It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:12 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 31 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 10:50 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:50 pm
Posts: 469
Location: TURKEY
Sorry 56 Strat , my rather clumsy illustration was purely to show a way in which the bridge could be lowered
I realise that nobody would actually set a neck like that , but just a smidgeon of forward tilt (half a credit card thickness maybe) would enable the saddles to be lowered
On my Strat , the neck is shimmed the other way with a minute shim nearest the neck pickup which slants it ever so slightly backwards as my saddles were originally way too low(Bad original neck set at the factory maybe?, with the top E almost on the deck)
Anyway, now they are raised just slightly and I have never broken a string in 17 years and the action is well within specs

_________________
Ted

"All right, guys, uh, listen. This is a blues riff in "B", watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?"


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 11:16 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:01 pm
Posts: 1479
Location: Los Angeles, USA
I had thought that strats were a "0 angle" neck since the saddles are pretty low compared to let's say a Les Paul or SG using a tune-o-matic where the saddles are substantially raised. I am currently working on a 69 SG with an ABR bridge and have come to realize unlike strats and teles where you just bolt on a neck and use a match book to shim if the action is too high these necks need to have the angle "set", which I have never done before. I brought the guitar to one of the best luthiers in the country today who happens to work not too far from me and he wanted too much to do this for me...so guess I am going to learn how to on my own. There are a few websites and youtubes that tell how but each one is giving totally different techniques so I reckon this is one of those things that you just "do" and "hope"....granted I am going to set the angle with the bridge and strings installed and feeler gauge it at the 12th fret. Then hope once glued and clamped nothing changes. What a pain in the butt compared to installing/adjusting a Fender neck.

_________________
I'm almost out of stuff to sell.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 1:13 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
I can't see the OP's pictures, but I wonder about the intonation on this guitar. If the bridges are pulled too far back, the angle on the bridge will be sharper, and breakage might occur more often (in addition to it sounding sour when playing high frets).


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 3:47 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:50 pm
Posts: 469
Location: TURKEY
I can't see them either , but it did indeed look like the strings were right at the front end of the hole as they emerged from the block and through the saddles (when I could see the pics)

_________________
Ted

"All right, guys, uh, listen. This is a blues riff in "B", watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 4:19 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:01 pm
Posts: 1479
Location: Los Angeles, USA
I remember the pic clearly and the string was breaking directly on the saddle.

_________________
I'm almost out of stuff to sell.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 4:20 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
ebaysux wrote:
I remember the pic clearly and the string was breaking directly on the saddle.


+1

That's what it appeared like to me as well.

Which is why my recommendation was to polish the saddle.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 5:33 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
ebaysux wrote:
I remember the pic clearly and the string was breaking directly on the saddle.

That wasn't the question about the pic - the question was the intonation. If the saddles are pulled too far back, it will make the angle on the saddle more acute, and increase the risk of breakage on the saddle. (Plus, it will require higher tension on the string, which also makes breakage slightly more likely.)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:36 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:01 pm
Posts: 1479
Location: Los Angeles, USA
arth1 wrote:
ebaysux wrote:
I remember the pic clearly and the string was breaking directly on the saddle.

That wasn't the question about the pic - the question was the intonation. If the saddles are pulled too far back, it will make the angle on the saddle more acute, and increase the risk of breakage on the saddle. (Plus, it will require higher tension on the string, which also makes breakage slightly more likely.)


I had thought someone wrote that the string was breaking as it came out of the hole which was not the case. I see what you are saying about the saddle position. I don't recall if the saddle was too far back but would assume the guitar was intonated at least being an EJ which is not exactly a beginners guitar. The poster stated once the saddles were replaced the problem went away for a year so it is safe to assume it is something else then the saddle moved back on its own. The poster did not mention he did any saddle adjustments before the problem returned which would be a pretty important detail to leave out if asking here about a string breakage problem on the saddle lol.

_________________
I'm almost out of stuff to sell.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 6:08 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 4:47 pm
Posts: 5
Hey, I'm sorry had not seen the messages before. Thank you all for the answers.
About the intonation, the guitar is intonated.
Before change the saddles, my luthier tried to put lubrificant on the saddle but it didin't solved the problem. So I contacted Fender and they sent me new saddles.
I think it's not normal this problem come back you really think it is?
My concern is fix it and after some time the problem come back again.
So all the vintage strats has this problem as mine? I don't think so... or have they?
I have friends with Standard Strats (Mexican) who do not have the same problem as I.

Other problem that this guitar has is:
The body in the neckplate region has a slight curvature, which made the original neckplate warping.

Photos:

breakage
https://www.dropbox.com/s/srmcswg7olmmle8/breakage.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d2gkanhcocsr5v4/breakage2.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ezn2vgtk236t2wm/breakage3.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dfezq7le25l7k70/breakage4.jpg

curvature
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wddwq8kgevtfzhm/curvature.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f6uzst9kv192srj/curvature2.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/868ruk1n7bn8wri/curvature3.jpg


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 6:48 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
Looking at the pictures, it does look like the angle over the saddle is more acute than usual. Judging by the screws for adjusting the action, it looks like the saddles are rather high up. On the guitar I have with vintage saddles, the height screws stick up, i.e. the saddles are much lower, and the action is still above average.

If you have to set the saddle height so high to get proper action could indicate a neck settling problem, and that you need to shim it (or adjust the shim if you have one).


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:32 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 4:47 pm
Posts: 5
arth1

It's a good question! I guess the angle is the problem. I talked with a luthier and he think the bridge may have been poorly manufactured and the angle is too acute, but does not rule out that the problem is in the neck, I'm waiting for an answer from Fender.

Can you post some photo of your bridge showing the angle of the strings?
Thanks!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 1:29 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:01 pm
Posts: 1479
Location: Los Angeles, USA
coimbra7 wrote:
arth1

It's a good question! I guess the angle is the problem. I talked with a luthier and he think the bridge may have been poorly manufactured and the angle is too acute, but does not rule out that the problem is in the neck, I'm waiting for an answer from Fender.

Can you post some photo of your bridge showing the angle of the strings?
Thanks!


Unless the particular bridge is a defect (which would be unlikely on an EJ) those vintage bridges have been pretty much the same spec since the 1950's and 100's of thousands of people would have the same problem. I would think more likely if there is an actual problem with the guitar itself causing the problem and not burr on the saddle it would be neck and/or setup.

_________________
I'm almost out of stuff to sell.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 1:38 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 2:32 pm
Posts: 235
Location: Rossendale, UK
The saddles look to be very high, which is in turn making the break angle worse.
Any chance of some photos of the guitar strung up and tuned to pitch - showing a collection of parts is not particularly helpful, as the problem is one of the instrument as a whole.
It would be most helpful to see where the neck and body join, along with the action at the neck/body join.

_________________
Chris


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:47 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 4:47 pm
Posts: 5
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yeah5ndiabvz6kn/IMG_20140621_032615.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fcady0a0b053524/IMG_20140621_032627.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wogny3rhsn88w9t/IMG_20140621_032814.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1725ho03y3dz4ju/IMG_20140621_032839.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cjmkixo0n7sy6g9/IMG_20140621_033055.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/apgc0f4lfqwos4a/IMG_20140621_033102.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ce4220vi0xb9vec/IMG_20140621_032639.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/33kevi6mbm6of4w/IMG_20140621_032653.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vaqp69kyar5da3r/IMG_20140621_032713.jpg

Still could not put the D string but there are some photos. I tried to put saddles down as you can see on the photos, but look I found a photo on internet and look the difference between the angles from my guitar to this:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/13ede7g4j5sj5la/angula%C3%A7%C3%A3o.jpg


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Johnson Breaking Strings
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 12:07 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:01 pm
Posts: 1479
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Yes you can see comparing the photo of the other guitar that your saddles seem high. Who set up your guitar?

As you can see from the following pic even my cheapo old early 90s Squire that sleeps with me, never had a case, and sounds like crap once plugged in... and worlds apart from an EJ has much lower saddle heights. I don't even remember the last time I changed the strings on it and I play this thing day and night...hard... I wake up sometimes still playing it. Granted I use 10s and keep it tuned 1/2 step down I see no reason why the saddles should be so high on your guitar if the neck is right.
Image

_________________
I'm almost out of stuff to sell.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 31 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: