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nathan619 - Posted - 03/11/2008: 21:53:49
What are GHS "Ball End" strings used for? THey say on the pack that they are for electric or acoustic guitar but there's only 5 in the pack. And the sizes are 10,12,14,dy22,10.
The sticker on the box says "GHS PF130 5 string banjo set - ball end". That "ball" on the end of the string is throwing me off. The "ball" is a very small brass ring and not a "ball".
Nathan
Sullivan Festival Deluxe (Maple)
Sullivan Festival Deluxe (Mahogany)
RK-80 Recording King
banjonz - Posted - 03/11/2008: 22:04:59
Those strings are definitely for a banjo. Strings can be attached to a tailpiece one of two ways. For tailpiece that just have the 'posts', a loop end string is the only one that will fit it. On tailpiece that has 'holes' ( some cheapy asian banjos can have tailpieces with both), the strings go through the holes and anchor via the 'balls'. I don't know why they are called 'balls', they just are. As for the packet saying they are for guitar, that obviously is wrong. They may have been packaged wrongly.
Wayne
New Zealand
Home computers are the perfect thing for women who don't feel that men provide them with enough frustration
steve davis - Posted - 03/11/2008: 23:26:33
Those sound like guitar strings to me.I like to carefully crush the ball with diagonal cutting pliers.The "ball" or ring will break into a bunch of little pieces.Get in there parallel with the loop of the string and don't cut the string.This will leave the loop as you are used to seeing it.
Sometimes I just gotta wait for better weather
Justaused2b - Posted - 03/12/2008: 08:45:33
My not so cheapie American banjo takes both styles of strings as well. On a personal note...I once broke my 5th string at my friends house....He plays electric guitar so I asked him if he had a .10. He gave me a "Zackk Wylde custom .10 high e" it had a ball...I used it and loved it...I still use the ghs PF135 religiously..but in a pinch those Wylde strings sounded allright! 
Edited by - Justaused2b on 03/12/2008 08:50:02
