Musician Gear & Tech Discussion

Yeah SRV used the plasitc from electrical wiring. His tech would just pull out the copper wire inside and use the plastic and rest that on the saddle. The only problem that might occur that I see, you might lose sustain, but then again I never tried it. Worked for him obviously.

Another method would to go to a local jeweler and ask to borrow a diamond file and gently knaw that bur out. I just got this advice from a friend cause I've broken 5 strings in two weeks. Stupid I know, (BRICK!)
"Oh maybe It's not how hard I've been playing after all." (DUH!)

i use to break strings all the time especially the high e's.Why?was'nt stringing them properly.Did'nt know it mattered but it does.Maybe you already do it right but its just a suggestion. lighter strings help to,though they lose there brightness quicker.

Back when I played guitar, I went through strings like people go through underwear. They just broke in every show. Sometimes the same string more than once. But I also noticed that, no matter how clean I tried to keep the strings and the guitar itself, wherever I touched them they discolored very quickly. I noticed other guitarists didnt seem to have this issue.

So the question I have always had in my mind...does personal body chemistry have anything to do with the breakage issue? NOTE: I don't have the same problem since I switched to celtic harp (bronze phosphur strings).

Yep, heard of it before. Has to do with ph in your sweat.

Strings got sweaty, yes?

Oh yeah...I've always sweated alot in performances. Used to run down into my eyes and burn like a mofo.

I'm using the lightest acoustic strings I could find: 10s . . .
I play anywhere from 1-4 hours a day, about 6 days a week. And I haven't broken a string in well over 25 - 30 years.
And, I don't change my strings often enough - maybe once every 6 weeks.
Why? I'm just too damned lazy.

But, when I change them, if I hold them up to the light, I can see notches worn deep into the strings. That's the G, D, A, and Low E strings . . . the wound strings. . . . worn up to about 14 - 15 frets or so . . .
The High E and B strings come off scalloped, where they're bent over the frets.
But, even though the strings are severely damaged - I still don't break them. Ever.
.
In the warm weather, my strings are covered with sweat, and the entire fretboard also, and the back of the neck, too.
If you break the same string twice in the same night, it's certainly not due to sweat.
Maybe the saddle was too sharp, - if that's where it was breaking.
Some fine crocus clothe and 15 minutes would have taken care of that . . .
. . . or maybe you were hitting the strings instead of strumming them? Or plucking them too hard (to increase the volume, maybe)?
.
naahhhh . . . forget all that.

. . . defective strings.

I never break strings on either my electric (Gibson Les Paul Custom) or my acoustic (Ovation). I have a very strong left hand vibrato and I play alot of bends and never break strings. Also playing an acoustic I am used to picking very hard because it is obviously harder to play runs on on acoustic then an electric. I wear strings out fast, but they don't break.

If a player is breaking strings on a regular basis, keeps breaking the same string and in the same spot, the cause is most likely a sharp spot in that general area.

If the ball ends are coming off, then they are most likely cheap strings. For the record I have played Dean Markely 9s and 10s for 20 years and I think in 20 years I have had like 8 - 10 strings break.

I play anywhere from 1 - 3 hours a day 4 or more times a week. If I don't change strings for say several months and they get really ratty, that's when they will break on me.

I use the heaviest strings I can find and break them like they made to last a day. If you play hard and you use your fret hand for vibrato bends, they break.

I carry 4 packs of strings at a time and expect to use at least 2 sets a show.

SRV broke strings like they were a dime a dozen. Faq it, strings are cheeaapp.

If you keep breaking a certain string, take your finger and run it over and through the saddles/bridge. If it has a bur, you can either see it or feel it.

If you find one, use a file and file that sucker a little bit. It might not be perfect, but it will be better than it was.

Here is where I add that I haven't broken a harp string in eight years.

KNOCK ON WOOD, FERVENTLY

Yeah, I bet those strings are a lot more expensive.

The nylon ones are about five bucks a piece. The bronze ones around 8 bucks. How expensive are guitar strings these days?

For a set of Martin Acoustic extra lights (.010 - .047), I've been paying $7.

I used to be notorious for breaking strings. I corrected that problem by:
(1) Correcting my picking technique. Correcting my technique wasn't easy after so many years of repetitively-reinforcing an improper pick-holding technique; it took conscious effort over many months. Now I can lots more control over picking dynamics. I think this reduced my string-breakage issues more effectively than anything else;
(2) Changing to DR strings; and changing complete sets of strings often;
(3) Replacing the bridge saddles on my Les Pauls with Graphtec saddles; the Strats are going to get those next!

Between all of these, my tone has greatly improved at the base. I even switched to Heavy gauge picks from Mediums. I feel that they respond faster and are more articulate than thinner picks. Oh, speaking of picks and string breakage, I try to be conscious of the pick's edges to make sure that a nick or worn edge won't grab a string and break it. After a pickslide or some other aggressive trick, I chuck it and go for a fresh one.

(If you really want to tear up a set of strings, use stainless steel picks and do lots of pickslides! Yikes!!! Windings will be hanging off of the strings in the middle of the fretboard all fuzzy-like... My 'ol guitar roadie took one look at all those shiny new steel picks on my mic stand pic-holder, gave me the stink-eye and said, "I hate you.")



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Lighter pick? And more volume on the amp.

I still haven't broken a string for 25 - 30 years, yet I still play 5 - 6 days a week.
One doesn't need to bang the strings so hard that they break. If one requires more volume, then - just adjust the volume dial.
I feel one should develope the ability to play without damaging the instrument.