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Topic: Why are my new strings dead? PROBLEM SOLVED!!! |
Jarold Carlton
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2013 7:47 am |
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Okay, this phenomenon has me puzzled. Have you ever changed strings and immediately noticed that one of them has no brilliance? It sounds dead up in Hugheyland. Possibly a bad string eh? But you immediately change that string again, and again, and maybe after the fourth or fifth time, everything sounds normal again?
You say they’re old strings, or defective. Yet I’ve used fresh strings and from several different well-known manufacturers. The newly installed string just doesn’t sound as good as the older one I pulled off. This happened a lot on a new guitar’s #3 string (.011), but now it just happened on my a newly acquired PSG’s #5 string (.017).
I don’t think it is the guitars or strings, but maybe the way I am installing them. I give my strings 4 to 6 winds around the peg, everything looks properly seated, and there are no cotton fibers under the string on the changer.
Any clues?
_________________
Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez
Last edited by Jarold Carlton on 14 Mar 2013 5:40 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Peggy Green
From:
San Jose, California USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2013 9:50 am
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has the string worn a seam in your saddle? I carried an emery(sp) sand paper strip with me to smooth those away. But those were old Sho-Bud changers.
_________________
Worn out cords, worn out amps, worn out guitar wiring...worn out most everything |
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Sid Hudson
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2013 11:57 am Re: Why are my new strings dead?
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| Jarold Carlton wrote: |
Okay, this phenomenon has me puzzled. Have you ever changed strings and immediately noticed that one of them has no brilliance? It sounds dead up in Hugheyland. Possibly a bad string eh? But you immediately change that string again, and again, and maybe after the fourth or fifth time, everything sounds normal again?
You say they’re old strings, or defective. Yet I’ve used fresh strings and from several different well-known manufacturers. The newly installed string just doesn’t sound as good as the older one I pulled off. This happened a lot on a new guitar’s #3 string (.011), but now it just happened on my a newly acquired PSG’s #5 string (.017).
I don’t think it is the guitars or strings, but maybe the way I am installing them. I give my strings 4 to 6 winds around the peg, everything looks properly seated, and there are no cotton fibers under the string on the changer.
Any clues? |
Jarold,
It could be a number of reasons you are having problems.
Assuming it’s not the guitar, strings are stored at the factory on shelves for long long periods of time until dealers call and place an order. When the factory’s stock eventually gets low they make another run of strings. (thousands at a time)
When the dealer makes a small order they go on his shelf. When his stock gets low he places another order.
Just because you buy a new set of strings does not necessarily mean you are getting a new/fresh set of strings.
Difference in brands? That’s a very long boring story. |
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Jarold Carlton
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2013 1:11 pm
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Problem solved! At least for now, but not sure of the actual mechanical explanation. Peggy brought up an interesting point about my saddle being worn. This is the first time I’ve changed strings on this guitar. I do remember seeing some discoloration along the surface of the changer underneath the string. I loosened the string, moved it aside, but could not feel any groove with my fingernail. I decided to leave the string seated slightly off-centered away from that discoloration and tightened the string back up. Viola! The life returned to that string and it sounds the way it should. No, it actually sounds great.
So, that darker discoloration may not be a groove sharp enough to be felt by a nail, but may actually be a wear spot several thousandths of an inch lower than the surface. I don’t know if the changer is plated, but if so, it may be that the plating has worn away revealing a softer core surface. Anyway, I will place that string away from that area in the future.
Thanks for all of your support!
_________________
Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 11 Mar 2013 7:59 pm
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Sometimes you'll have a small piece of dust or dirt under the string, and that'll do it. Always wipe the arc of the finger clean before putting the new string on.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jarold Carlton
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2013 5:50 pm
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Thanks Lane for the advice. You and Peggy helped me identify a bigger problem. The guitar's changer fingers all have a definite wear pattern underneath the strings. My guess is that the 5th exchanger has a bit more wear than the others. You can feel it if you run your nail across the surface. I don't know if these can be refinished, re-chromed, or if I would have to replace them.
_________________
Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 13 Mar 2013 5:55 pm
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I think you can try dressing them with crocus cloth or similar, but you have to be careful not to change the geometry.
What kind of guitar?
You might be able to get new fingers
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jarold Carlton
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2013 6:34 pm
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The guitar is a 20 year-old LeGrande II. It has a beautiful tone. If I could order new fingers, I would, but I would be concerned that it might alter that tone.
_________________
Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 13 Mar 2013 6:55 pm
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I'd give it a whack, but use a shoe-shine stroke rather than pressing with a finger.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Peggy Green
From:
San Jose, California USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2013 7:04 pm
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Good luck Jarold, Happy some old experiences apply to a degree even today - makes my day to be on the money in finding the problem (that's the software engineer in me).
_________________
Worn out cords, worn out amps, worn out guitar wiring...worn out most everything |
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Jarold Carlton
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2013 8:45 am
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Thanks again for your replies. I will attempt to carefully buff these areas one at a time. If any of the changers are worn from around 12:00 to 2:00, then the geometry may have already changed. This means that the string may be sitting slightly lower than the rest and underneath my chrome bar. I might find a changer in better condition located on the 7th or 9th string position and swap that with the fifth one (which is a primary string that gives this guitar a nice tone).
Best of luck and wishes to you both, Peggy and Lane.
_________________
Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez |
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Jarold Carlton
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2013 5:39 pm
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PROBLEM SOLVED! I jiggled the pickup wires where they were attached to the neck selector switch, then plugged the guitar into my amp and began to play.
Suddenly I realized that something else was wrong. I barely gave my volume pedal any volume and it sounded as though my guitar was plugged directly into my amp. I turned my amp's volume down considerably--and that got rid of my white noise problem in another thread. I now had tremendous volume and tone on my guitar that I didn't have before.
I've only had this guitar for less than 2 months, and for the first time since I’ve had it, it has one of the most beautiful tones I’ve ever heard and sustain to die for. Of course I may be a little biased here. I believe that the pickup may have had a loose connection caused by shipping.
It’s like I have a brand new guitar all over again, but sounds way better than ever!
_________________
Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 17 Mar 2013 5:26 pm
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Jarold might I suggest you re-solder those wires to make sure the problem doesn't reappear 
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14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Jarold Carlton
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2013 6:11 pm
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Hi Paddy, yes, I've been awaiting for my new single coil pup to arrive, and I'll make sure that those wires will get soldered securely.
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Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez |
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