Strings breaking at the tuners
- Thread starter Archer250
- Start date
Ayrton
New member
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
A few things to consider...
What style of tuners?
How are you winding the strings?
How many times has this happened?
Has anything changed (brand or size of strings?)
Have you looked at the tuner where the strings breaks to see if you can find a flaw or burr?
A few things to consider...
What style of tuners?
How are you winding the strings?
How many times has this happened?
Has anything changed (brand or size of strings?)
Have you looked at the tuner where the strings breaks to see if you can find a flaw or burr?
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
Sounds like a bur (or sharp edge) around the hole in the tuner. Get a small fine rat-tail file and smooth out all the edges.
It is rare when this happens (the sharp edge), but I have experienced it a couple times. It's very easy to correct with a file if you like and want to keep the tuners. If they are crap tuners to begin with, don't waste your time, just change them. Planet Waves makes really great locking self-trimming tuners.
Sounds like a bur (or sharp edge) around the hole in the tuner. Get a small fine rat-tail file and smooth out all the edges.
It is rare when this happens (the sharp edge), but I have experienced it a couple times. It's very easy to correct with a file if you like and want to keep the tuners. If they are crap tuners to begin with, don't waste your time, just change them. Planet Waves makes really great locking self-trimming tuners.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
Tell us what kind of tuners of course. Even if you can't find and/or soften the burr or angle that is causing it, try leaving the string very long, so there are lots of winds to distribute the pressure AND force the string's last revolution down onto the smoother part of the tuner post, instead of the part that still has angles in it from the hole.
Tell us what kind of tuners of course. Even if you can't find and/or soften the burr or angle that is causing it, try leaving the string very long, so there are lots of winds to distribute the pressure AND force the string's last revolution down onto the smoother part of the tuner post, instead of the part that still has angles in it from the hole.
zenmindbeginner
New member
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
The high E locking tuners will usually cut the string for me... sometimes just cut the damn string.
Schallers are supposed to be high dollar but they like to break the string at the bushing... every locking Schaller set I have does this, makes changing strings full of suspense. lolz
The high E locking tuners will usually cut the string for me... sometimes just cut the damn string.
Schallers are supposed to be high dollar but they like to break the string at the bushing... every locking Schaller set I have does this, makes changing strings full of suspense. lolz
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
Non-locking ones... Grover clones, to be exact.
I have a Floyd, so I wind the ball ends through the tuners and give the strings about three turns around the head.
This has happened once every two times I change strings, and has sometimes happened successively.
I switch between Ernie Ball and Fenders every month.
There are sharp edges on every tuner, but this problem is endemic to the high E.
Non-locking ones... Grover clones, to be exact.
I have a Floyd, so I wind the ball ends through the tuners and give the strings about three turns around the head.
This has happened once every two times I change strings, and has sometimes happened successively.
I switch between Ernie Ball and Fenders every month.
There are sharp edges on every tuner, but this problem is endemic to the high E.
jimsreynolds
New member
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
All of the above. And if all else fails, look into Graphtech string saver saddles. Good rep.
All of the above. And if all else fails, look into Graphtech string saver saddles. Good rep.
Archer250
Well-known member
jimsreynolds
New member
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
Whoops! Then I humbly withdraw my impractical suggestion ☺
Whoops! Then I humbly withdraw my impractical suggestion ☺
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
There's slightly more resistance on one side... well, I'm off to buy some new tuners today. A store I know has both Schaller and Gotoh in store...
There's slightly more resistance on one side... well, I'm off to buy some new tuners today. A store I know has both Schaller and Gotoh in store...
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
Please stop stringing your guitar with the ball ends at the tuner. I'm surprised no one has jumped on this yet. You are likely putting burrs, dings, and other deformations into the tuner post, as well as kinking the string across the wraps. I you're leaving the ball ends long and it's only the straight string that's touching the tuner, that's a little bit better.
But (although this doesn't directly affect your tuner breakage issue) for a Floyd, many strings are made in such a way that there is a little work hardening or burnish or whatever often just in front of the wraps from the ball end. You want that to be right at the saddle lock. On the wound strings it's also rumored that some strings have the winds a little more "locked in" near the ball end. So cutting the ball end off is less likely to result in slackened windings. I fear no matter what quality tuners you buy, you'll be creating this problem again.
Please stop stringing your guitar with the ball ends at the tuner. I'm surprised no one has jumped on this yet. You are likely putting burrs, dings, and other deformations into the tuner post, as well as kinking the string across the wraps. I you're leaving the ball ends long and it's only the straight string that's touching the tuner, that's a little bit better.
But (although this doesn't directly affect your tuner breakage issue) for a Floyd, many strings are made in such a way that there is a little work hardening or burnish or whatever often just in front of the wraps from the ball end. You want that to be right at the saddle lock. On the wound strings it's also rumored that some strings have the winds a little more "locked in" near the ball end. So cutting the ball end off is less likely to result in slackened windings. I fear no matter what quality tuners you buy, you'll be creating this problem again.
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
Wow, thanks a ton. I suspected that that was the issue, but I've never had that problem with my other Floyd-equipped guitar.
Wow, thanks a ton. I suspected that that was the issue, but I've never had that problem with my other Floyd-equipped guitar.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
Probably has a higher grade steel tuner than the Ibanez
I would suggest locking tuners and dyking the ball ends off
This is what I did on my Edge III
Locking tuners just make string changes sooooooo much easier
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
Probably has a higher grade steel tuner than the Ibanez
I would suggest locking tuners and dyking the ball ends off
This is what I did on my Edge III
Locking tuners just make string changes sooooooo much easier
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
Archer250
Well-known member
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
its possible, but it shouldn't be the problem, I've have tones of flooded guitars and always put the ball end by the tuners and never had that problem. Unless the metal on the tuners is just ungodly soft and cheap
its possible, but it shouldn't be the problem, I've have tones of flooded guitars and always put the ball end by the tuners and never had that problem. Unless the metal on the tuners is just ungodly soft and cheap
Ayrton
New member
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
I have never been convinced that stringing backwards cause problems with the tuners. I have been string my locking trem guitars this way since the late '80's, and have yet to have an issue.
I think the problem here is a poor quality tuner, and it sounds like the OP is resolving that.
I have never been convinced that stringing backwards cause problems with the tuners. I have been string my locking trem guitars this way since the late '80's, and have yet to have an issue.
I think the problem here is a poor quality tuner, and it sounds like the OP is resolving that.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Strings breaking at the tuners
Oh
Nevermind
Still I would suggest locking tuners
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
Oh
Nevermind
Still I would suggest locking tuners
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
