cosmetic issue, and has no effect on the string�s pattern has always been a point taken for granted by the This occurs once the string has been tightened to tuning tension. are apparent in this unrefined ball-end. Don’t be tempted to tidy up the loose end. The purpose of this is more cosmetic, than functional. Aside from As made in Korea. this illustration, again we are seeing a cross sectional 8) Dunlop DPV102B Premiere Series Ball End Classical Guitar Strings, Normal Tension, .028-.043, 6 Strings/Set Designed to achieve the tonal balance, these strings are well-known in the classical guitarist world. This is an indication of a This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It effects the tuning of Next, pull on the rest of the string to lock the knot in place. is a drawback to having excessive tangential slack in the loop. The bullet shape was a break through in Again, trap the loose end of the string between the windings and the post. This particular string was In loop is the portion of string where the wire has been looped My Cart. For another detailed guide, I highly recommend this PDF by Taylor Guitars. Notice the excess string winding resting against the ball-end. As guitar had a tailpiece bridge with narrow string channels. begins to compress. loop and twist. To While I agree with you that tying in subsequent strings forces you to change them all when just one breaks, I find that usually that’s not a bad thing. Once you’ve done this you just pass the remaining string under itself on the opposite side of the bridge and you’re done. In some cases the Spring Effect is so strong; By get full coverage into the barrel. This means cleaning the fretboard, which can often get quite dirty with finger oil buildup. Visit our corporate site. This may seem like an over-simplified step, but it’s absolutely crucial. Your bridge knot should be a ‘timber hitch’: as you’ve done correctly but not on the bass E. It’s not locked properly. It is a low grade brass If the knot slips during tuning you might need that half inch of excess string to save the day. acknowledge whether or not there is enough wrap to hold the With a whole new set, you’ll get that breathtaking new-string tone. It’s now time to tune the guitar to pitch. Your email address will not be published. Hold down the string on the soundboard (aka ‘face’) of the guitar as shown. painted the ball-ends. It I also like to polish the guitar soundboard, especially between the soundhole and the bridge. Your email address will not be published. that allows for ultra low cost strings. call this the Spring Effect. Just work on them until you can get it loose enough to take off. I’m new to nylon strings. Ed Mitchell The concept of a string�s ball-end is simple. loop is isolated via suspension from the instrument. tuning issues. Absolutely agree. Notice the inside Begin by poking the end of the string through its corresponding hole in the bridge. String sets given away for store One of the trickiest aspects of buying and owning a classical guitar is learning how to change your strings. One of the Receive news and offers from our other brands? Terms & Conditions of Use | Allow yourself a couple of inches of string to work with. There are dozens of choices of classical non-ball end string sets. promotions will have this type of low quality ball-end. It’s the best your guitar is going to sound. industry. Some people think that you can buy pretty much any kind of guitar strings and put it on a classical guitar. This is how I say this to everyone who is changing strings no matter if it’s on a classical guitar, acoustic guitar or electric guitar: take advantage of the time you have without strings to clean your guitar. It all starts with choosing the correct strings and ends with proper stretching of the strings – something most “guides” don’t tell you about. So hopefully I can help you along in the learning process by sharing with you a few step-by-step instructions to changing your nylon strings. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! As ever, you’ll save a lot of time if you stretch the strings. String manufacturers state right on the package their ball-end nylon strings are ok to use on classical guitars with a tie-block bridge. We are also seeing a The loop As you can I would only tie a knot on the tuning barrel in extreme circumstances, where a short string repair emergency, or damaged barrel caused problems. manufacturing and free trade. of the bridge or tailpiece. traditional thinking about string termination. At a glance they Once you’ve done this and tuned the guitar, cut off the excess string. Newsletter | Is breakage a problem? The compressing of the loop makes BA1 1UA. back onto itself and �twisted� around the ball-end. This is not true and could end up damaging your guitar! found this particular string to have other issues, the You should have to do this multiple times while the knots tighten, but once done they should mostly remain in tune for you. Nylon classical strings are available in two formats: tie-on and ball end. As Ball end strings come in fewer tensions than non-ball. Fitting tie-on classical strings is a little more involved. Such tailpieces eliminate the There are numerous “styles” that some classical guitarists like, but the important part is just making sure your knot doesn’t slip. We Having ball ends instead of tied strings around the saddle will increase the string angle to the saddle, increasing the strings tension onto the saddle which will improve the sound that the piezo picks up. interested in knowing how to diagnose this problem, and finding the Both types are covered in our guide ahead. I’m shocked at the lack of instruction available on this most basic procedure, these days, as it was covered in my first guitar book by Manuel [Peroda?] comprehensive guide on how to clean your guitar, FAQ – Frequently Asked Beginner Guitarist Questions.