Labella flats string dice things. Leave on?

[41Hz]

Hi,

Just got my first set of labella low tension flats and they have little numbered cubes on each string at the ball end.

A quick google brought up some suggestions from the talkbass forum that you take these off, however when I put them in the ferrule and apply tension the cubes allow the string to rotate freely. When I take them off they don’t rotate easily, so I’m thinking that actually leaving them on may help prevent the strings getting twisted when I wind them onto the tuning pegs.

Any thoughts on this?

[Reggaebass]

You take them off, I’ve never heard of leaving them on, as far as I know they are just there for identification, plus you need good contact with the bridge, great strings btw, most of my basses have them 

 

[PaulThePlug]

Don't wind the strings round the peg by hand... That induces a twist along the length.

 

 

[NHM]

I've left them on. I like the look of them, they've never caused a problem and help get good string on the saddles.

[TheGreek]

These??? I didn't know they existed.

[bassbiscuits]

23 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

Don't wind the strings round the peg by hand... That induces a twist along the length.

 

 

Daft question alert - but how do you wind the strings then? I've always wound them by hand. Am i doing it wrong?

[jrixn1]

26 minutes ago, bassbiscuits said:

Daft question alert - but how do you wind the strings then? I've always wound them by hand. Am i doing it wrong?

The only way you should wind the string on is by turning the tuning key.  Don't loop the string manually around the peg a few times first.

[bassbiscuits]

28 minutes ago, jrixn1 said:

The only way you should wind the string on is by turning the tuning key.  Don't loop the string manually around the peg a few times first.

Ahh - yes sorry I'm with you now. I understand.

If i'm re-using strings on that have already been on before, and therefore are already curled up at the headstock end, i try to keep the length of them slack so they can rotate freely in the bridge holes right up until they get tightened up, for that reason.