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  #1  
Old 07-19-2022, 07:28 PM
eyesore eyesore is offline
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Default ball end strings

HI I don't own a nylon string or classical guitar ;yet but have had a few cheap ones thru the years. I am not a classical player. I went to GC today and tried a few and may pick one up soon. I have always wondered ; why tie knot at the bridge? Do they make these strings with ball ends? [inquiring minds want to know]..Thanks.
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Old 07-19-2022, 09:03 PM
Jamolay Jamolay is offline
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They do make them. I haven’t tried them, nor do I know how they compare with tied strings. But they do exist and might be easier to string.
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Old 07-19-2022, 10:35 PM
steelvibe steelvibe is offline
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Or you could go with something like this. Great invention if you ask me. Carbon trebles can be pretty slick and any strings that slip can dent the top.

This video shows plastic string ties but you can get bone, ebony or even metal too (might be a first that I'm posting in the Classical subforum so take anything I say here with a hoppy beer. Then of course my handle is "steelvibe" so you might want a second, and a third.... )

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Old 07-20-2022, 01:00 AM
JackC1 JackC1 is offline
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However, it isn't more difficult or more time consuming with tied ends after you've changed strings a couple of times.
Oh, the video isn't mine. I think it shows the strings pretty clearly.
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Old 07-20-2022, 04:01 AM
rmp rmp is offline
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once you get the hang of it, it's really not that difficult
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Old 07-20-2022, 10:31 AM
eyesore eyesore is offline
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yeah ;i'm just all thumbs when it comes to knots ,I have a terrible time with it.
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Old 07-20-2022, 10:52 AM
The Watchman The Watchman is offline
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My first teacher said that making a nice neat set of tied ends (even, and not too long) was a pre-requisite to being taken seriously.
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Old 07-20-2022, 12:12 PM
AfterViewer AfterViewer is offline
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Yes, Ernie Ball / Ernsto Palla strings are available for players who prefer not to be tied up with securing marine knots to the bridge of a classical guitar. Have been playing classical as well as steel for years, I use tied strings for a couple of my guitars but like the sound of the Ernie Ball's on a 3/4 size mahogany/spruce-top that is my run-around that I play everyday while on the go. Nice to speed off from a pit stop with the ball ends. No muss/ no fuss.

https://www.ernieball.com/guitar-str...single-strings
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Old 07-20-2022, 07:36 PM
ewalling ewalling is offline
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There's just something twisted and wrong about putting ball-end strings on a nylon-string guitar. It's like pairing pale rosewood fingerboards with sunburst finishes (I'm looking at you, Gibson!)
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Old 07-21-2022, 03:46 PM
AfterViewer AfterViewer is offline
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Back in the day automatic transmissions for cars were considered something only lazy drivers would be interested in. Not to be trusted.
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  #11  
Old 07-26-2022, 01:22 AM
Katzer Katzer is offline
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The strings are held in place mostly by friction, the knot just keeps them from slipping off.

Once you do it you see how easy it is.
Just ask someone you know or at the store to guide you through it.

Seriously, it is more complicated to tie your shoelaces. There are a lot of youtube videos, and honestly they make it seem harder than it really is.
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Old 07-26-2022, 03:06 PM
Beanctr Beanctr is offline
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Generally the higher quality strings will not be available with ball ends. Rick
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Old 07-26-2022, 04:19 PM
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ssstewart ssstewart is offline
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ball end strings are more subject to breakage. I have never had a string on one of my classical guitars break in over 40 years and have always tied them. the only time i have used ball end nylons was for the uke i bought my granddaughter as she dragged it across the living room floor by the headstock

i suppose if you are just looking to experiment you could use them but if you enjoy nylon strings you will find that most high quality strings are not available in ball ends.

once you've tied strings a few times its not very time consuming and for me there is something very satisfying in seeing the neatness of tied strings, but then again i was a private in my dads army for the first 16 years of my life (still can't bounce a quarter on my bed though)
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Old 07-26-2022, 05:40 PM
Carey Carey is offline
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One nice thing about using something like a ball-end string is that it effectively
increases the break angle over the saddle, as compared to conventional tying.
Many guitars (like mine) have not much break angle on the treble strings.

Some treble strings are slippery, too; Hannabach nylons and most fluorocarbon
strings, for example. They can slip even with proper tying, and a knot or carefully-melted ball on the end can prevent that from happening.
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  #15  
Old 07-30-2022, 10:31 PM
SirMrGuitarDude SirMrGuitarDude is offline
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I heard that you don't get the same tone due to the angle of the string being slightly different at the saddle. I'm not sure if that's true but maybe it is.
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