POLL: String ends - What's your style?

[JakeK]

There's a picture of George Harrison from '63 in the Anthology book with a cigarette stuck on the end of his string.

[kiramdear]

Yes, I will testify that both styles of cigarette holding were common back in the day. The string end method saves the face of your headstock from direct incineration but requires the strings to be carefully clipped for just the right amount of jiggle. The other method was for those with loops or long, untrimmed ends.

[goofyfoot]

Over time, I've seen the loops/curls adorn string posts. Is there any strategic advantage or is it purely decorative? Regards.......G-foot.

[kiramdear]

No, it's strictly lazy behavior, not wanting to get one's eye put out but not possessing nippers either, nor willing to be distracted long enough to hunt up a pair. Anyway that's how it works for me

[goofyfoot]

It does look cool, though. Believe I've seen a pic or two where Harrison and Lennon used the curls. Saw a segment in a Hendrix vid, too, where Jimi strung up either one string or all of 'em in seconds flat and curled 'em. Regards.....G-foot.

[kiramdear]

They do add an extra dimension of sparkle when viewed in the spotlight

Gee, I'm lazy and I like shiny things. Sounds like any number of guitarists I know ...

[winston]

I cut mine and keep them short but I like the curly look on Suzanna's heid. Oh we are talking about strings?

[kiramdear]

Now what's really cool is when you stick your ciggie butt on the loose end of your little curl.

None of these hip techniques seem to have stood the test of time, as our poll results will show.

[winston]

I don't smoke. I would have to borrow a ciggie butt to look cool.........

[kiramdear]

It's not easy being cheesy.

[winston]

Does it have to be lit?

[kiramdear]

That is optional but you must maintain an ash length of at least one and a half inches at all times.

[winston]

OK all I have to do now is tie beads and bits of fabric into my hair in the morning, draw lines on my face and practice looking like "Keefie" on his best behaviour and I'll have this rock star image thing down pat..................... I even have a Tele.

[kiramdear]

You're in, Flynn.

[whojamfan]

I wrap on the inside of the post under the hole, around 1 time to over the hole, around the other side to go between the strings when you come out of the hole. Pushing down on the string in between the nut and post with the forefinger, lift up with thumb and other fingers to tighten the string around the post pinching the protruding string between the wraps above and below the hole. With pressure still on the string, tighten the tuner untill the string is snug, then tune to pitch. Once in pitch, pull the string a little off of the fretboard while pushing down with your forefinger to stretch the string further. Then I bend the protruding string straight up and pull the string to snap it in to place. This takes up any minute bit of slack left in the stringing process and allows you to keep a brand new string in tune for quite a while. I cut the string going straight up off 1/8 to 1/4 inch above where it protrudes. With a little practice, you can change a broken string in no time at all. On my Les Paul, when playing live, I was able to refit a string, bring it to pitch, and be back in the song in 20 to 30 seconds. With the Rick tailpiece, you're better off to have a backup guitar.

So, I guess my answer would be straight up.