Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

[Petros]

Round core, nickel wound strings (as opposed to the more common hex core) are supposed to be crimped or bent at the tuning post and then brought up to tension before you cut them. When you don't do this, some say the string goes dead. Others say it will cause intonation problems. Plus, the outer winding (whether it's round wound or flat wound) will begin to unravel without this crimp being made before you cut the string.

But what about on the other end if you've got a Floyd Rose type bridge? You must cut off the ball end of the string in order for it to fit in the bridge and clamp it. How do you do this with round core strings without the string going dead or the outer wound unraveling?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

I make a sharp hairpin bend in the string just before the wrappings start -- where the end with the ball still looks "normal". I make the cut right at the sharp part of the bend, where the windings are crushed.

 

[Petros]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

I make a sharp hairpin bend in the string just before the wrappings start -- where the end with the ball still looks "normal". I make the cut right at the sharp part of the bend, where the windings are crushed.

You mean like making a little U shape, and then you cut the ball end off, and then stick the formed U into the string clamp and tighten it?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

You mean like making a little U shape, and then you cut the ball end off, and then stick the formed U into the string clamp and tighten it?

More like a V. And just half of it.

 

[Petros]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

...And just half of it.

You mean half of the formed V shape goes into the string block -- so that you can still see the cut end sticking out of the block after you're clamped it? But that would allow you to snag your hand on the cut end of the string. Plus, you're still cutting the string before it's tensioned. Isn't that not recommended for round core strings?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

on my floyded guitars, I string them backwards, with the ball at the tuning peg. That way, less slippage and I only have to cut one end.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

You mean half of the formed V shape goes into the string block -- so that you can still see the cut end sticking out of the block after you're clamped it? But that would allow you to snag your hand on the cut end of the string. Plus, you're still cutting the string before it's tensioned. Isn't that not recommended for round core strings?

I don't know; does it look like that's what happens?

[Ed. note: Sorry about the third pic. None of them focused worth a damn.
Also, looks like the bezel on the JB is slowly buying it. Cool!]

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

I leave some of the reinforcement wraps on the ball-end side,makes it a little thicker & easier to grab.

.02

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

on my floyded guitars, I string them backwards, with the ball at the tuning peg. That way, less slippage and I only have to cut one end.

I do that on the ones that don't have locking tuners.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

Plus, you're still cutting the string before it's tensioned. Isn't that not recommended for round core strings?

The only way to resolve that issue, unless I'm mistaken, would be to install the string on a guitar, tension to pitch, then take it off, cut it, and reinstall it. The first part seems like the problem. Maybe you jam the whole ball end into the trem and try to tune it that way? Maybe you have another guitar (with a Strat trem, maybe) that you use to pre-tension the strings. (Any chance that happens at the factory in some way?)

I don't know. I've only been cutting the ball ends off of strings for fifteen years, but if it's the source of one of my major guitar-related problems, it's news to me.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

I just clip em above the thicker part (on the wound ones), jam em in there and tighten the block while holding it in place. No bending and I've never had a string pop out.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

I just clip em above the thicker part (on the wound ones), jam em in there and tighten the block while holding it in place. No bending and I've never had a string pop out.

Any sign of sub-optimal tone or performance?

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

Aside from me playing the guitar, no!

But really though, the block just squishes the string end anyways. From there just string it up and the strings will already have the shape they need at the bridge, ya dig?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

Ba-dum-tishk!

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

You guys...

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

Aside from me playing the guitar, no!

But really though, the block just squishes the string end anyways. From there just string it up and the strings will already have the shape they need at the bridge, ya dig?

You sneaky American, you are probably right. I started doing this silly string-bent V-cutting crimping behavior after I saw it in one of Danny-E's books. I used to see some unraveling that (once or twice) culminated in a string popping out, but that's about it. Nothing since I've been doing the crimp.

 

[Petros]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

More like a V. And just half of it.

Oh I'm sorry. You were describing where to make the cut in the string. I see now. (Thanks for the images.) the cut part goes clear into the string block.

But seriously, given the info I'm finding on the Internet about round core nickel wound strings, I get the feeling that as soon as you cut the ball end of the string you're doing something that degrades the string. The bend in the string before you cut it should be adequate to stop the outer winding from coming loose, but there's supposed to be a reason for adding tension to the string before cutting a string with a round core. This is bugging me because I've been using Ernie Ball Slinky strings for years but they have a hex core so I could just cut off the ball end at any point and clamp it into the string block with no worries. Now, I've got a $25 pack of Thomastik-Infeld round core flat wound strings to try out and I don't know if I'm installing them in a way that's going to degrade the tone.

Maybe I can email the company about this.

 

[Petros]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

Someone at another guitar forum said to do the following:

1. Make a 90 deg. bend in the string (if at the top, slightly beyond the the tuner)
2. *Crimp the loose-end at a sharp angle like this <
3. Snip the excess about 1/4 inch beyond the crimp.

--So he's talking about both bending the string, then *using a pair of pliers to first make an indent (or "crimp," which means to compress) in the outer wire wrap, and then cutting the string just behind it. Note that in this instruction a bend is not really a crimp, but depending on how you do it the bend might be adequate.


The insert in a pack of Pyramid strings (round core nickel wound) says:

"Very important: Please do not shorten (cut) the wound strings to the desired length, because the nickel wrap wire will get loose! The string will immediately go 'dead'! At first make a sharp bend into the string, which will fix the neck wire. Then cut the string behind this bend to the desired length."


So, the rule of thumb with round wounds is always bend, crimp, and then cut (no matter which end you're cutting).

And as far as bringing the string up to tension before you cut, it looks like the crimping part of installing the string is more important. At the forum mentioned above someone said: "A sharp crimp 'fixes' the wrap. Alternatively, if you restring by tuning up to tension before trimming you don't really need to worry about crimping." You need to do one or the other, not necessarily both.

I think I'm good to go on this. Thanks for the help, Little Pigbacon.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

I just cut 'em off just above the reenforcement wraps, stick 'em in their holes, and hold 'em straight while I tighten down the screws.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Proper way to install round core strings with a Floyd Rose bridge?

I don't know; does it look like that's what happens?

[Ed. note: Sorry about the third pic. None of them focused worth a damn.
Also, looks like the bezel on the JB is slowly buying it. Cool!]

Would that by chance be a Jackson? It looks Identical to my Soloist.