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Post subject: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 9:35 pm
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I have been a fender lover and player for over 30 years. I'm a lefty and have 3 AM strats, and 2 1960's Mustangs.
I bought an American deluxe this year and have made it my main stage guitar, but not without making changes. The N3's are noisy in most environments.. So I replaced the guard and all and went HSS.. Problems solved.

The Issue that is ongoing, is that I'm continually breaking low E, A or D strings. I use Lite gauge strings (9-42) and have for years. On other guitars, for me to break a high E string from time to time was normal.. But This Strat has the Stainless saddles.. There is a defined bend (Presure point) on these bridges for all the strings, but particularly noticeable on the top three strings. Harmonics (Intonation) are set. I'm lucky to get 2 shows out of the strings on this Strat whereas my others I can go for many shows (12-15).

Has anyone else ran into this??
Maybe it's a defect / Warranty Fix??

Much Thanks!!
Don


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:41 am
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Bads saddles ? Can you see with a magnifier how bad they are ? You see a pressure point

Sure it is warranty , you should not break strings often . Return to the store.

You mod it with new pickups ! Is guitar still on warranty ?

Anyway ,buy new saddles they should not be expensive . Or use file .....


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:39 am
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I was also thinking this might have something to do with the pickup change...
First of all, it's the three thickest strings breaking, which is not common. On the .009 set, E/A/D are wound. Therefore, I'm thinking the breaking angle on the bridge saddle is too steep - as if the bridge saddle would be sitting right on top of the hole. Is there a "guillotine point", where the string runs from the saddle to the bridge plate hole?

Assuming the intonation (and the neck angle) are right (= the saddles are in the right place), the fix would require some dremeling, filing, sanding, polishing, buffing (etc.) on the contact point of the saddle, the hole on the saddle and possibly the hole on the bridge plate, too.
There's a chance this would be covered on warranty (if there's a burr on the saddles), but this kind of work needs to be done anyways at some point when the saddles wear.
[I recall Mr. Erlewine - a real guru on luthiering - being quite meticulous on saddle work in an interview somewhere; to a point where the saddle is re-electroplated...]

But a disclaimer: it's hard to diagnose on the net and with no pics, so the above just as a hint on where to look first..


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 7:16 am
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I believe you are 100% correct with the dremel tool part.
I just haven't ripped into it cause I wanted to know if this was a factory issue.
I know once I take a dremel to the saddle plate I'm going to void a warranty.
I will try and get a closeup pic or two later today.

;-)
Don


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:05 am
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Before you take a file to the bridge on your strat, have you tried changing string brand.

It may be you have had a bad batch of strings, you could even be unknowingly buying counterfit strings.

It may be worth a change of brand or supplier to see if the string is the issue.

I am suspiscious as it is all three wound strings you are having a problem with, I could believe that you may have a bur on one, maybe two but not all three.

If it is not the strings I would take it to a decent luthier to have a look at or even take it back to where you got it.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:37 am
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I don't think it's the strings..
I've gone through too many, so it's not a string batch.

My suspicions are that it's a Left handed bridge issue, so the
Right handed versions may not be seeing this issue at all.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:33 am
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dsimpson12 wrote:
I don't think it's the strings..
I've gone through too many, so it's not a string batch.

My suspicions are that it's a Left handed bridge issue, so the
Right handed versions may not be seeing this issue at all.


Hi there,
You should be able to point out exactly the area where breakages occur, just put back in place the broken string and you will see either it broke at the saddle, at the saddle hole or at the bridge plate hole. At least you know where to work with dremel.
A picture of the string angle at the saddle would reveal if the angle is too much pronounced. The cure in that case require a more deep setup of the guitar.

Alberto


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:02 am
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What's a "more deep" setup..?

dsimpson12, if you post pics, try to capture the bridge from straight up, plus from an angle on either side, plus if possible a view into the baseplate hole. (Yea, tricky, I know...)


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:37 pm
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Stings always breaks down on the plate where the sharper bend is at.

I'm planning on "egging" out the plate hole with a dremel tool.

Attached is a pic.
Image


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:05 pm
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Try good ( for steel ) sand paper first , it is more soft than a dremel bits wich turn too fast and could do a worst job .

Or small ( needle ) file .


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:40 pm
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Yep I see that break point on the low strings as they pass thru the hole.
Funny thing is most bridges I see have the saddle of the low E set much closer to the back of the bridge and as the diameter decreases the saddles move slightly closer to the nut.
This is not a hard and fast rule of course but it is a general trend.
Yours looks reverse ... Maybe because it is a lefty.
I'm sure you know what you are doing but moving that saddle to where it is may increase the break stress at the point where it comes thru the hole.
You could swap the bridge plate to another if you have the standard bridge.
Just looking for answers.:D


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:29 pm
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jmattis wrote:
What's a "more deep" setup..?

dsimpson12, if you post pics, try to capture the bridge from straight up, plus from an angle on either side, plus if possible a view into the baseplate hole. (Yea, tricky, I know...)


Perhaps deep is not he proper word...I meant that if the guitar is intonated and action is set where you want it but the string angle to the saddle is too pronounced, then you need to lower the saddle in order to reduce the angle. This will lower the action so either you raise the whole bridge at the 2 pivots or you act on micro-tilt to change neck angle and reset the action afterwards. Finally you need a new intonation too.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:43 pm
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jimmy_james wrote:
Funny thing is most bridges I see have the saddle of the low E set much closer to the back of the bridge and as the diameter decreases the saddles move slightly closer to the nut.
This is not a hard and fast rule of course but it is a general trend.
Yours looks reverse ... Maybe because it is a lefty.


+1
Those 3 saddles in low E A and D strings look too far away from the back of the bridge. They should be moved towards the top looking at the picture, in order to have good intonation. That is my experience with intonation, the lefty bridge should not differ IMHO


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:58 pm
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I agree with those above; the saddles look like they aren't positioned right. The lefty/righty does not affect scale and compensation.
(This, of course, may have nothing to do with the strings breaking - but often it would be logical to assume there is a connection.)

So: Is the neck aligned right? Is the neck angle correct? If you measure the scale for each string ("roughing it out" section in the setup guide), do you get right numbers? Are you sure the intonation is right?
IMHO, before dremeling (etc.), that guitar should be setup once again, starting from scratch.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 American Deluxe String Break problem
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 1:12 am
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jmattis wrote:
I agree with those above; the saddles look like they aren't positioned right. The lefty/righty does not affect scale and compensation.
(This, of course, may have nothing to do with the strings breaking - but often it would be logical to assume there is a connection.)

So: Is the neck aligned right? Is the neck angle correct? If you measure the scale for each string ("roughing it out" section in the setup guide), do you get right numbers? Are you sure the intonation is right?
IMHO, before dremeling (etc.), that guitar should be setup once again, starting from scratch.



A 30 years guitar player must see and heard if setting is right :lol:

A 2014 guitar is on warranty , i'll bring it back to the store


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