string breakage

[midnite_man]

Man, I don't know what's up with this, but it seems like just about every other time I pick up any of my guitars lately and play for more than 20 minutes I end up busting a string. I'm using .10-.46 D'Adarrio (sic) strings on my Les Paul and they're breakin' either at the E .10 string, until just a few minutes ago when I broke the D! I just put some of that Big Bends Nut Sauce on 'em before strappin' it on, and all the strings were relatively fresh, so I was surprised to snap one like that. D'A's have never given me much problem in past times. But they keep breaking down at the tailpiece, sort of coming unravelled. Weird.
I also had problems with my Strats doing the same thing, breaking the E .10 a few times at the bridge saddle. I put the Nut Sauce on those and the jury's still out on that scene but no breakage after heavy usage and w/ whammy. I use Fender Standard Bullets on my Strats, .10-.46 ga.
Maybe I need to think about .11's? Will strings tolerate only so much bending in a short period of time before breaking? I can't believe that's so since I haven't seen the pros at concerts break too many while performing with the same guitar for long periods of time.
Any thoughts? Different strings for the Pauly? Maybe dress-up the hardware wherever the strings touch? Bridge upgrade?
I'm a little frustrated about this.
Thanks for any input
....Bob

 

[big_black]

Re: string breakage

Have you checked the saddles for burrs? I hear all these guys breaking strings left and right...I have not broken one in the longest time!

 

[FretFire]

Re: string breakage

Have you checked the saddles for burrs? I hear all these guys breaking strings left and right...I have not broken one in the longest time!

Same here, and good advice. You mentioned they are breaking at the tailpiece, I'd look at the saddles and make sure they're not rough where the string sits. The last string I had break was well over a year ago, the A string, and it did the same thing you described. The core snapped and the wound part just went slack and uncoiled, sure enough there was a burr in the saddle that worked between the winding and cut throught the core.

 

[midnite_man]

Re: string breakage

Thanks for the advice, guys! What do you guys use to smooth out the burrs?

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: string breakage

If you have some fine sandpaper (or a very small thin file) you can fold it in half and use the edge to take out a small burr I would think . . . but I used to have the whole string breaking problem all of the time too, untill I started wrapping the strings through the bridge differently. Now I wrap them through the neck side, and up overtop of the tailpiece and bridge . . . made a huge difference in how many strings I broke. If removing the burr doesn't work, you might want to try doing this.

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: string breakage

For my 2 cents, there ain't a problem with the strings. I used Gibson 10s on my dot and they CONTINUALLY broke when I was tuning up - i the switched to D'adarrio 10s and I haven't had a break in ages. I don't do THAT many big bends, tho, I'm mostly a rhythm player.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: string breakage

I play 11-52's & recently broke like 2 low E strings

but it wasn't the guitar, it was me, i was hittin the damn thing too hard

I looked at my pick & it was ridiculously bent, so, well, that's that

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: string breakage

I also lose many string that way (the core breaks and the winding hangs around)... maybe I should also consider looking at my saddles...

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: string breakage

Or you can look at graphtech replacement saddles Bob. They will solve the problem on both your guitars. Also, to solve the saddle burr problem, take a length of one of your broken strings (using the same guage as sits in the saddle) and run it back and forth a few times lightly. That will usually take care of the burr problem also.

 

[midnite_man]

Re: string breakage

Or you can look at graphtech replacement saddles Bob. They will solve the problem on both your guitars. Also, to solve the saddle burr problem, take a length of one of your broken strings (using the same gauge as sits in the saddle) and run it back and forth a few times lightly. That will usually take care of the burr problem also.

Thanks for all the input on this guys. That's what I was kinda thinking, Jeff. At least for the Pauly. It's a Studio, and Graptech's would be a nice upgrade for it. The Strat's? I think I'll try running a small file thru 'em (I have a set of jeweler's files that would work) and also use some guitar string, put a little more of that Big Bends Nut Snot-stuff on there, restring the thing and see how that works.
Thanks again
....Bob

 

[midnite_man]

Re: string breakage

. . . but I used to have the whole string breaking problem all of the time too, untill I started wrapping the strings through the bridge differently. Now I wrap them through the neck side, and up overtop of the tailpiece and bridge . . . made a huge difference in how many strings I broke. If removing the burr doesn't work, you might want to try doing this.

I've read at this forum about several people who use this method of stringing their guitars....all I can say about this is if it works for you, that's cool. I've personally never strung a guitar like that, and won't because it's my opinion that it's not a proper way to do it. From a mechanical viewpoint, I just feel it makes the leverage different on that piece of hardware from what it was meant to be therefore putting more stress on what the tailpiece is in contact with, which in turn is in contact with the guitar's body. Might hurt it, might not. Might take some tone or sustain away from the guitar, might not. I'll let you guys debate it if you want, but I'm not going there.
Just my opinion, so 'nuff said.
....Bob

 

[Pandemonium]

Re: string breakage

Are they coming unraveled at the ball? If so a touch of solder will fix that.

 

[Ironjose]

Re: string breakage

I havent brake any strings since about 3 years.... well to tell you the truth a few weeks ago i broke my e string but the string was to old, like 3 months old and it was so rusty but still playeable....hehehe
JJ