What is the difference between ball end, loop end and removable ball end?

Previously, gut strings had a nodule on one side or were knotted individually by the musician so they could be fastened to the tailpiece. Strings with steel or synthetic cores require a defined end with a ball or loop so they can be fastened into the tailpiece or onto the fine tuner. 

 

Thomastik-Infeld offers strings with ball ends and loop ends. However, Thomastik-Infeld has also developed a special solution for some violin E- and A-strings with steel cores and viola A-strings with steel cores, whereby the ball can be pressed out of or back into the loop as required. Strings with synthetic cores cannot be provided with removable balls.

 

Depending on the production and requirement, ball ends, crimp ends and tulip ends can be used. Each of these balls is connected to the string core using complex knotting technology. To easier differentiate the strings from one another, Thomastik-Infeld uses different materials to coat the ball ends. This leads to different results in color:

 

 BACK

Can you keep a secret? We can't.

Sign up to get notified as soon as we share more insights on stringtelligence!