Broke a string today

  • Thread starter Thread starter ido1957
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ido1957

ido1957

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On my Pacer. I can't remember the last time I broke a string really. Good thing I had a backup Strat. Powered through a 2.5 hour non stop practice today. Good overdue workout for my memory, fingers and voice.

Also had static followed by big volume drop in my amp. It lasted a few seconds each time. Tubes going again probably (always has been in the past). Did it three times towards the beginning half hour but then it didn't again. No gigs so I can wait until it dies completely. lol...
 
I haven't broken a string for a decade or more - I used to break Bass A strings frequently but I've lightened my touch & not playing gigs means I don't need to hit as hard to be heard.
I've changed two sets of strings in the last week though - my Epi Sheraton has to date sounded bassy & dull so I changed strings (Ernie Ball Slinkys) & the thing sounds ever so much brighter and more fun to play. I did similarly on my tele copy ($80 delivered - THAT cheap) as I thought it was bowing - new strings on, capo on 1st checked and no bow - must've just been unhappy with the guitar generally - sounds a little better for the strings.
My biggest shock was how quickly they came to & stayed in tune.
Hope your amp gets over it's cold Ido!
 
Man, I never break strings. I used to when I was much younger, but I think I've refined my picking/strumming/bashing enough that it doesn't break things anymore.

Now watch....next time I play I'm gonna break one.
 
Today was a workout in many ways. Bridget and I went to dinner after practice, at the Keg Steak house to spend our gift cards. My $100 gift cards were gone quickly - had to fork out a couple of 20's for balance and tip. My daughter brought a bunch of friends over to pre-drink before the bar. I ended up shovelling for an hour to clear the walks after it snowed all day. Now the wind is blowing the snow all back on them so I'll be out again tomorrow. The girls are all wearing high heels so I figured I'd shovel early to reduce the wet feet they got coming in lol fashion....
 
broke one on Sunday,not broke one for ages :)

but i did buy 2 new sets on Friday so i beat the sh*t outta the old ones :D

freshly strung with 8`s
 
I used to break the Ds on my basses and Gs on my guitars. I remember the state of shock I felt when I broke my first string. :eek:
 
I break strings a lot - moreso if I use nickel-wound - then it's mainly the D string, and usually just the winding.

I had a volume drop and -silencio- on my newly acquired old amp - pulled out a scorched (brand new) tube. Took it [back] to the shop and the word today is that it was just a bad tube, which in turn blew a fuse. Nothing else wrong. whew. Anyway, I guess it would be good to change tubes at your next convenience unless you carry about both tubes *and* fuses.
 
very rarely break a string ..... when I do it's almost always the little E and almost always when the strings have been on there a while.
But generally I'll break one or two a year and that's with pretty constant gigging.
 
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I haven't broken a string since I moved up from 9's to 10's (one axe has got 11's on)
 
Whenever I break a string, I immediately assume my whole guitar is broken beyond repair and a look of astonishment crosses my face. Then I realize that I just broke a string, and I call Dunlop and complain about how my G-string broke after 3 months of abuse, how they should send me a fresh pack every month, for free. No response yet...
 
I can't remember the last time I broke a string while playing.

However, I have a nylon string acoustic that will occasionally break a string while it's in its case. The D string likes to break on its own, no playing required. Weird, I never could figure out what the deal was with that. Although I don't think it's happened since I started using Oasis soundhole humidifiers a couple of years ago. Could the wood really move enough to break a string when it's dehydrated?
 
Tadpui said:
I can't remember the last time I broke a string while playing.

However, I have a nylon string acoustic that will occasionally break a string while it's in its case. The D string likes to break on its own, no playing required. Weird, I never could figure out what the deal was with that. Although I don't think it's happened since I started using Oasis soundhole humidifiers a couple of years ago. Could the wood really move enough to break a string when it's dehydrated?
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No, it wont.

The D on a nylon set is always the first to go. It has a high tension close to the stress point and as soon as it starts to wear on the fret your time is limited.
 
muttley600 said:
No, it wont.

The D on a nylon set is always the first to go. It has a high tension close to the stress point and as soon as it starts to wear on the fret your time is limited.
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Good to know. It's always a surprise to open the case and find that I'm down a string before even picking up the guitar!

I used to keep it hanging on the wall and every once in a while I would hear that D string break in the other room, out of nowhere, in a quiet house. That'll pick up your blood pressure!
 
The weakness is in the core. You may have noticed that the winding wears and after that you get the filament fraying. Detuning when you're not playing it can help but after a while it gets to the point where the string is so worn that it loses it's uniformity and the intonation goes to pot. The less mass per unit length the more you'll notice it thats why the D is the worst culprit. Keeping the frets clean and well polished can help a bit but it's the nature of thing I'm afraid.
 
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