String question

Huh??? :tongue:

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Thank you all for the suggestions and advice. I appreciate it. I decided on the LaBella Flat wounds on my P Bass. I love them. Thanks again everyone

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Running for cover now :scream:

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The real question is will I be able to change the strings myself??? I’m interested in the EB slinky flats. I’ve never changed any strings and I saw a review that says for some reason those are more difficult to change. Have you guys experienced anything weird about these particular strings when it comes to difficulty of changing?

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I can’t imagine they would be harder to change.
I know some people rather not change their own strings, but there is not much to it.
That said, I have not used these strings, so I can’t say for sure if it is any different or not.

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@doylecb the first time I changed strings, I was nervous as hell. But after I got past that first time, I realized how simple it really is…

Watch this video by Mark Smith of TalkingBass for some pointers. It was how I learned to do it the first time.

I will add that I agree with Mark about doing one string at a time, however there are a few people here who advocate taking them all off at once and cleaning up and polishing the neck. Either way is right and neither is wrong.

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Yep, I take them all off, but like Pam said, there is really no right or wrong way.

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@PamPurrs and @T_dub When I change strings I take them all off to clean everything especially any dirt from my fingers on the frets etc… However, I do not leave them off for more than a couple minutes and then I get them back on there.

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I slide a microfiber cloth under the strings every so often and sweep it back and forth & up and down the neck to accomplish that. Whatever works for you.

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@doylecb When you change them, do them one-at-a-time.

I follow a guy on YouTube on a channel called Dave’s World Of Fun Stuff - and he’s a luthier. His recommendation is that you change the strings like that (Change the E, then Change the A, etc.). That way, it doesn’t effect the setup of the Bass.

Because you’re going to flats, you may experience a small change in the setup, but honestly I think flats are more forgiving with setup issues.

When I’m doing a change and I want to clean everything, that’s when I’ll change them all at once (and lighter fluid comes into play, just not in the Jimi Hendrix way :slight_smile: ). But then I’ll also check and change the setup as needed. If you’re not comfortable with that yet, do the one-string-at-a-time thing.

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I’ve put those on a couple of basses and haven’t found them to be any different as far as changing strings goes. Like all flats I always put a 90 degree bend in the string right before the place where I clip off the excess.

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Sorry, a 90 bend?

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@doylecb

So, yeah…

When I first started playing Bass, I had no idea how to string it. I’m a former guitar player, so I just did it like that - enough string to get 3 wraps or so around the post and I would just thread it through the top of the tuner (using it like the eye of a ‘typical’ guitar tuner).

Come to find out, that’s not the preferred way to do it (although not entirely wrong, as I’ve seen Basses strung like 6-String Guitars).

Basically, you measure the string about, roughly, 3 inches longer than the post for the string . And before you cut it, bend it 90 degrees. Once you do that, cut it off about 1/2 inch after the bend. What that does is preserve the wrapping around the core of the string. Saw that somewhere and I totally agree - better safe than sorry.

That bent bit is then placed into the vertical hole in the tuner. Then you begin the task of winding the string, with every wind going under the previous (this is needed for the strings to set correctly in the nut).

I think I didn’t actually do it this way until something like the 5th or 6th set I changed. Now I do it the ‘standard’ way. But don’t worry about it if you haven’t or don’t do it that way, it’s a matter of taste (IMHO). As long as the strings maintain tension and the friction is good, you’ll be fine.

Wish I’d have known about this forum when I picked-up playing again.

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@doylecb
The little bend helps when you are feeding the string over the bridge

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Oops. That should have read 90 degree bend.

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Thanks everyone! I’m feeling confident I’m going to change the strings!

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Thank you for the detailed explanation

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Look what the nice postman brought me. I’m going to put them on the Yamaha tomorrow and see if I like them better than my LaBella Deep Talkin’ Bass flats.

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I got those yesterday too.
4 string version.
Have not decided which to string up tho.

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I was going to put them on my Yammie tomorrow, but I went ahead and put them on tonight. I played with them a little and like the sound. They’re not as silky smooth as the LaBellas, so sliding won’t be as fun, but at least they’re not as rough as round wounds.
I’ll put them through the paces tomorrow…

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