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Double Ball Guitar String Comparison

25/8/2018

5 Comments

 
Picture
While testing the MGR floating bridge as an alternative to the Steinberger R-Trem, I decided that I should test a variety of double ball end guitar strings to make sure that they all work with the new bridge.

I think that  you should be able to use your favorite strings and not be forced into using double ball end strings on any guitar but they are very convenient and make string changes a breeze.

​Here's a table with the brands, descriptions, part numbers, where I got the strings, where the strings were made and what I paid for them.
​Brand
Description
Part Number
Source
Origin
Price Paid
ghs
Double Ball End Guitar Strings - Standard Steinberger System - Boomers
SET DB-GBL
​JustStrings.com
Made in USA
​9.18 USD
LaBella
Original Double Ball System
S1046
​JustStrings.com
Made in USA
13.52 USD
Steinberger
double ball - Standard, Non-Calibrated, 6-String Guitar Strings
SST-105
​Sweetwater
Made in China
8.99 USD
D'Addario
XL - For Steinberger Transtrem Systems
ESXL110
JustStrings.com
Made in USA
13.86 USD
Steinberger
double ball - Light, Calibrated TransTrem, 6-String Guitar Strings
SST-106
​Sweetwater
Made in China
12.99 USD
Here are the same string sets with more information
Brand
Gauge Name
String Sizes
Packaging
ghs
Light
.010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046 ​
Clear plastic wallet, product sheet, individually sealed strings with easy tear notch
LaBella
Medium
.010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046
Sealed pouch with easy tear notch, product sheet, paper pocket with all strings
Steinberger
Medium
.010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046
Shrinkwrapped cardboard wallet/box, individual paper pockets for each string, 1st, 2nd and 3rd strings in sealed pouches inside paper pockets (no tear notch) with extra 1st string ​
D'Addario
Regular Light
.010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046
Cardboard wallet with tear strip, sealed pouch with all strings
Steinberger
​Light
​.009 .011 .016 .026 .036 .046
Shrinkwrapped cardboard wallet/box, individual paper pockets for each string, 1st, 2nd and 3rd strings in sealed pouches inside paper pockets (no tear notch) with extra 1st string ​
For the MGR Bridge, what I was mostly interested in was string length.  How good a string sounds is subjective but how good a string will work with a certain piece of hardware, we can measure.  The string length of a double ball end string is really important for ease of installation / removal and for tuning range, especially on the 1st string.  I wouldn't want anyone to run out of turns on a tuner before a string is in tune!  I've heard of people using crazy light strings, so I'll have to test those later too.

To measure string length, I put all of the strings on a nail board with the same starting point and an end point with zero tension to measure the free lengths.​
Picture

Once all of the strings were mounted, I drew a line to easily compare the length of each string visually.  Here are the results!
​
ghs

- string length between Steinberger and Labella
​- string length (center to center) is about 696mm (27.40 inch)
- silver ball on one end, gold ball on the other
​- no overwrap or solder on plain strings
Picture
LaBella

- shortest strings but not by much
- string length (center to center) is about 695mm (27.36 inch)
- color coded ball ends
- nice overwrap on plain strings
Picture
Steinberger (non-calibrated)

- longest strings but not by much
​- string length (center to center) is about 698 mm (27.48 inch)
- gold ball ends
​- nice overwrap on plain strings
Picture
D'Addario (calibrated)

- string lengths calibrated for Steinberger TransTrem
- smaller spread of string lengths than Steinbers strings
- string lengths from about 695 to 699 mm (27.36 to 27.52 inch)
- color coded ball ends
​- soldered plain strings
Picture
Steinberger (calibrated)

- string lengths calibrated for Steinberger TransTrem
- larger spread in string lengths than D'Addario strings
- string lengths from about 693 to 700 mm (27.28 to 27.56 inch)
- gold ball ends
​- nice overwrap on plain strings
Picture
Although I don't like the excessive packaging and the fact that they are made in China, the Steinberger strings appear to be the best value.  There is a nice overwrap on the the plain strings, they come in sealed pouches and an extra 1st string is also provided.

String lengths are more or less the same between the brands of calibrated strings and between the brands of non-calibrated strings.  My measurements are not super accurate and this is just one set from each brand.  How consistent would the string length be for each set from set to set?  I don't know!  We would have to get several sets from each brand to look for consistency.

It's interesting to note that ghs mentions that the standard strings (non-calibrated) do not fit TransTrem unit.  LaBella, on the other hand, mentions that standard double ball guitar strings may be used for the TransTrem, however, for best results, they recommend the calibrated sets.  This might be why the LaBella's are a bit shorter than the rest, just a guess.​
5 Comments
Elliot Freedman
20/1/2020 10:08:19 am

Hi. May I have the indiv string lengths for each? Like to use this to determin exact length for TranTrem for my C-scale baritone guitars--to make dbl-ball ends to suit the 4 frets longer scale length. Thanks!

Reply
Mitch
20/1/2020 08:12:47 pm

Hi Elliot, I don't have the right tools for exact measurements. All that I can say is that the calibrated string lengths are approximately as follows:

D'Addario - lowE 699mm, A 699mm, D 698mm, G 699mm, B 697mm, E 695mm

Steinberger - lowE 700mm, A 698mm, D 697mm, G 700mm, B 697, E 693mm

I hope that this helps a bit. Sounds like a cool project! Cheers, Mitch

Reply
John Rush
23/1/2022 03:01:08 pm

Hi. Will any of these fit the Floyd Rose Speedloader system? They have hung all of us owners out to dry by discontinuing the strings for their Discovery guitars. Pretty lousy for what I thought was a reputable company. Now I have 8 year old strings on mine and I could call wild turkeys with the squeaking.
Thanks

Reply
Mitch
23/1/2022 06:03:58 pm

Hi John, I read up on this and wow, not good. I don't think that any of the double ball strings would work. From what I can tell, the length tolerances are the biggest problem. Strings stretch, necks flex and wood expands and contracts.

That being said, I've spent a lot of time looking at ways to add ball ends to regular strings so you can use your favorite strings on any guitar. What has become clear for the speedloader system is that the length of the string needs to be adjustable instead of trying to hit an impossible tolerance.

I've got some sketches on a few possibilities where a bullet can be mounted to a string in the approximate location for length, then fine tuned by twisting the bullet. What are the dimensions on the speedloader bullets? Fender bullets are 4.3mm diameter and 8mm long. Do you think it's worth spending more time on this? Cheers, Mitch

Reply
Mitch Regnier
3/2/2022 06:04:07 pm

Hi John, I've ordered an old set of Floyd Rose Speedloader strings to get the measurements off of the ball ends. I'm pretty sure I can make some adaptors so that regular strings can be used for the Speedloader system. I really hate to see great guitars and innovative hardware not being used! So far, I'm thinking one regular bullet end and one end with an integrated 40:1 micro tuner to fine tune the string length once the bullets are attached to the strings by soldering them.

Reply



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