Loop end or ball end?

DjoeNL

Hi guys,

Never dig into this or maybe it's allready in an earlier post.

I always used argentines ball end strings.

What is your opinion about the cons and pros of loop or ball end?

littlemark

I don't think there is a difference in sound. I use loops because they are "different" but also it is easier to take them off during set up and adjustments.

DjoeNL

@littlemark thank you ifought the same, it is very handy when working on a bridge or setup.

And they are cheaper also haha.

wim

Loop end look better and are easier to install/remove.

I don’t know why the ball end variant even exists. Perhaps there were tailpiece models which don’t work with loop ends, but that must be exceedingly rare these days.. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Russell Letson

I don't think loops will fit over the posts on my Dunn. And in any case, I sometimes use Argentines on my very-light-built flat-tops, which have pin bridges.

pdg

Ball ends are easier to get for 1st and 2nd strings, if you ever need more of them, since they don't have to be "gypsy jazz strings."

bbwood_98

https://djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/123118#Comment_123118

@wim I used to play one! (Dell Arte 7 string, with pins in a wooden bridge). Note, in that case (archtop bridge a la Benedetto, but with pins) I could likely have just removed the pins and put the string through the loop (This I never tried). I love the loop ends, personally.

Buco

It's all a matter of practicality. Manufacturers need to offer a ball end so they're not limiting their market. People are always curious how their flattop or archtop might sound with silver plated light gauge strings. But you can always convert the ball end into loop end

DjoeNL

@pdg Im glad in the Netherlands Argentine or Galli strings are easy to get. Im using Argentine 1610 with a .011 string. This string cost €1,30 over here.

@Buco That is a great way to use ball end as loop end strings. Never thought about this.