#1
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Broke my first string today
Three years in and my e string broke as I was tuning down for open G tuning.
I’ve been switching this guitar from Drop D to Open G regularly and think that may be the cause. It was a little shocking.
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Martin GP 35E 2017 Gibson J-45 Standard 2019 Martin OM15 Custom 2019 |
#2
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How old is this set, JSchmitz?
Broken strings used to be a regular thing for me - especially but not limited to the high G string on a 12. Not these days. I can't remember the last time I broke a string. Years back at least, maybe 10 years or more. So what's different?
I don't know the answers, I'm just posing the question.
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Tacoma Thunderhawk baritone, spruce & maple. Maton SRS60C, cedar & Queensland Maple. Maton Messiah 808, spruce & rosewood. Cole Clark Angel 3, Huon Pine & silkwood. Cole Clark Fat Lady 2 12-string, Bunya & Blackwood. |
#3
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Don't tell me.
You have to go to town to buy A set. |
#4
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The strings were about one month old Martin Authentic Mediums which I was hoping to replace with Ernie Ball Earthwood Medium Lights 12-54. I was sold on the mediums for some time but in hindsight I think it dulled the guitar and made it a bit bass heavy. The new Earthwood strings which I had in stock, sound fuller and the trebles seem to sing.
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Martin GP 35E 2017 Gibson J-45 Standard 2019 Martin OM15 Custom 2019 |
#5
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Quote:
David Wilcox (king of retuning on the fly) at a seminar he taught, and in his video from the mid-90s said that if you wrap the wound strings down to the bottom of the shaft, you will have less breakage if you tune up-down frequently. I started doing it and have not broken a 3rd string since (any string since). I used to break the third strings a lot from the constant re-tuning. [/img] Don't know why, but it works. He says the further down the shaft the less stress from winding-unwinding. Perhaps so. |
#6
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Quote:
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Martin GP 35E 2017 Gibson J-45 Standard 2019 Martin OM15 Custom 2019 Last edited by Kerbie; 05-06-2021 at 06:42 AM. Reason: Fixed quote. |
#7
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alternate tuning is a sting killer.. it's just a side effect of the cool stuff you can get out of whacky tunings.
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Ray Gibson SJ200 Taylor Grand Symphony Taylor 514CE-NY Taylor 814CE Deluxe V-Class Guild F1512 Alvarez DY74 Snowflake ('78) |
#8
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I had a string break on my Eastman while it was in the case. I don't know if I've ever had that happen before.
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Martin D18 Gibson J45 Martin 00015sm Gibson J200 Furch MC Yellow Gc-CR SPA Guild G212 Eastman E2OM-CD |
#9
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"Don't know why, but it works."
The diameter of the string post increases as it gets closer to the headstock. Thus, the string bends around the post at a greater angle, reducing the stress concentration. Consider the proverbial example of bending a paperclip back and forth. If bent at a sharp angle, like in the jaws of pliers, it will break rather quickly. Now hold a paper clip between your round fingers, it will take many more cycles to break the clip. |
#10
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Quote:
I will try the 'further down the shaft' thing for sure, thanks for sharing! to the OP -- haha, yes it is quite shocking when it snaps isn't it! |
#11
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Quote:
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'59 Gibson J-45 "Spot" '21 Gibson LG-2 - 50's Reissue '94 Taylor 710 '18 Martin 000-17E "Willie" ‘23 Taylor AD12e-SB '22 Taylor GTe Blacktop '15 Martin 000X1AE https://pandora.app.link/ysqc6ey22hb |
#12
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Did the string break at the tuner? Also, as Larry mentioned above, I too wrap my string underneath.
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#13
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Quote:
What I found surprising was that it broke as I was taking tension off the string, tuning down from e to D but maybe that’s not uncommon, it’s my first.
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Martin GP 35E 2017 Gibson J-45 Standard 2019 Martin OM15 Custom 2019 |
#14
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Quote:
Pull the string through the hole till you have about an inch of up and down play left on the fretboard. Wind the string downwards and make certain when the part sticking out of the hole comes around that it goes over the string as you are tightening. Normally you will only go around the pole once, sometimes twice. If it is a wound string you don't have to worry about the following: tune the string to level you play that is HIGHEST. Once it stops slipping and holds, bend the string backwards so it will catch and then clip it. With wound strings you can just tune it and clip it. Normally they will never slip. Yer done.
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The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none. TC Taylor, DN3--Martin, JC15E--Taylor, M522--etcetera |
#15
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Switching often between different tunings can cause metal fatigue. You may have had a bad string as well.
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