Strings - Ball end to Loop End

[Kevin Briggs]

Hey there…,

Any easy tips on how to make a string’s ball end into a loop end?

[Bazz Jass]

I use the other end of the string. Wrap it around a nail and twist a few times. Then trim off the end with the ball on it.

[pops1]

I use an awl and a very fine needle nose pliers. You can break the loop so be careful. Use the awl to widen the loop on the long end of the string at the ball. Then take the pliers and grasp the ball and twist it out. I have done this when I need to for years and rarely break one. You will get a feel for it, but some strings that are wound tight are harder to do. You may need to pinch the ball with a wire cutter on those, tho I rarely have to do that.

[journeybear]

You can just crush the ball, using a pliers. They're made of brittle material, so it's easy enough to do it. You do want to apply pressure across the hole in the middle of the "ball," so that means the string will get pressure as well. Might want to put a little cloth in there to avoid damaging the string - or use a pliers with no teeth.

In a pinch I've been known to thread the other end of the string through the ball's hole, making a loop that way. It's not optimal, but it works. Make sure you pull the string all the way through so it won't slip later.

[Jacob]

If you have a ball end string and need a loop end, you can simply remove the brass ball from the loop at the end of the string.
The safest way to remove the brass ball is to "bite" it with a pair of wire cutters, chipping the brass.

[A-board]

You can just crush the ball, using a pliers.

I broke E strings recently while retuning a mando after bridge replacement. Went to my string stash and pulled out some singles. WHAT?! They were ball ends. DANG! But Google led me right to this, as described by JB. The resulting loops were smaller so I was careful to get them adequately hooked.

[mandocello8]

Any easy tips on how to make a string’s ball end into a loop end?

unorthodox idea. trade them in to somebody who desperately looks for ball-end mandolin strings.

(I just revived an ovation mandolin, it takes ball-end strings, was to MC post "how to add balls?!?", by miracle local store has a stash ball end strings, I am probably the only one who can use them).

(I also use Thomastic "JB" flat wound guitar strings, and I remove the balls by crushing them with huge pliers. they are very brittle and crush easily, but beware sharp splinters).

[EdHanrahan]

I've always been a "crush with pliers" kind of guy but, being overly practical, I really like ...

... In a pinch ... thread the other end of the string through the ball's hole...

Thanks, JB!

BTW, nothing distinguishes guitar strings from most mandolin strings except that ball, and -sometimes- the cut length (that you'll cut more of anyway), so guitar strings are always available (beg, borrow, steal...) in a gauge close to what you need. FWIW, I tend to think in terms of specific gauges (.010, etc.) rather than of pre-packaged sets (EJ74, etc.), as most here seem to do.

REALLY aside: 30 years ago, I found a (then) $50 micrometer at a yard sale for $3. It still gets lots of use.

[journeybear]

(I just revived an ovation mandolin, it takes ball-end strings ... I am probably the only one who can use them).

Perhaps on acoustic mandolins. But then, Ovations are acoustic/electric. All my electric mandolins take ball-end strings.

unorthodox idea. trade them in to somebody who desperately looks for ball-end mandolin strings.

Not that unorthodox. There are plenty of reasons why one would want to do as the OP asks: ordered the wrong strings, have too many ball-end strings left over from playing electric, local store only carries ball-end, not loop strings, etc. Who knows? Doesn't matter. Anyway, fixing one's own problem is usually easier and quicker than finding someone else with just the right complementary problem.

[mandocello8]

Perhaps on acoustic mandolins. But then, Ovations are acoustic/electric. All my electric mandolins take ball-end strings.

Right. I cannot get individual plain loop-end string locally anymore, both local stores only carry ball-end strings. And Thomastic individual strings are all ball-end. I use large plumbing pliers to crush the balls. (careful with sharp splinters!).

On your electric mandolins, I expect you use ball-end electric guitar strings, not brass/bronse would "acoustic" strings? And I always thought the DAddario ball-end mandolin strings set was done specifically for Ovation/Applause mandolins, is there any other mass-produced mandolin that would take them?

FWIW, my Japanese-made acoustinc/electric mandolin has a normal clam-shell tail piece and takes
normal loop-end strings (my last set of FT flat-wounds, right now).

[journeybear]

Actually, I use D'Addario nickel-wound ball-end strings, I think that's J-62 (those might be loop-end). Anyway, not guitar. Though, as someone pointed out, gauge is gauge, regardless of intended instrument.

Back in the day - like 2013-2015 - I played in a band that played so ferociously I was breaking strings every gig, sometimes every set. Mostly E and A strings. (I'm actually proud I broke a couple of G strings during this time. )I bought single strings from a member, mrmando, whose emando.com site offers a dazzling array of choices, at reasonable prices. In addition to standard sets, you can also design your personal druthers set, choosing exactly the gauges you want.

[pops1]

I can remember back in the 70's breaking 6 strings on my 12 string D 1235 in one song. Had to take a break and change all the strings. Playing into a microphone is way different than using a pickup. You had to play harder then, there were pickups, but no preamps. Sound wasn't good without the pre, but we made it thru, kept folks happy, and changed a lot of strings.

[journeybear]

Ouch! I know whatcha mean. I was breaking strings even with a pickup and preamp. The band was just so raucous. I think there were a few nights I was breaking a string per set, sometimes two. But in one song? Yikes!

My genius solution was to get a second mandolin so I could swap out mid-set and deal with strings during the break. Thanks to Eddie Sheehan (is he still around?) I got one within a year in age, with the same pumpkin finish. 'Twas just the thing. An expensive solution, for sure, but things were going pret-ty well at the time.

[Bill Cameron]

When faced with this situation, I get heavy pliers or side cutters (used as pliers) and grab the side of the ball and crush it without disturbing the wire loop. Works fine without damaging the loop that way.