The absolute most pointless piece of string trivia ever.

[dwasifar]

Playing today, I looked down at my strings and noticed the angle of the windings seemed to be different between the E and A strings. Having just put these Mapes strings on, I still had the trimmings to examine. Sure enough, the E was wound in one direction and the A in the opposite direction. If they were screw threads, the E would be right-hand and the A left-hand. The D was also left-hand.

I pulled a set of discarded D'Addarios out of the recycle box (easy to identify because of the colors) and checked them; all four wound strings were right-hand.

As it happens, I have a collection of E string trimmings labeled by brand and product from some testing I was doing, so out of curiosity I checked those for direction.

• RH: Ball, Black Diamond, D'Addario, DR (Sunbeam & Veritas), GHS, Kerly, Webstrings
• LH: Dunlop, Everly, La Bella, Martin (SP, Retro, Darco), Rotosound

Do I believe this makes one whit of difference in how the strings perform? I do not, so please set down the flamethrower. But it might be a useful clue to who makes what brands.

And it's funny the Mapes set being mixed like that. Going forward I'll be watching to see if other brands mix it up - again, just from curiosity, not because I think it makes any actual difference.

[Quickstep192]

Originally Posted by dwasifar

Playing today, I looked down at my strings and noticed the angle of the windings seemed to be different between the E and A strings. Having just put these Mapes strings on, I still had the trimmings to examine. Sure enough, the E was wound in one direction and the A in the opposite direction. If they were screw threads, the E would be right-hand and the A left-hand. The D was also left-hand.

I pulled a set of discarded D'Addarios out of the recycle box (easy to identify because of the colors) and checked them; all four wound strings were right-hand.

As it happens, I have a collection of E string trimmings labeled by brand and product from some testing I was doing, so out of curiosity I checked those for direction.

• RH: Ball, Black Diamond, D'Addario, DR (Sunbeam & Veritas), GHS, Kerly, Webstrings
• LH: Dunlop, Everly, La Bella, Martin (SP, Retro, Darco), Rotosound

Do I believe this makes one whit of difference in how the strings perform? I do not, so please set down the flamethrower. But it might be a useful clue to who makes what brands.

And it's funny the Mapes set being mixed like that. Going forward I'll be watching to see if other brands mix it up - again, just from curiosity, not because I think it makes any actual difference.

This is interesting. I wonder why that happens and if the manufacturers are doing it deliberately.

[Brucebubs]

Interesting observation.
I'll file that one right next to misaligned tuner bushings.

[Rudy4]

Just remove the ball ends and switch them to the other end?

[EZYPIKINS]

That's very profound dwasifar. I like to think I am very detail oriented. I've been playing for a long time. That's one detail I never thought of, to look. I settled on Rotosound Super Bronze/Country Gold Years ago. Now I'm gonna have to look every time I change strings.
To see if they may vary from batch to batch.

[dwasifar]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Just remove the ball ends and switch them to the other end?

I know you're kidding, but that would not reverse the wind.

[dwasifar]

Originally Posted by EZYPIKINS

That's very profound dwasifar. I like to think I am very detail oriented. I've been playing for a long time. That's one detail I never thought of, to look. I settled on Rotosound Super Bronze/Country Gold Years ago. Now I'm gonna have to look every time I change strings.
To see if they may vary from batch to batch.

I really like Roto Jumbo King PBs. Haven't tried the Super Bronze; what are they like? Is that a variation of PB or something else?

[Lillis]

That is an astute observation though. That giant string experiment must have a hangover effect

[Tannin]

There is no mystery. It is just that you have accidentally put on some left-handed strings. Turn your guitar around the other way so that the pointy bit is on the other side, not the side you wear your watch on.

Fixed!

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by dwasifar

I know you're kidding, but that would not reverse the wind.

Actually it would.

[sford52]

Originally Posted by Tannin

There is no mystery. It is just that you have accidentally put on some left-handed strings. Turn your guitar around the other way so that the pointy bit is on the other side, not the side you wear your watch on.

Fixed!

I'm careful to use left-handed picks when I use these strings

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Just remove the ball ends and switch them to the other end?

I hear that's very uncomfortable...

[Kittoon]

Inductive Reactance. Induced EMF? Directions of windings on a transformer? Frequencies/harmonics interacting on the instrument?

Now you’ve done it!

[dwasifar]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Actually it would.

No, it would not. Think of a threaded rod. Flipping it over doesn't make it left-hand thread.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by dwasifar

No, it would not. Think of a threaded rod. Flipping it over doesn't make it left-hand thread.

From your perspective if you look at the string from the other end the rotation will go counter clockwise or vice versa.