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Topic: Preemptive String Changes? |
Gary Roda
From:
Stockton, California USA
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Posted 29 May 2014 4:59 pm |
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Years ago, my friend Ernie Hagar advised me: "I just hate to break strings on the bandstand, so I always change certain strings at regular intervals". Ernie had a schedule worked out that he swore by- string 3, change every 4-5 gigs; string 5, every 10 gigs or so, string 6, every 20, and so on.
Back when I was touring steadily, I followed his advice and never broke a single string in concert. I would like to pose this question to my learned brethren:Is this necessary? What do others find to be be the optimal intervals for changing strings that get raised a lot? I am not talking about changes for tonal reasons, just as a preventive measure for mitigating string breakage onstage? I realize everyone's results will be based on their own situation, but is there any commonly held understanding among working pros?
_________________
'87 Emmons LeGrande SD10 (4x5), '97 Carter D10 (8x5), Quilter Steelaire, '89 Nashville 400, Cube 80XL, Steeler's Choice Easy Rider, lotsa cool memories |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 29 May 2014 5:17 pm
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gary, those intervals all sound pretty right on to me. i thought of it pretty similarly back in the days of doing lots of shows with the rangers and never had problems.
i remember watching ernie change strings on his crossover...at the music store in santa cruz. he would put a drop of 3 in 1 oil on each changer finger before installing the new string.
i rarely change strings at all now that nothing important is going on..ha ha |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 29 May 2014 5:19 pm
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Hi Gary. I can't really say 3 gigs, 10 gigs, 40 hours or anything like that. Most of the time it is just a gut feeling. Like the last couple of months, I have been practicing for 4 to 6 hours a day, but not gigging much. I somehow just know when to replace them. If it's a real "important" gig, I may just change the 3rd and maybe the 5th just to be safe.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Gary Roda
From:
Stockton, California USA
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Posted 29 May 2014 5:27 pm Preemptive String Changes
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Chris and Richard,
Thanks for chiming in; I agree with both of you (and with Ernie); if the gig is important, its not worth chancing it to save a buck. I just thought I would put it out there and see what the collective had to say. Should be an interesting subject; I've heard some say they NEVER change strings and NEVER break any... must be just admiring the steel in the living room...
_________________
'87 Emmons LeGrande SD10 (4x5), '97 Carter D10 (8x5), Quilter Steelaire, '89 Nashville 400, Cube 80XL, Steeler's Choice Easy Rider, lotsa cool memories |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 29 May 2014 7:49 pm
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I change strings for recording sessions if they are over a week old. I generally change strings when they get hard to tune. Strings sound funny to me when they get worn a bit. That is usually way before they break.
When I am on the road I change my strings every 7 to 10 days. Sometimes if I am lazy and not sure about my strings I may change just 3 and 5 before a show.
_________________
Bob |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 29 May 2014 8:13 pm
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I don't do studio work any more, but like Bob, if I hear them getting funky sounding or becoming unstable when tuning, I replace them. Hopefully they don't get to that point.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 29 May 2014 11:44 pm
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Keeping track of all that sounds a pain. When my A pedal needs tuning, it is time for a whole set. That ALMOST always happens before 3 breaks.
_________________
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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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 30 May 2014 12:04 am
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I own two pedal steels,one for gigs and one for home playing.
On the gigging guitar I do a full change every ten gigs and on the home guitar I change when they break.
Incidentally I have had the same strings on the home guitar for about six months with no breakage,probably 200 hours playing time!!
Best regards
Billy |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 30 May 2014 3:37 am
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I haven't been playing long, but maybe because of my recording background I have pretty keen ears and I can tell when a 3rd string is getting old as it starts to sound "fizzy" so I change it. I've had a 5 snap on me though - haven't learnt that one yet 
What Lane says is interesting - what precedes snapping is loss of elasticity, and loss of tuning would be a warning on an instrument that normally holds it well.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 30 May 2014 5:11 am
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When I was doing road work I would change complete set of strings every 10 shows. I don't know if it was actually needed but I hate to have a string break during a show, although Murphy's Law is applicable.
Not on the road, and playing regularly, I change (complete sets - both necks) about once a month. This keeps the strings "fresh" and I rarely break one. |
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Rich Peterson
From:
Moorhead, MN
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Posted 30 May 2014 6:47 am
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| I heard of a player fastening a mechanical counter to the C pedal, and changing string 4 after it had been pulled a certain number of times. |
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Steve Lipsey
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 30 May 2014 8:03 am
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Been using the same Live Steel Cryogenic string set for months now...for practice and gigs...still sounds fine....I'm getting nervous just from old habits, but haven't heard a tonal change or broken one yet...not sure how much the Cryo process really extends their life...
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 30 May 2014 8:21 am
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Full set once per month on Gig Rig. Play most weekends...Wrapping the 3rd string around the key peg at least 8 times will slow down the snapidge from that end...I know that statement will open up a can of 
_________________
A.K.A Chappy. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 30 May 2014 10:44 am
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Lots of even friction and constant curvature before it encounters anything that can cause a strain? No worms here.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 30 May 2014 11:27 am
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| Quote: |
| Wrapping the 3rd string around the key peg at least 8 times will slow down the snapidge from that end...I know that statement will open up a can of |
I don't believe I have ever had a string break anywhere except where it goes over the finger. Except, when waiting for my first PSG, the music store loaned me a Fender single neck. It had no rollers at the nut. The third string would break at the nut after 1 or 2 times using the B pedal. I got all the way doe to a .008 or .009, whatever the smallest was that Ernie Ball made. It still broke those.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 30 May 2014 5:42 pm
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Agreed Rich very much with that ... My bud always broke at finger, my mullen breaks em at nut end, smaller key head maybe. The added winding cleaned it up, they were popping right out the bag.
_________________
A.K.A Chappy. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 30 May 2014 7:38 pm
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A Mullen does that? Does it break at the keyhead or the roller nut?
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 31 May 2014 2:33 am
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| I read something, a long time ago, that Emmons said to wind at least 5 turns on the 3rd string. I've always done that and never had one break at that end. |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 31 May 2014 6:05 am
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Right at key peg Richard.... I agree with Jack also, I think the more windings does two things: it cushions the string after enough wraps... and it moves the pulling away from the peg hole.
When I cut my 3rd now, I pull it up to the probably the end of the key head for length, problem gone, I dident figure out right away though.
_________________
A.K.A Chappy. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 31 May 2014 6:37 am
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I'm not sure exactly how many winds I do on the unwound strings, but I would venture to say it is more than 5.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 31 May 2014 7:37 am
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The late Bobbe said that strings should be cut at a distance of two tuning pegs past the post of the one being installed with the exception of the third string which should be double that length.
Works fine for Me
Billy |
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Gary Roda
From:
Stockton, California USA
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Posted 1 Jun 2014 7:31 am
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All,
A lot of great responses to this thread! I expected such, because few things in life are a bigger pain than breaking a string on an important show; I know it has happened to everyone at least once!
When you think about the stress strings go through in normal use on a PSG, it's pretty amazing they last as long as they do. I had only been playing a few years when I first met Ernie, and I have used his advice ever since. I have been curious as to what the collective wisdom of the Forum might be; some interesting thoughts!
_________________
'87 Emmons LeGrande SD10 (4x5), '97 Carter D10 (8x5), Quilter Steelaire, '89 Nashville 400, Cube 80XL, Steeler's Choice Easy Rider, lotsa cool memories |
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Gary Roda
From:
Stockton, California USA
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Posted 1 Jun 2014 7:32 am
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All,
A lot of great responses to this thread! I expected such, because few things in life are a bigger pain than breaking a string on an important show; I know it has happened to everyone at least once!
When you think about the stress strings go through in normal use on a PSG, it's pretty amazing they last as long as they do. I had only been playing a few years when I first met Ernie, and I have used his advice ever since. I have been curious as to what the collective wisdom of the Forum might be; some interesting thoughts!
_________________
'87 Emmons LeGrande SD10 (4x5), '97 Carter D10 (8x5), Quilter Steelaire, '89 Nashville 400, Cube 80XL, Steeler's Choice Easy Rider, lotsa cool memories |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 3 Jun 2014 11:46 am
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well I can't say how many winds on the peg but it's about 3" of string... regarding preemptive changing, when I am playing out on Steel on a regular basis, 3+5 get changed every other week which could be 2 to 4 gigs as well as practice time. I have not broke a string on a gig I am thinking , in over a decade...2 to 4 gigs, 3 to 5 gigs, 4 to 6 gigs, it's all the same. No broken strings for $2 maintenance.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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