thread of the core - there is nothing wrong. And since the new version of the braided strings will have a core which is even more flexible, it will appear to be worse when in fact they will be all right! So why did the sound go wrong on my string? No idea, and now that Daf has shredded it, we probably won't know. People at the factory were extremely kind and it was very interesting. Great place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Thanks for that guys, good that everything's sorted - though i do still have to check out that string.... it's still fine to play on because all we did was remove the silk, so i must get round to that! I'll report back soon.... ish.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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