Strat String Breaker

  • Thread starter Thread starter LeeJ
  • Start date Start date
I had the same breakage problems with mt Strat. when new, it was a nightmare so I removed each saddle and filed them smooth using small die files. That was in '86 and I very rarely break strings.
It looked to me like a casting fault, the mold finish was OK but not good enough, whatever, the filing fixed it.
 
I have a vintage strat that I never break a sring on. I have a mexican strat that I break the little E on just about everytime I giged with it. I have replaced the saddle...still broke strings. I think the bridgeplate or the block may be the problem. I keep that strat tuned in open E now and use it for slide only. If I ever start using it as a main guitar again, im going to take the entire bridge assembly apart and file the edges of the block holes, and file the bridgeplae holes into a longer oval pattern, so it doesn't make contact with the strings.

File every edge that touches your string and, by the process of elimination, you will fix the problem.
 
The saddles on my Les Paul get worn from the wound strings and I used to snap a D string once in a while. The winding on the string cuts a spiral pattern into the saddle. You have to look really close to se it.
I use 1200 grit sand paper. Just fold it once or twice and polish the notch in the saddle till it looks smooth. Also rounded over the front of the saddle a little where it comes to an edge. I use pencil lead(graphite) to lube the saddles. Just tune to pitch, Carefully lift each string out of it's notch, and twirl the pencil point in it. it will grind enough graphite to fill the notch.
After analyzing my playing style, I came to the conclusion that my pick was a little heavy for my style and string gauge. I switched from Fender medium picks to dunlop tortex (the orange ones) I'm not sure of the gauge, but they're slightly lighter, and they last a lot longer too. I use D'addario 10's.
I've pretty much eliminated the problem completely.
 
LeeJ said:
Which Gibsons are they then? Im gonna try a string change. If it cures my problem have a look on e-bay soon. Theres gonna be a 20 packets of Ernies on there soon!!!
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i was using the les paul 10's, but either they stopped making them in 10's, or the store i get my strings from stopped carrying them. so i changed to the vintage re-issues in 10's and recently i started using bb king medium bottom, heavy top strings.

I don't gig yet, so prett much the only time i change strings is when i record, or i get so disgusted with the sound of the strings that i HAVE to change them. i normally go months without re stringing. I've had my les paul for a year and a half and i think i've only put like 5 or 6 sets of strings on it. i'm going to start changing at least monthly though......at least on my 2 guitars i play often.

i was just using the gibsons as an example though. someone else might have more experience with more strings and think something else will last longer.

apparently elixers last a long time, and the new ones are actually supposed to sound good........i don't know though. soon after elixers came out a friend of mine put them on his acoustic and i played it.........not only did they feel weird, they sounded bad. but lots of people swear that the new ones sound good now.
 
LeeJ said:
OK, Im reeeeeally P!$$ed off now. I've had my US Strat Plus for 17 years now and recently, say within the last 4 years, I've been going through strings (especially 0.26 D string) at a rate of every other gig. Sometimes I'll string it completely on the Monday, gig on the Wednesday, gig on the Thursday (break a D string) and re-string on the Friday, ready for the weekend. The bridge saddles are those US powder coated type. It seems like the strings are cutting grooves into the saddles. I remove all the burrs with wet 'n' dry everytime I re-string. I have replaced the saddles with new ones (the same type) but to no effect.

So, would replacing my bridge with a vintage US strat bridge with the nickel saddles cure my problem?? (Yes I know the vintage one has 6 screws but it'll be worth it if it works.)

Any ideas, help or suggestions are welcome. (and no Im not going to buy a Les Paul!!)
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Go buy a Les Paul
 
goldtopchas said:
Which ones ? What do you mean?
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are you talking to me? i assume you're asking about the elixers? i was referring to whatever the newest version is........i think there's only 2.....i don't remember what they're called........but if you search this site, there are quite a few people that swear by the newest ones whatever those are called. oh and I said new, but i just meant whatever is the most recent type of elixer strings. they could be a couple years old already, i dunno because i tried the originals and immediately wrote elixers off and haven't followed what they've done since they first came out.
 
Zona Mona said:
my LP is an offbreand copy, which ones should I get?
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Go to grahptech's website [hey sorry I do not have it here, but it should not take you too long to find that one out eh?] and then you will find info on the type of bridge you have [ probably a Tune-O-Matic type] and there will be info on what type of Tune O Matic, there will be info about a numer on your bridge, and this number will be on the website, and they have grahp saddles which go along with this number.

I had a pupil about one month ago who had similar problem and together we looked at the graph tech website and it was all there, he got an address of a dealer here in the UK and ordered his set through them. So all in all it should not be too hard to get yours too.

I agree on what many of you have mentioned before: When breaking strings, look at where you break them, is it at the saddle point?, or the tuner?, or perhaps even at the nut?. Sometimes you may break them in the middle of the neck on a sharp fret. Look for sharp edges on your bridge, nut, or tuner and also check your frets for any sharp edges.

Putting graph tech saddles in your guitar is not fool-proof, you may still break strings, so you also need to look at your picking style, the kind of picks you are using [try different picks as they all will make you sound different anyway---pick is a tonecontrol you can use to match the song or ideas you are playing---]and perhaps also the different type of stings you may be using.

Personally I feel the different type of stings give you more an impact on the durability of your tone, but then having said that, the longer your tone lasts, the longer the strength of the string may prevail too.

Cheers,

Eddie
 
I used to have a strat, used EB regular slinkys and had the same problem. I play a lot of blues and bend 3rd and 4th strings a lot and thought the bending was the reason. then I changed guitars and started useing heavier strings and the problem went away. Don't toss out the strat but do try heavier strings, at least on the one you keep breaking. I know this sounds like a simple fix, but it worked for me. Also, if your saddles can be adjusted individualy you might try lowering the 4th just a little.
 
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