ball end vs Loop end de-mystified (sort of)

anthon_74

I've always bought loop end strings, without really knowing why... Perhaps because I like the color red better, and the argie loop ends have red packaging...

But now, after buying a bunch of ball end strings for various reasons I won't go into, I learned why I PREFER loop end.
What i discovered is that when you decide you want to change a string even though it hasn't actually broken, the loop end allows you to take the string off first at the bridge, which makes it easier to unwind it from the tuning machine. with ball end, to make it easier to unwind, you have to cut the string.

SO I guess Loop ends are for people who don't break strings very often, and like to take the string off first at the bridge, and then unwind it from the headstock.

Can anyone think of any other reason to go one way or the other ??

Anthony

Jazzaferri

as I use a string winder it doesnt matter to me...I use whatever I got....but ball ends are faster to change for me.

wim

Loop end is better (looks cooler). Ball end are designed for using with those pins in a flat-top/round hole/dreadnought kind of guitar.

jimvence

wim wrote:

Loop end is better (looks cooler). Ball end are designed for using with those pins in a flat-top/round hole/dreadnought kind of guitar.

I agree it is primarily for looks. The loop ends look neater on the tail. Those ball ends remind me of the memory cores in early-generation computers. They look more like wheels than balls, and when resting on the tailpiece, the result sometimes looks like a car with a serious alignment problem.

And while it is nominal, why add the weight onto the instrument of six tires (or tyres, as my Brit friends insist on spelling it)

noodlenot

why are there ball ends? does anyone actually prefer them? just askin´....

noodlenot

thanks Ted. ebony tailpiece? like some archtops? do you have pics?


thanks again and all the best,
Miguel.

Stringswinger

My Favino has one of JP's Ebony tailpieces (If you want to see a picture, go to the Favino archive on this website) and can only use ball ends. I used to buy both, ball end on the favino and loop ends on my Dupont. The loop ends are easier to change if a string breaks at a gig, and loop ends are easier to fix the common Argie 5th string issue.

These days, I just buy the ball ends as i buy them from Michael in bulk. I seriously doubt that the extra weight if the six tiny balls makes any difference. As for looks? The ball ends don't bother me one little bit. To each their own.

Cheers,

Marc
www.hotclubpacific.com

Michael Bauer

My J.P. Favino 2001 Jazz S, sold by Michael early last year, had a rosewood trapeze tailpiece. The nylon string 1991 Jazz N also has a trapeze tailpiece, in maple. Oddly, it needs ball ends, even though it's a nylon string. I have to take them off off used steel strings, either Argie ball ends or electric guitar strings, then tie the nylon string on with a knot. It's a pain in the backside, but the end result works really well.

Bones

Hi Stringswinger,

What is the common Argie 5th string issue?

thanks

Stringswinger

Hi Bones,

Search this forum with the words "argentine twist". It will give you the cure to the common 5th string Argie problem.

wim

that only turns up this thread, ici