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Post subject: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:02 pm
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Hello, I live in Brazil and bought a Fender Eric Johnson Signature 2 years ago in US and I have some problems with it.
The main is:
the strings are breaking always in the saddle. I put a set of strings on Sunday and Tuesday through D broke even making what Fender says to do when strings are breaking on the saddle (passing machine oil in the saddle). It's really frustrating, one year ago I had the same problem, contacted Fender US and then they sent me 6 saddles and improved it, but now the problem turned.
Can someone help me?

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:39 pm
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Well if it is not a defective batch of strings then the only thing I can imagine is the saddle slot must have some burr or sharpness to it that does not agree with your playing style. What you can try to do is use some fine sandpaper and smooth the slot. You might need a good magnifying glass to see if you are making any real improvements.

From the pictures you posted it is clear the D string is breaking on the saddle itself so it stands to reason there is where the problem lies. You can try a different brand of strings and possibly a larger gauge but it seems this is somewhat of a typical issue with those saddles on strats and perhaps someone else has a more definitive solution. Not to mention the core of the D string is generally really flimsy to begin with so anything that can smooth out the contact point you would think should help at least to a degree.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 6:10 pm
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If you can get access to a dremel tool with a small buffing wheel, you could buff right where the string meets the saddle, this may help by giving the string a smooth contact point.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 6:23 pm
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Relic G Man wrote:
If you can get access to a dremel tool with a small buffing wheel, you could buff right where the string meets the saddle, this may help by giving the string a smooth contact point.


+1

If a Dremel tool is unavailable, try some some crocus cloth (any machinist or gunsmith will have some). If that doesn't cure the symptom you might try a different brand/gauge of strings.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:26 pm
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Thanks for the answers. I tried different strings and had the same problem: D'addario 11's, D'addario 10's, Ernie Ball 10's, Elixir 10's.
I guess that this problem is deeper than "the saddle is breaking strings" cause the old saddles was breaking strings, I changed it all and now (after 1 year) the new saddles are breaking strings too. What I mean is: even if I fix it with a buffing wheel after a time it will come back again...
Someone has noticed something like this?
Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:54 pm
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Is it always the D string?

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 3:25 am
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coimbra7 wrote:
Thanks for the answers. I tried different strings and had the same problem: D'addario 11's, D'addario 10's, Ernie Ball 10's, Elixir 10's.
I guess that this problem is deeper than "the saddle is breaking strings" cause the old saddles was breaking strings, I changed it all and now (after 1 year) the new saddles are breaking strings too. What I mean is: even if I fix it with a buffing wheel after a time it will come back again...
Someone has noticed something like this?
Thanks.



Don't worry too much, this is not rocket science. You either have an issue with a burr at the saddle or the top plate hole on the tremolo unit. As other already mentioned, Dremel tool or even a sand paper for metal surfaces can help. Or do the SRV/ Rene Martinez trick, put a plastic sleeve over the strings. Rene used electric wire insulation.

This is a good read, I think this can help fixing your issue.
http://www.guitar.com/articles/rene-mar ... ay-vaughan’s-guitar-tech


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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:55 am
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56Strat wrote:
[Or do the SRV/ Rene Martinez trick, put a plastic sleeve over the strings. Rene used electric wire insulation.


That might help albeit at some cost to the guitar's sustain and tone.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 5:57 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
That might help albeit at some cost to the guitar's sustain and tone.

Sustain and tone, major problems of SRV..? :lol: :lol: :lol:

(Sorry, arjay, but you just threw in a bait I couldn't resist...)


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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 6:06 am
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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 3:23 pm
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jmattis wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
That might help albeit at some cost to the guitar's sustain and tone.

Sustain and tone, major problems of SRV..? :lol: :lol: :lol:

(Sorry, arjay, but you just threw in a bait I couldn't resist...)


Not a "bait", sir.

When the metal-to-metal contact between the string and saddle is lost, some resonant energy transfer will be sacrificed. It may be small (perhaps even insignificant to the overall scheme of things) but it is a demonstrable principle of physics. I caution only to be aware that this *may* occur.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:33 pm
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As I understand it, the insulation trick was to stop breakage at the point that the strings come out of the hole. The insulation does not go over the bridge saddle.

I used to take a file to those kinds of saddles when they would start breaking strings.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 7:16 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:
As I understand it, the insulation trick was to stop breakage at the point that the strings come out of the hole. The insulation does not go over the bridge saddle.

I used to take a file to those kinds of saddles when they would start breaking strings.


A valid concept in that case. But from the OP's photos it appears that the fracture is occurring right at the saddle's fulcrum point, in which case insulating the string from the trem block to just ahead of the saddle hump would seem to be of little practical value.

It is an unusual situation for sure. And it may well require extraordinary means to correct.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 9:28 am
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Looking at the break angle of the strings passing over the bridge , it looks way too steep
If everything else fails, try shimming the neck slightly on the side furthest away from the neck pickup , that will bring the neck upwards necessitating in then lowering the bridge saddles (which seem unusually high) and that would create a shallower break angle (and obviously smoothing the offending saddle with fine wet and dry and applying a little lube)

Please excuse the very crudely drawn illustration, but here is what I mean

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:56 pm
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Ted, sorry but that's not how you want it. The shim in the neck pocket goes closest to the neck PU. The neck should not go upwards as in your sketch.


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