Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)
- Thread starter Lucy Diamond
- Start date
trevorus
Modsterbator
Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)
Seems wasteful to just clip the ends off. When I had an Ibanez with a Floyd, I put the ball end at the tuners, and never had an issue. I removed the string clamps because I didn't like fiddling with them. The ball ends at the tuners are as good as locking it down.
Seems wasteful to just clip the ends off. When I had an Ibanez with a Floyd, I put the ball end at the tuners, and never had an issue. I removed the string clamps because I didn't like fiddling with them. The ball ends at the tuners are as good as locking it down.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)
The clamps work better as it holds it in place regardless of what way you throw the trem. Letting a ball end wedge itself tight in the fr body won't guarantee proper locking.
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The clamps work better as it holds it in place regardless of what way you throw the trem. Letting a ball end wedge itself tight in the fr body won't guarantee proper locking.
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J E C
New member
Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)
I have always ran the ball end right up against the tuners on my Rose equipped guitar and there isn't a single dent, bur, or groove in these old Goto tuners after 30+ years. I do it because it is quick, simple, looks ok, and works. Dos it look as good as a string that is nicely crimped on each side of the post and trimmed off close? No. But if I need to do that for a promotional photo or instrument show I will, other wise WTF dos it matter. Capisce, comprende, know what I mean Vern?!
I have always ran the ball end right up against the tuners on my Rose equipped guitar and there isn't a single dent, bur, or groove in these old Goto tuners after 30+ years. I do it because it is quick, simple, looks ok, and works. Dos it look as good as a string that is nicely crimped on each side of the post and trimmed off close? No. But if I need to do that for a promotional photo or instrument show I will, other wise WTF dos it matter. Capisce, comprende, know what I mean Vern?!
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)
I just looked up the materials they use in ball ends and if the tuner post is made of steel, there should really be little chance of the ball end itself nicking it. The string, if wedged up against the post with the ball end in the roll-up might possibly do it, but the ball ends are usually made of brass or softer aluminum. The ball ends themselves are not hard enough to affect a crush on steel.
Steel strings? I could see it. A well-made tuning post should have a harder steel anyway.
I just spent 20 bucks on cheapos so I may have issues. :shrug:
It's really a looks situation, I guess.
I just looked up the materials they use in ball ends and if the tuner post is made of steel, there should really be little chance of the ball end itself nicking it. The string, if wedged up against the post with the ball end in the roll-up might possibly do it, but the ball ends are usually made of brass or softer aluminum. The ball ends themselves are not hard enough to affect a crush on steel.
Steel strings? I could see it. A well-made tuning post should have a harder steel anyway.
I just spent 20 bucks on cheapos so I may have issues. :shrug:
It's really a looks situation, I guess.
Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)
OUCH!!
I do it this way in my Floyd equipped guitars. NOT the Tom Morello way where the strings are flopping all over... IMO, its quicker to tune, cuz you dont have the slippage. Someone said you wont have slippage with the locking nut, which is true after you tune up and lock em down, but getting it to pitch, you might. The biggest 2 reasons I do it is so that I dont have to cut the strings twice and most of my string breaks happen at the bridge, so I still leave a wrap or two of string around the peg so that I can let some out and reanchor in the bridge if it does and Im still secure at the peg.
My 2 cents..
OUCH!!
I do it this way in my Floyd equipped guitars. NOT the Tom Morello way where the strings are flopping all over... IMO, its quicker to tune, cuz you dont have the slippage. Someone said you wont have slippage with the locking nut, which is true after you tune up and lock em down, but getting it to pitch, you might. The biggest 2 reasons I do it is so that I dont have to cut the strings twice and most of my string breaks happen at the bridge, so I still leave a wrap or two of string around the peg so that I can let some out and reanchor in the bridge if it does and Im still secure at the peg.
My 2 cents..
Lucy Diamond
New member
Re: Ball Ends In The Tuning Machines (opinions)
Wow, I had no idea anyone would even post here!!
Thanks guys, I really just wanted to vent over a pretty doofy idiosyncrasy of mine and I'm glad there are others who feel my pain. :fing2:
I really hope nobody got their t!t$ scratched over this because that wasn't my attention. I first came across the Ball Ends in the Tuning Machines in 1999 when I tried out a new tech. He was one of those guys who likes to make fun of your axe before he sets it up and I only gave him a chance because a friend recommended him. When I got her back, she was setup all F'd and as soon as I saw the ball ends in the tuning machines, I was like "NO NO NO NO NO."
Anyway...I've done some research and it is completely harmless. A friend of mine swears that Kirk Hammett's tech will only set his guitars up this way but I've never noticed.
In the end, to each his own. Don't let'cher ball ends get'cha down. :fing2:
Wow, I had no idea anyone would even post here!!
Thanks guys, I really just wanted to vent over a pretty doofy idiosyncrasy of mine and I'm glad there are others who feel my pain. :fing2:
I really hope nobody got their t!t$ scratched over this because that wasn't my attention. I first came across the Ball Ends in the Tuning Machines in 1999 when I tried out a new tech. He was one of those guys who likes to make fun of your axe before he sets it up and I only gave him a chance because a friend recommended him. When I got her back, she was setup all F'd and as soon as I saw the ball ends in the tuning machines, I was like "NO NO NO NO NO."
Anyway...I've done some research and it is completely harmless. A friend of mine swears that Kirk Hammett's tech will only set his guitars up this way but I've never noticed.
In the end, to each his own. Don't let'cher ball ends get'cha down. :fing2:
