Low B Stringing Problem

[The Se3ker]

I was trying out some Ernie Ball Slinky 5's on my new bass that has a Badass V Bridge, and I ran into a bit of a problem. The wrap on the low B string about an inch before the ball end caught in the opening at the back of the bridge as I was stringing it, and the string wont slide all the way in. I tried brute force (as brute as I'm willing to be when handling my bass) but it won't budge. Any suggestions on what I could do? Also, has this happened to anyone before, particularly with slinkys? I've never heard any sort of warning saying not to put them into Badass Bridges. Could the string just be wrapped incorrectly? All of the other ones went in and I was able to string up without a problem. The gauge of the low B is .130, by the way. Thanks for the help!

[jlrush]

I've had a B string get caught up like that before. Pull it out and snip a bit off the tip, then hold your mouth just right. :grin:

[The Geoff]

I've heard of people boring out the 'B' hole slightly to fix this very problem.

 

G.

[b5pilot]

Yeah those pesky B strings. Unless you switch to a thinner gage or go with a taper wound string I'm afraid you're going to have to drill out the hole a bit. remove the bridge before you do it to avoid nicking the bass then reinstall it. I've had to do just that with one or two of my basses.

 

My Warwick has a slotted string seat and for that I've had to take a pliers and sqwish the wrap to get it in there. Then I switched to a taper wound B. No more string insertion problems as well as intonation problems I was having.

[rumpelstiltskin.]

maybe try pulling the silk off before you get too drastic.

 

robb.

[SteveC]

...or maybe a different string? I've never had problems with DR's.

[b5pilot]

maybe try pulling the silk off before you get too drastic.

 

robb.

 

Ernie Ball slinkys don't have silk.

[Nicklab]

When I string with a .130 B string I'll occassionally run into this problem, too. Drilling that hole out just a tiny bit will suit your purposes pretty well. A .128 B string could work for you, too.

[jeremy c]

I've used a pair of pliers to gently squeeze the end of the string so it would fit......and then I never used that brand of string again.

 

[jcadmus]

One of the advantages of using the same brand and gauge over and over.

[Wally Malone]

I've heard of people boring out the 'B' hole slightly to fix this very problem.

 

G.

 

Good thing it's not the A string!

[Richard W]

Play a 4-string. Problem solved!

[Seamy ALB]

I've used a pair of pliers to gently squeeze the end of the string so it would fit......and then I never used that brand of string again.

 

This.

[The Se3ker]

Thanks for all of the advice! Fortunately I tried pushing it in again (with my palm rather than my thumb) and it just happened to go in all the way. But yeah, I'll be trying another brand of strings out next time. This is my first 5 string so I want to experiment and find what works best, anyway. I'll probably use pliers to tighten the wrap if it happens again rather than boring out the hole in the bridge a little more.

[Tenstrum]

I use Ernie Ball 5 String Slinky Regular on my Yamaha RBX765A all the time. No problems.

[EddiePlaysBass]

I've heard of people boring out the 'B' hole slightly to fix this very problem.

 

I wonder if talking to it about my day job would do the trick. Definitely bores out my girlfriend when I do so :grin:

[The Geoff]

I've heard of people boring out the 'B' hole slightly to fix this very problem.

 

G.

 

Good thing it's not the A string!

 

Ouch!!!!!

 

 

G.

[Wally Malone]

I've heard of people boring out the 'B' hole slightly to fix this very problem.

 

G.

 

Good thing it's not the A string!

 

Ouch!!!!!

 

 

G.

 

I was starting to wonder if anybody got it.