Hi everyone, I'm looking for suggestions, tricks, ideas so I can stop this from happening. I spent all summer experiencing with open tunings on my acoustic Yamaha FG403S that I bought new in 2005. I never broke a string before I started the open tuning thing this summer.
I'll play a few songs in standard E, then a few ones in open D, then a few ones in open G, and when I tune it back in standard E, the small E string breaks near the tuning peg. It can take up to three or four days before it happens but it will break eventually. I use D'addario EJ16 (0.012-0.053) phosphore bronze since the day I bought the guitar, and I change them about once a month. I recently tried two sets of D'Addario EXP which are much more expensive strings with the same result. Now I'm changing strings once a week.
So, should I file the hole of the tuning peg, change the machine heads, try another brand on strings, keep changing strings, try an exorcism? I can't buy a guitar for each one of the different tunings that I like to try. I know that this is not an expensive guitar, but as it happens only while tuning up to standard E, there has to be a problem with the peg itself.
All ideas are welcome and I really want to do something about this. See ya.

Claude.

Claude- It sounds like you have a sharp edge on your E tuner. You can try a small needle file to smooth out the edge or take it to a tech. The more drastic route is to change the tuners but I think you can save this one. Keep us posted!!

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Yeh, Billy's theory seems the most obvious one... but I'm surprised your E string is breaking if you're using 12s - this problem is far more common on lighter strings, particularly 8s but also 9s and 10s.

One kinda obvious question... are your tunings referenced to concert pitch (A440)? I just wonder whether you might be playing very sharp (although the guitar is in tune with itself) and over-tensioning the strings...

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I always tune dead on A440.
Claude.

Could it have anything to do with the way you put your small e string around the post? I have a hard time imagining a sharp place on the post that manages to line up just perfectly to break a string on a regular basis.

Try doing about 5 winds around the post with the wind always going closer to the headstock that the wind before.

Hi stratoBobster, I restring like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jHUg--teQE
But since I started playing open tunings, I do a four to five turns around the post, because of the different tunings, more or less tension on the string.
Claude.

Hi Claude,

I believe the method you are using is a good, straight forward method to string up your instrument. As long as you are getting enough winds (which you are) and each wind is below the previous wind, you should be fine.

You are a brave player to combine tuning changes with a Bigsby trem (if you are using one).

I play with a hard pick (Dunlop Jazz III) and use a lot of attack. In three years I don't think I have broken a string. The last set lasted me three months. When I was giging, I changed strings ever week or two.

That stringing method will allow the strings to slip slightly no matter how many wraps you put on the string. What's happening is that when you tune down the string slips slightly. When you tune back up there's a little crease in the string and that's where it breaks. Try using this method that locks the strings in place: http://www.stringthis.com/howtostringu.html

I only have two wraps on all my guitars and I have never had one go out of tune from slippage and I have had no breakage problems at the tuning machines.

Looks great, thanks flyingarmadillo, I'll use this method on my next string change.
Claude.

That page is a keeper, Thank you John.E