How often and why do you break strings?

[Il_Bès]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

Don't remember ever having broken a string on my electrics, and lately I've been going for as much as 1+year between string changes. Every now and then, tho, I'd find a broken D string on my mostly unplayed classical, usually around the 2nd fret.
As a funny note, I sold my Yamaha SA500 to one of my bandmates who currently averages 5-6 broken strings per year on it. The first time I picked up his Ovation acoustic, I broke the high E before the first song was over , same with the Cort acoustic of another bandmate.
Anyway, I subsequently managed to go through some gigs and recording sessions with those very guitars with no problem at all.
Go figure...

 

[Oinkus]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

I was overly aggressive and used to do the Paganini solo thing (rip the strings off one by one) Got over that and moved to 10s and rarely break one now. Sometimes I might try and copy something I am listening to and pull one off trying to emulate a tremolo bar on a hardtail. Usually only break a high E or B while playing and I am overly excited. Oh yeah when you say in front of other people I never break strings , one is sure to pop. I have had more defective strings in the last 5 years that broke on their own then ones I have broken. Here is a weird bit of info . My Jackson RR5 FR is the most stable guitar in my pack , could leave it sitting for 4 months it would stay in tune. It doesn't fluctuate due to the heater running or AC and if you are really aggressive the high E might go a touch flat .Have never broken a string on it in 6 plus years.

 

[Archer250]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

Every two to four weeks the high e will snap. Sometimes, I last 8 weeks, and then the e, b, and d strings snap.



Usually near the saddle and sometimes on the fret. I pick rather hard, I guess. I've never been a 'let-the-amp-do-the-work' guy. I try to get my electrics faintly audible unplugged.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

Typically I break a 1st e string if I am playing too hard, about maybe twice a year, sometimes more often, I get a little crazier and harder on my guitars if I am drinking heavily.
I used to break 5th string often while playing something really fast. But haven't broken one of those in a year or so.
I think it also depends on which guitar I am abusing at the time.

Drunk e example..

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

Once every few gigs, from crashing on the guitar with my pick. I change full sets very rarely, only broken strings as they come up. I will put a fresh set on maybe twice a year if I play the guitar regularly. On my less frequently played guitars, sets last years.

So, no poll option suits me. The closest would be thrashing out speed metal, but the genre is all wrong.

 

[ErikH]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

I change 'em on my regularly played guitars before they even snap and I can leave them on there for months at a time. My one Floyded guitar will sometimes snap so I make sure they are fresh if I play it out. There was a burr on one saddle that I filed out.

 

[Matt42]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

I can't remember the last time I broke a string. I think it was 2+ years ago. I think it was a G or B string, and I think it just wore out.

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

The last time I broke a string was around 2007. I was changing strings and I got a bad high e from a set of D'Addarios.

 

[Securb]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

I typically don't break strings. If I do it is when I cheap out and reuse them. Lets say I put on a fresh set of strings and a week later I have to go back inside the guitar to fix/change something.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

I used to break strings a lot... usually at the bridge as I progressively started hitting harder and harder (especially live) but then I started using my ibanez artist with the Gibraltar bridge and have not broken a string on it yet (knock on wood)

 

[YamiFrankc]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

Its very weird when I break a string, and I use the same set for months. Also, I use .8s
usually I change them out of boredom before they break

Sent from phone...

 

[geoffshreds]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

damn, a lot of non-breakers here lol. I break strings all the time. i think breakage occurs a bit more often with a TOM style bridge than with a floyd, but thats just my experience. At my most active, i was breaking a string almost every single band practice (2-3 times a week). and it wasn't uncommon for me to break more than one string per practice. i most often break the 'A' string. i have a pretty heavy right hand, so that may have to do with it. Now, I'm not playing quite as much as i used to, but i still break a string at least once or twice a month. i don't mind it though, i don't like strings that are more than a few days old. nothing like fresh, silky, shiny, new strings

 

[blueman335]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

The only time I break them is when I loosen and tighten them half a dozen times when changing out pickups.

That's mostly why I break the few that I do. A couple mag swaps and then doing my usual bending, and occasionally they'll snap. But it may be one string every year or two, and then it's always a high E or B. I use 9's, and there's not a lot of tension with them, which is why they rarely break. My right hand technique is very controlled, I'm not one of those players that thinks his guitar is a percussion instrument.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

I tend to break them when I put them under extreme stress: huge bends, pulling and pushing the vibrato bar wildly.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

Generally, hardly ever. Years ago one broke mid rehearsal but since then I have had years without problems... Until recently! In the last three recent gigs, twice I have broken a string! I suspect it must be how the TOM bridge saddles are grooved. Compared to other guitars which are nicely slotted these are fairly crude looking so I presume under tension they are more liable to breaking. The strings did snap by the bridge as well.

Anyhow moral of the story is ALWAYS gig with a backup guitar.

 

[blueman335]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

Anyhow moral of the story is ALWAYS gig with a backup guitar.

The alternative is to look foolish while the band stops and everyone in the place watches you change a string. Kind of inconsiderate, but that doesn't bother some guys.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

The alternative is to look foolish while the band stops and everyone in the place watches you change a string. Kind of inconsiderate, but that doesn't bother some guys.

I saw that happen with a friend's band back in my teens. It was awkward! I have always brought a backup guitar just in case, but it has only been these last few weeks where circumstances have been such that now I truly appreciate what a life saver a backup can be...especially as these were for private functions.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

The alternative is to look foolish while the band stops and everyone in the place watches you change a string. Kind of inconsiderate, but that doesn't bother some guys.

That's how slowhand got his name.

 

[che_guitarra]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

I bust a string maybe twice a year across my five guitars. It's always random - there's no pattern to their breakage. Maybe happens more often on my super-strat due to tremolo abuse.

When I was a kid I was constantly busting them, but I think that was due to the fact I could only afford cheap and nasty guitars (with cheap and nasty QC standards), and I wasn't really savvy about pinch points or casting flaws or lubrication.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: How often and why do you break strings?

I haven't broken a string in years.