Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

[Lucy Diamond]

Hi there,

I got my '88 Floral pattern Jem in the mail lastnight and she came with the ball ends of her strings in the tuning machines of the guitar.

I remember ONE guy setting up my other Jem this way in 1999, telling me "Oh...we do that so they stay in tune better."

This urks me to no end and I wanted to know what you guys think.

If you are locking down the nut...how is the ball end going to effect anything.

I don't think slippage is an issue if you just add a few more winds.

It seems gimmicky and I don't like it.

What do you think.

~LD

 

[Kac]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I put my ball ends on that end of the guitar:

Which I started doing because Tom Morello did it.

That being said, I still wind the strings around the tuning post several times to keep things solid while tuning it up. I don't believe I've ever seen a guitar that had the ball ends right up on the tuning posts.


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[Mincer]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I would think that the ball ends right up on the tuner would dent the tuning post after awhile. It isn't that hard to cut them off.

 

[Kac]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

Lucy Diamond, Wheres the pics of the new Jem??

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

Heh, this is gonna sound funny, but I don't do it because it looks like some half assed dip**** did it.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I tried it a week or so ago when my guitar broke a string.

Nope, back to the regular method.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I would think that the ball ends right up on the tuner would dent the tuning post after awhile. It isn't that hard to cut them off.

That is exactly what can happen. Then you end up with burrs on the tuner post which can dig in to the string and make them brake there. It doesn't take much extra effort to just cut it off.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

Thank you one and all.

That's what I'm talking about.

It is just such a lazy and dippy thing to do.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I've never done it.

It looks dumb and pointless.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I'm 50/50 on this issue. It depends on what I'm feeling like.
The reason why I do it though is different. It so if a string breaks you can unwind some string and put it in. That way you can unwind it to almost nothing.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I always thought it looked stupid, and dumb. IMO leaving excess strings hanging on the tuning machine head is dumb too. How long does it take to cut it off.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I always thought it looked stupid, and dumb. IMO leaving excess strings hanging on the tuning machine head is dumb too. How long does it take to cut it off.

Yeah and not to mention the ****ers rattle and swing all the time. Its very unsettling to my chi

 

[~Vintage~]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

Kirk Hammett did it in the '90's and that's why I thought it was cool.:thumbsdow

I had poster in my room where the background was his ESP Custom Order Form and he was holding two of his ESP's with the headstocks close to the camera and sure enough both of them had the ball ends right up against the tuning peg!

That my friends is why I DID IT in the 90's ,hehehehe :approve:

But seriously it is stupid now that I look back and it does etch a groove into the machine post over time, so yeah..................Now how do I find that pic of Kirk so I can validate my story?

 

[whatshisname]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I never cared if it looked stupid, I just did it because it was easy. It never caused a single problem, with burrs, or anything.

 

[BTMN]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)



Looks like I'm in trouble in some folk's opinion. :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

When I string up my guitar with the FR I'll do it. As my tuners were >$20 shipped, I'm not particularly worried about them developing a dent or burr in a couple years. Hopefully I'll have a hipshot and a set of decent tuners by then and I'll care a little more. I'll see if I can give the ball end an inch or so to make sure.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

Never

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I restrung my Jem on Saturday and she was absolutely fine. No knicks or burrs or anything.

The string winding IS a lot thicker on that end so who knows what can happen.

It just...I dunno...BUGS me.



I've decided that after giving her a good once over that I'm going to change the electronics and fully make her mine.
There's no way I'm ever selling this guitar, so resale value is a moot point.


She doesn't have a name yet. :sad:

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

Pics?

 

[Redbowties88]

Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)

I've never seen or heard of this before. It looks ridiculous...

How do you anchor the non-ball end to the bridge/tailpiece?