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Post subject: Problem:High E keeps breaking
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 4:27 pm
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my high e on my Am.Sd strat keeps breaking.... every single time on the 13th fret. i have snapped it 3 times in 3 weeks at the same spot (13th fret). i play alot of blues and songs that use bends at that particular fret so could that be a problem?? i don't think there are any sharp spots on that fret so what could be the problem?? i am playing 9-42 fender bullets.. could somebody help me on why that keeps happening and reccomend a quality 10 gauge set maybe cryo treated or something. thanks for the help.

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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 4:45 pm
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dont bother with cryo's they should be called crappo's. Wheres the string breaking saddle, fretboard or nut?

Theres a school of thought on the forum that attributes string bend breakage to technique. Whilst not wholly agreeing or disagreeing with theory, it does come from people of knowledge. Pay attention to touch and how you attack bends. If the strings breaking at the saddle it could need filing down a bit, i use 1500 grit sandpaper lightly in the groove of the saddle.

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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:17 pm
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Pay attention to EXACTLY where the strings are breaking. If they break in the same place all the time, you can zero in on where the probability of a sharp edge on something exists. (This includes from your pick too, believe it or not.) If the strings are breaking in random places, it could be a technique issue from your bend in which case, try using a slightly heavier string and/or try being less aggressive with your bend.

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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:28 pm
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they break almost everytime i can remember right at the 13th fret.... i think i have pretty good bending technique ( ie. bending with 3 fingers, and using the wrist as a pivot when bending) and it is usually when i am playing Layla which that bend is used quite often.. could that be it?? i do pick fairly hard but so do a lot of people. it's part of my tone being able to really dig in when i play. any other advice guys???

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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:02 pm
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If you are playing blues why are you playing with lights? Why not play with a normal set of 10's or 11's to get that thicker tone? So when the string breaks, you have two parts? One is connected to the bridge while the other is connect to your nut?


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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:06 pm
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that is correct VADER... and yes i am gonna move up to at least 10's

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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:57 pm
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Try either replacing or filing the nut on the high e. Also I would recommend maybe checking out the bridge saddle on the high e. That might fix it.


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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:41 am
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Three times in three weeks seems like there could be an adjustment needed as mentioned in the previous posts. I agree with trying heavier gauge strings too.

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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:56 pm
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if it breaks in the same spot (13th fret) then I would think its the fret ....
otherwise it would brake in random places.. :D


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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:24 pm
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In addition to all the other good advice, I've found that Thomastik/Infield strings are made of some kind of super flexible steel. I've never broken one yet.


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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:12 pm
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nikininja wrote:
Theres a school of thought on the forum that attributes string bend breakage to technique. Whilst not wholly agreeing or disagreeing with theory, it does come from people of knowledge. Pay attention to touch and how you attack bends.


Haha! Delicately put: thank you. That "school of thought" was a suggestion I made a couple of times to people who's strings kept mysteriously breaking around the middle for no apparent reason, instead of at the saddle which is the norm.

The first time I suggested it the gentleman came back and very generously said it had solved his problem, which was nice. I got something right at last! The second time was more recently and we haven't yet heard what the answer turned out to be.

There's several threads with titles along the lines of "string keeps breaking in the middle" that are full of ideas, if anyone feels like looking back across the Forum.

Cheers - C


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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:25 pm
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The last time i had a string break in the middle i was 16 and tuning to the region of bat language. The last time i broke a string at the machinehead was 7 weeks ago on a guitar i hadn't changed string on for about a year. As we all know there are mechanical reasons for breaks at these points though. I'd just hate to accuse the next django of being inexperienced and hearing em spout off about some dumb brummie on a forum the next time their on tv. :D

Ceri your far more correct than you give yourself credit for. I cant remember you being wrong about anything. Lets not forget, true intellegence is the thirst for knowledge.

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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:53 pm
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nikininja wrote:
The last time i had a string break in the middle i was 16 and tuning to the region of bat language. The last time i broke a string at the machinehead was 7 weeks ago on a guitar i hadn't changed string on for about a year. As we all know there are mechanical reasons for breaks at these points though. I'd just hate to accuse the next django of being inexperienced and hearing em spout off about some dumb brummie on a forum the next time their on tv. :D

Ceri your far more correct than you give yourself credit for. I cant remember you being wrong about anything. Lets not forget, true intellegence is the thirst for knowledge.


Hahaha! Niki, ever since one of your very first posts when I made the enormous mistake of offering you beginner advice on something or other, from that moment on I always try to hedge "basic" type suggestions around with caveats like, "I don't know your experience level" or "you may know all this already".

At least I try to learn my lessons :lol: .

Cheers, man - C


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