Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

Sorry but what is a double wrap? Its probably something obvious iv just never heard that before.

THanks

Sorry for the confusion.

On a ball-end wrap string, they make a loop around the ball-end, and then they have some way of securing the wire so that the loop won't come undone. Different manufacturers have different ways of locking that loop--that's what I meant by the double-wrap. I'm not real sure what the technical name for that is.

Clear now?

Bill

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

why would fender bullets not be able to be used on guitars with string-through bodies (ferruls??), ect? makes no sense. i use 10-46 bullets on all my guitars because they fit in the ibanez bridge without having to clamp

I would imagine it's not so much that they won't work but that they won't fit as well. It's possible that the bullets would still be sticking out the back, not flush with the ferrules. You could bump them and make the strings go sharp.

This is entirely speculation, though. I may be way off base.

 

[pstarove]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I had a problem with the single-locking FR bridge on my MIK BC Rich. A bullet got stuck inside the ferrule, and I had a hard time removing it.

On my Steinberger with a tele-like bridge the bullets were not flush with the ferrules, but I didn't have any problem with that. It was just not right cosmetically.

Also, on Parker Fly bridges you may damage the wood behind the bridge because the bullets are sticking out of the back of the bridge.

I used Fender Bullets only twice, and don't remember anything particular about their sound or tuning stability. The sound was ok and the tuning stability too, but I didn't like the bullets themselves. So I'll stick to traditional strings that I like (D'Addario XLs)

 

[MrMars]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

Alright thanks for clearing that up man. I knew it was gonna be sometjing like that.:doh:

 

[claydots]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I know they don't recommend them on certain bridges--my understanding is that on some guitars the bullet can get caught and be hard to remove.

Bill

I like the bullet strings but you are so right on the high E and B strings getting slightly corroded and getting stuck in the trem. I keep a 6" piece of a low E string and knock them out through the top.

 

[philthis]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I've been using the Bullets for over 10 years on my G&L guitars with the Dual Fulcrum Vibrato. This Vibrato is a Leo Fender design, and while it is an improvement over the vintage Fender "Synchonized Tremelo", it uses a similar block under the bridge plate.

Fender Bullet strings come in their Pure Nickel, Stainless and Super Bullet alloy. The advantage of the Bullet end is two-fold: first there is no double-wrap needed to secure Bullet as on a ball-end string; and the smooth nose of the Bullet fits better in the string tunnel of the Vibrato Block.

With a ball-end string, frequently the doubled end-wrap will make contact against the apex of the string saddle and cause false harmonics, buzzing, and tuning instability. No double wrap--no problem.

A ball-end will twist and move in the sting tunnel, and sometimes get hung up temporarily on a rough area, again causing tuning instability. The smooth nose of the Bullet string simply fits better, and has very little chance of getting bound up in the Vibrato Block.

Bullet strings are designed for guitars with Fender-style Vibratos, and are not recommended for guitars with string ferrules in the back of the guitar (Telecasters); guitars with Stop Tailpieces (Les Pauls, etc.); guitars with a plastic ferrule block (ASATs); or on guitars with trapeze-style tailpiece (ES-175, L-5, etc.). Obviously, they won't work on guitars with Bigsby Vibratos--the Bigsby requires a string with a ball-end. Fender does market strings in the same gauges and alloys as Bullets, but with the traditional ball-end.

You may or may not notice better tuning stability with the Fender Bullet strings, but in my experience I would give them the nod in this regard. I have found them to be long lasting and very durable. Fender Super Bullets will continue to be my string of choice for my G&L Legacys, S-500s, and Comanches.

Bill

good info Bill, thnx.
:beerchug:

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

good info Bill, thnx.
:beerchug:

Thanks for the compliment. You are very welcome.

Bill

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

Just reviving this thread to see what people in 2016 think of Fender Bullets. I just found three packs of them, and I've got three Strats, soooo.......

View attachment 77174

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

The only issues with un-winding/unstable strings I've had, arose from Jazzmaster/Jaguar trems. Ernie Ball RPS fixed this. Not necessary on a Strat... Buy whatever strings you like.

EDIT: Missed the revival thing I've never used Fender Bullets, that I know of. I'm sure they're fine.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

Thread=Live After Death!! haha The cool thing about the bullets is that they dont slip in the trem. But is it worth the added cost? Its up to you. Ive always used Di'ads and when I restring, I just hit the bar a few times to get em to settle. Then retune. Fine then.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I had some bullets on a strategy years ago
Odd size though 38-10

The tension under fingers seemed more even
But what do I know. It was twenty years ago

I have run across one of the old packs
Under a dresser

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

Hmm, I've used Bullets on 2 Teles and didn't have any issues with them sticking out out of the ferrules...sounded very nice.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I never noticed that they stay in tune or don't slip any more than D'Addarios do (which is, not much). I understand their reasoning, but it isn't enough to get me to change.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

ive used them and they are fine strings. if i did more whammy work on a non-locking trem i might use them but since everything i have is either a hardtail, blocked or a floyd i have reason to use them.

 

[baritone]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I've never had ball-end strings slip or come apart. I think the real reason to "stretch" new strings is to make them lock into place at the bridge & tuners, so they don't slip over time.

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I've been using Fender Pure Nickels on my Stats and Teles for years now and I love the tone and tension,
the bullet ends seem to do all they claim, but what I like most is that when changing strings they just drop
straight out of the term block or ferrule, unlike the ball ends which sometimes grab and you need another string
to poke the bastards out.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I don't have any trem guitars. Tried them once. I didn't think that they offered anything I wasn't getting from regular strings.

 

[seratone]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I just bought a beautiful 8502 Ash Telecaster - it was a Tele guy's 'baby' - beautifully set up - incredible action. I asked him what strings - he swears by Fender Bullet's.

I immediately put Bullet 10's on three guitars, another Tele and two Strats... they immediately improved the 'feel' of these guitars but about 20%. I was a D'Addario guy.... I'm a Bullet convert now. Now going to try 11' on my Edwards Les Paul - too bad i can't use them on my ES335 (it has a Bigsby)

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

Old thread!

I've never had ball-end strings slip or come apart. I think the real reason to "stretch" new strings is to make them lock into place at the bridge & tuners, so they don't slip over time.

My thinking as well.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Fender's claim to their "Bullet" strings???

I'm still using them on my G&Ls. I use D'Addario XL on my guitars without a vibrato, so no changes.

Bill