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Post new topic String 10 Breakage?
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Author Topic:  String 10 Breakage?
Bob Snelgrove


From:
san jose, ca
Post  Posted 8 Jul 2004 5:54 am    
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I broke the 10th string on my Carter last night (TW Jagwires) It came unwound at the changer. I have never seen this in 30 years Common?

thx

bob
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Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 8 Jul 2004 6:19 am    
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Very uncommon for me, but it has happened. And the few times it has happened, it was always at the changer, like you said.

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 8 Jul 2004 7:31 am    
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When I used to change my strings just once a year, it happened a few times. I broke the 6th string (wound) now and then, too.

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               Bobby Lee
-b0b-   quasar@b0b.com
 System Administrator
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Larry Bell


From:
Englewood, Florida
Post  Posted 8 Jul 2004 8:36 am    
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I even break my bottom string (a .079!!) occasionally

I've found that I sometimes get lazy and rest my right palm a bit heavily on the bottom string which will eventually lead to an early demise.

patient: Doc, it hurts when I do THIS
doc: DON'T DO THAT

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

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Charles Curtis

 

Post  Posted 8 Jul 2004 8:38 am    
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I've had this happen before and I think the salient contributing factor was tuning just a few cents too sharp. (E-9 tuning, of course)
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Joerg Hennig


From:
Bavaria, Germany
Post  Posted 8 Jul 2004 11:08 am    
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On my guitars, they break in this order:

1. 3rd
2. 6th (wound)
3. 5th
4. 10th - it happens every so often, I broke one indeed just a few days ago. Must be because I do a lot of A pedal action.
5. 4th. Those very rarely break prematurely.

Regards, JH
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Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 8 Jul 2004 11:45 am    
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My experience is much the same as Joe's except that I have recently gone back to unwound 6th which doesn't have a breakage issue. (On my U-12 I was raising that 6th a whole step and the wound .022 and .024's didn't like that one bit.)
Since changing to SS strings my 10th breaks even a little more often than before. Must have a lighter core. But I don't think I've ever broken one that wasn't already begging for a changing.
And yes, it always unravels at the changer.

[This message was edited by Jon Light on 08 July 2004 at 12:46 PM.]

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Jim Eaton


From:
Santa Susana, Ca
Post  Posted 8 Jul 2004 12:30 pm    
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The "core" of the 10th stg is about the same gauge as the 5th string, .017 or .018 plain, so it breaks and you get that funny feeling under your right palm as the windings loosen up after the core gives it up!
JE:-)>
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Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 8 Jul 2004 1:25 pm    
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My E9th 10th string is the third most frequently-broken on my guitar - AND it's at the changer.

I believe it's due to an acidic quality in my perspiration - the same thing that's tarnished some of the aluminum on my guitar, and the frames of my specatacles - it eventually eats into the core of the string.

As I change the wound strings less often than the plain ones, it's always a possibility that a 10th will break on me - if I'm having a big occasion, gig-wise, I'll change it beforehand.....

RR
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Richard Sinkler


From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2004 1:50 am    
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Has happened to me. Even have had string 10 on the C6th neck come unwound. No doubt, a bad string.

Bob, when are we going to get together???????

------------------
Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400
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Ray Minich

 

From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2004 7:34 am    
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Acidic perspiration can be a real problem. I gotta use WD-40 on the Milling Machine when I'm done with it or else tommorrow you'll see my fingerprints. Same for hunting guns too.
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Glyn Bone

 

From:
Halifax.Nova Scotia. Canada * R.I.P.
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2004 8:59 am    
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Also why is it that when a string ( any one ) lets go it is usually when you have the volume pedal right down and playing `hot` ?? frightens the livin` bejeezers outa me when that happens....and the people around me learn a few new expressions too hahaha.

Glyndwr.
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Terry Sneed

 

From:
Arkansas,
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2004 10:57 am    
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quote I believe it's due to an acidic quality in my perspiration -quote

Didn't know that Roger. I've broken 3 of my $ 10 strings(always at the changer) in the 5 months I've had my guitar.
very well could be the acidity in perspiration because I play mine on the average, about 4 hours a day.
I usually wipe my strings down after playin, but I hadn't been wiping the 10th string very good. thanks for the advice.
Terry

------------------
84 SKH Emmons Legrand D10
session 400'rd Steelin for my Lord.


[This message was edited by Terry Sneed on 09 July 2004 at 11:59 AM.]

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Larry Bell


From:
Englewood, Florida
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2004 1:08 pm    
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Terry,
If you're paying $10 for a single 038 wound, you're getting royally ripped off.

(just looked again -- perhaps it was a typo and you meant '#10' ????)

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 09 July 2004 at 02:09 PM.]

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Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2004 6:54 pm    
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Terry

I'll do them for $8 each!!!! How many do you need?

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Terry Sneed

 

From:
Arkansas,
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2004 12:25 pm    
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LOL! that's supposed to be a # instead of a $.

------------------
84 SKH Emmons Legrand D10
session 400'rd Steelin for my Lord.


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Tim Bridges

 

From:
Hoover, Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 11 Jul 2004 5:36 am    
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Le's clear up one thing. We don't have acidic prespiration, we have salty prespiration. Anyone that has lived up north knows what salt does to metal, particularly steel. Secondly, chlorides are not good on stainless at all. Considering that there are larger crevices to allow build up inbetween the windings, this might be the mechanism of failure. I've never had a problem with string breakage except when I first started playing on a rack and barrel ShoBud Professional. With infinite raise and lower, combined with a tuning impairment, I broke alot of strings; usually the 3rd string. However, I have had this occur on my 6 string guitar. Each time I was suspect whether it was poorly terminated. In other words, just a bad string. Just a thought. I change my strings on a regular basis. I've heard and read several discussions on this subject. I do know that everytime I change strings, it requires a little extra patience to get the guitar tuned. All that stretching of the strings causes the effective diameter to change (get smajjer) over time. So, are we better off changing strings on a more regular basis?
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Eddie Thomas

 

From:
Macon,Ga.,USA
Post  Posted 11 Jul 2004 10:10 am    
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The answer to this is quite simple, it's simply "string fatigue". If you use your pedals alot, the metal in the strings, become fatigued. You can't do this on wound strings, but on the plain strings, place a drop of "3 in one oil" on top of the changer, where the string makes contact. And you will see how much longer a .010 or an .011 will last. Some say you can't do this, but you can. I've been doing this for over 20 years.
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Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 11 Jul 2004 12:54 pm    
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Thanks for 'clearing it up', Tim, but I've never had 'prespiration' in my life....

I imagine we're all guessing here (I know I was!) - why is it only the tenth breaks? I think it's because it bears the brunt of being under our wrists for a lot of the time. My wife perspires, but her spectacles don't get corroded - why's that?

In 47 years of playing (43 as a pro) I've never broken a 6th string on a regular guitar. Popped a few 10ths on the steel, though....

RR

[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 11 July 2004 at 02:00 PM.]

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Dave Ristrim


From:
Whites Creek, TN
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2004 4:37 am    
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Hi Bob, I break the 10th at the bridge every now and then. My order of preference in string breakage would be : 3rd, 5th, 10th.
Break a leg, not a string...
Dave
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Tim Bridges

 

From:
Hoover, Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2004 4:40 am    
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It has to do with the metallurgy. Ferrous based metals (steel) are more susceptible to corrosion from salt (NaCl). This was a "possible" failure mechanism, not the actual failure mechanism. I agree that it is string fatigue, or failure. In any case, it is either developed, or intrinsic in that particular string when it was manufactured and terminated.
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Loren Morehouse

 

From:
Meadowlands, MN USA
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2004 4:36 pm    
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I have that problem once in a while. I'll break 3-4-5-10. Mainly the third but also the others once in a rare while. I would also break the 6th if it was wound but I've gone back to a plain just for that reason. This is on my Bud. Loren.
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Michael Johnstone


From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2004 6:43 pm    
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I used to break a lot of 3rds,5ths and a few 4ths & 10ths on Sho-Buds,ZBs and MSAs.That slimmed down to an occasional 3rd and one or two 10ths when I switched to a keyless Sierra. Now I'm down to zero on my Excel because of the way the changer works side-to-side instead of a rocking cam. -MJ-
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Dean Parks

 

From:
Sherman Oaks, California, USA
Post  Posted 13 Jul 2004 8:21 am    
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Michael-

How is the sound on the Excel compared to the others you mentioned? I'm thinking of one because I can get wider spacing, and the no-breaks sounds good!

-dean-
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