How would I cut bass strings without wire clippers?

[Magnawolf]

I need to restring my bass but I don't have string clippers. Would a knife do? I really don't wanna spend 8 bucks on clippers.

[Ricky D.]

If you don't use an appropriate tool, you are going to make a mess. You can probably get some wire cutters at Harbor Freight Tools for less than $8.

[scrumley]

How strong are your teeth? Use the right tool. Don't do the caveman thing.

[Lefty138]

just shell out the money, think of it as an investment

[Colt W. Knight]

Go buy a set of side cutting pliers. Even a 5$ set will cut bass strings just fine.

[camatillo]

Why can't you unwind them like a guitar string? Am I missing something? Also a good, and I mean good, ( Klein D2000 model ), will last forever and they can be used for a lot more than wire clipping. Once you get a pair you will use them for things they are not even designed for. The tips are indestructible and they are hardened more than any other clipper. Get the angled head version and you can lever out any size nail, the tips are precise enough to grab onto tiny brads and pull them too. Buy a pair, you will never regret the purchase. They are side cutters by the way. Now they are not cheap and you can buy them in the electrical section of Home Depot, (not the tool area), with all the other electrical tools. Klein also make the best screw drivers, (hard tips), and nut drivers, wire strippers, pliers, etc. None of these tools from Klein are cheap, but they are head and shoulders above the rest of the brands, even Snapon. The only tools that have the same quality are Knipex, but they cost more than Klein and are the same quality. They do have some really cool specialty tools that are very useful. The one that comes to mind is the side cutters that are end knippers, ground flat they would make the ultimate fret cutters after fretting the board, they are mucho deniro though, might make you faint, list price is $50.00. I think the Kleins run about $29.00, well worth it. I like them so much I have 5 pair, can we agree I have a bad case of T.A.S.? I seem to need three or more of every hand tool, used to be I needed duplicates of large power tools but I ran out of room.

[Fenderfiend]

Are you wanting to cut off the excess string after you restring it?
Just leave them long if you can't get some wire cutters to trim them.

Walmart has wire cutters for around $1 -last time I checked, bass strings cost more than a dollar.

(Of course, it's been a while since I restrung a bass)

[jefrs]

1) put some CA on the stretch where you mean to cut or the whipping or cover may unwrap.

2) crimp the place you mean to cut with your pliers into a small "Z" to fit the tuning post, this also stops the cover unwinding and loosening.

3) cut the string with the wire cutters on your pliers.

4) keep your pliers in your gigbag with your spare strings.

Buy some Miniature Long Nose Pliers - around £2 - ouch!

[Magnawolf]

I can't leave the excess string on because its vintage style tuners. Also, I don't really play bass but I'm going into a studio soon and I need to restring my bass because it hasn't even been restrung in its entire life. However, since I don't play bass, I'd rather not spend another 8 dollars since the strings are already expensive as is. I figure I'm just gonna go hunt for wire cutters to borrow.

[Arbiter]

Cut bass strings wrong and they'll probably end up breaking. Borrow some wire cutters or pliers or something like that.

How can a guitar player not own wire cutters? Very confused.

[psychetelec]

What a strange thread.

[Magnawolf]

Originally Posted by Arbiter

Cut bass strings wrong and they'll probably end up breaking. Borrow some wire cutters or pliers or something like that.

How can a guitar player not own wire cutters? Very confused.

Scissors suffice for guitar strings but not for bass strings. Very simple.

[scrumley]

I'm cringing... seriously, wirecutters. They cost as much as scissors and will last a lot longer if you're cutting strings. $5 or less. They'll save you money in the long run.

[bigbandtele]

Originally Posted by Magnawolf

I can't leave the excess string on because its vintage style tuners. Also, I don't really play bass but I'm going into a studio soon and I need to restring my bass because it hasn't even been restrung in its entire life. However, since I don't play bass, I'd rather not spend another 8 dollars since the strings are already expensive as is. I figure I'm just gonna go hunt for wire cutters to borrow.

So why change the strings at all then?

[Magnawolf]

I'm going into a studio and I'm going to be recording with it. The strings sound dead since the bass is maybe 7 years old and has never been restrung. I only played it on cheap demo recordings but since I want the best quality possible, I need to restring it. I probably won't restring it again for another few years or so after that.

Originally Posted by scrumley

I'm cringing... seriously, wirecutters. They cost as much as scissors and will last a lot longer if you're cutting strings. $5 or less. They'll save you money in the long run.

How would they save me money if I never plan to use em again? I've been using scissors for 19 years and not once in those 19 years have I needed wire cutters. I don't need them in my life. Therefore I do not want to buy them.

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by Magnawolf

I'm going into a studio and I'm going to be recording with it. The strings sound dead since the bass is maybe 7 years old and has never been restrung. I only played it on cheap demo recordings but since I want the best quality possible, I need to restring it. I probably won't restring it again for another few years or so after that.



How would they save me money if I never plan to use em again? I've been using scissors for 19 years and not once in those 19 years have I needed wire cutters. I don't need them in my life. Therefore I do not want to buy them.

That is not exactly true because you need a set of wire cutters right now to cut your bass strings.

[Northerntele]

You could do what I did starting out and bend them back and forth till they break. Or you could stop being cheap and buy the appropriate tool for the job.

[w3stie]

Try the following; Lay the string out on a flat surface (eg table), carefully mark where you want to cut the string, then with your hands behind your back, repeatedly bash your forehead against the string.

This won't cut the string, but it might knock some sense into you.

[scrumley]

How have you not ruined a set of scissors yet? What's this huge aversion to owning a tool? Wire cutters are cheap, readily available, and despite what you say, you will probably use them again in the next 60+ years of your life. You can even use them on guitar strings. An added benefit is they take up less room in your guitar case than a set of kitchen shears.

[JohnS]

Do you own a chainsaw? I personally prefer a GI JOE with Kung FU Grip to pull it apart where you want.