Thunderbird Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I think this might have been done before but I could not find a thread so started a new one I was just wondering how many winds/wraps of string you guys like to put on the peg when changing strings I always make sure I get 2.5 winds around the tuning peg but have seen some basses with more some with less I would think to many and the string would jump off the peg and not enough would obviously mean no adjustment in tuning so just asking out of curiosity really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I buy new strings, pop the end in the centre, then wind until it is in tune (always ensuring that it exits at the bottom of the coil) I think that this method is BC heresy; I'm doing it incorrectly and my basses will go out of tune due to these superfluous windings. Except they don't, and never have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I cut about two inches off and wind what remains, exiting at the bottom of the capstan, so pretty much like you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mep Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I cut some strings down and aim for 3 winds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 If you're stringing a Fender style headstock with a string tree for the D and G strings then the number of winds on those two strings matters less. On E and A strings more winds gives a better break angle at the nut. I put a new set of Pyramid Gold flats on my Lakland Decade last week: E string = 6 winds A string = 5 winds D string = 4 winds G string = 4 winds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 as few as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 You want about 3, just so the string doesn't slip. Don't wind the string over the string, keep it over the peg only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 What is the distance between the E tuner and the D tuner on a Fender? About 3 inches? That's how long I cut the strings. Gives about 3 winds. Also, you can leave a twist in the string when wrapping it around the tuning peg if the ball end is trapped in the bridge. I always free the string at the bridge before tightening it. I'm assuming this could be why I've never had a dud string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 With string tree's as said above really does not matter, but at least 2.5 just to be sure of no string slip. Without string trees it depends, as a rule at least 3.5 ive found works, however if the nut is not optimal for say a smaller gauge string 5 plus raps around the post will give a good break angle to stop rattling in the nut due to the increased down ward pressure. Better to have more raps then cut too short and find that you don't have correct string break angle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 The string should wrap downwards, so the final wrap is next to the head stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 With the cheap strings I've been using recently I just trim about 2" off the E string (on to Fender P and J) and use the whole string to wind on for the other three. Never bothered counting how many turns it actually is, guessing around 3? Not had any issues with them anyway, stay in tune fine, give even response and not broken one. That's about as much as I want from a string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 As has been mentioned there's a few things to consider: [b]1. String gauge.[/b] Thicker strings need less winds on most tuners. I always want to see two full wraps or more on the post... but I undo the string and clip if overlapping starts to happen. [b]2. Tuner type.[/b] Haven't tried restringing a headless, or one of those fancy locking tuners (sperzel make 'em?) - what I do know is the regular fender tuners have big tuning posts which work great, while the smaller tuning pegs (like on my ibanez) are fiddlier to restring - especially with thicker, stiffer strings. If you switch out strings and want to reuse them, the smaller tuning pegs are much harder on the strings. [b]3. headstock type (tuners and headstock).[/b] A tilt back headstock (like an ibanez SR neck or a warwick) is very forgiving of variable break angle across strings - as long as there is a couple of winds it should work great. Fender type headstocks have little or no headstock angling - meaning winds can effect break angle hugely (doubling or tripling it depending on the tuner and the headstock). I find getting the string as low on the E and A tuning pegs a bit of a chore, but worth it. I usually don't need to clip the A string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 I cut the string back so that it extends about 3" past the winding post before I start. This is "about right" for my Precision, but I've just got an Ibanez SR with smaller posts, and I ended up with more turns that I expected, so I might go for nearer 2" next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 [quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1425919009' post='2712212'] As has been mentioned there's a few things to consider: [b]1. String gauge.[/b] Thicker strings need less winds on most tuners. I always want to see two full wraps or more on the post... but I undo the string and clip if overlapping starts to happen. [/quote] I said above that I had six winds on my Lakland Decade E string but it's actually seven winds - with no overlap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Ideally you want just enough string wrapped around the machine head post to hold it in place and no more. That usually works out at just over 2 full winds. On a modern style machine head that works out at about 8 cm and on an older style with a thicker post about 9 cm. However on basses with non-angled headstocks where the windings are required to get the right break angle over the nut you really want as many as you can fit on the post without the winds overlapping. The reason you want want as few winds as possible is because this area of the string gives up it's excess elasticity more slowly than the unwound length which means that on a new set the more winds you have on the machine head the longer it will take for the string to become stable and stay in tune. Obviously if you are are going to fit a set of flats on your bass and leave them there for the next 10 years then a couple of extra days of tuning instability isn't really going to be a problem, but if you change your strings every week or more frequently then you might find that your basses never stay properly in tune because of the excess windings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 I've never cut a bass string, I do the same as Roland Rock; bend the end to a right angle & stick it in the whole, tighten with the spiral going down, tune up, done. Never had any problems & have only needed to tune it once after the re-string (obviously I tune all the time for gigs & rehearsals but just once in the current sitting/when I'm just noodling at home). Now guitar strings or ukulele strings - less simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 The luthier I go to told me to use 2, so I cut the strings so there`s 4 inches past the tuning peg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 [attachment=185975:2015-03-09 23.00.00.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 I cut the string beyond the tuning post about to about the same length as the average penis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 [quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1425942764' post='2712697'] I cut the string beyond the tuning post about to about the same length as the average penis. [/quote] We going with vintage or modern stats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1425943725' post='2712714'] We going with vintage or modern stats? [/quote] Definitely modern. I learned it from a German bass manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 That's ironic; once I cut my penis with a G string to something like the average length of a tuning post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1425945852' post='2712732'] That's ironic; once I cut my penis with a G string to something like the average length of a tuning post. [/quote] That is an unfortunate turn of events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 [quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1425942764' post='2712697'] I cut the string beyond the tuning post about to about the same length as the average penis. [/quote] So that's short for the beat-up backup bass, and long for the exotic handcrafted beauty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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