@MrYikes, just to be clear, the choice of whether to use ball-end or loop-end strings is simply one of tail piece and/or fine tuner design.  Some have a hook, those take a loop-end string, some have slots and those take the ball end strings.  So to decide you'll need to look at your tailpiece and see if the string is held by a hook or a slot. Other than the the strings are identical.