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Topic: 3rd string breakage |
Earl Hensley
From:
Las Vegas Nv.USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2011 10:36 am |
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Any ideas on how to stop breakage on the 3rd string ( 11 gauge ) on E-9. Can I use a 12 or 11 1/2 gauge instead. Checked the tuning key for burrs or sharp edges and found none.
Thanks,
Earl
_________________
300 watt Tube Works Bass Head, Peavey Bass Amp,
Hand made George Washburn Spirit,
Fender Tele', Native American Flute, Rogue 6 string lap steel
Epiphone Les Paul, potato-bug mandolin |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 19 Nov 2011 11:21 am
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3rd string breakage is normal after a period of time. How often are you breaking them? If they are breaking right away after a couple hours or you cannot get one up to pitch without breaking, you probably have some bad strings, and this is not brand specific. I've seen this happen with all of them, no matter what anyone tells you.
Is it breaking at the right end over the finger roller radius? Normal. Things to look for: burr on the finger, proper string gauge for the travel and pitch required, bad strings.
Consider one of the reinforced strings sold for 3rd. string application.
Unlikely, but an out of adjustment stop or other mechanically induced stress on a particular pull.
Is it breaking at the keyhead? Not normal for good quality strings. Things to look for there: burrs at the string posts, stuck or misaligned nut rollers, missing the nut roller altogether.
Try adding several wraps around the tuning post to move the string away from the hole.
Any modern pedal steel should accept up to a 12 ga. string tuned to A with no problem with moderate breakage, that is at least 8 or 10 hours of playing time. You might have better or worse results with different gauges, say 11, 11 1/2 etc. Some guys still use 10's. |
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Earl Hensley
From:
Las Vegas Nv.USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2011 7:20 am 3rd string
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Thanks Jerry, I have been using 11s and will try 11 1/2 or 12 and see what happens.
Earl
_________________
300 watt Tube Works Bass Head, Peavey Bass Amp,
Hand made George Washburn Spirit,
Fender Tele', Native American Flute, Rogue 6 string lap steel
Epiphone Les Paul, potato-bug mandolin |
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Steve Lipsey
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2011 10:12 am
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| And to re-emphasize....you can buy stronger pedal guitar singles in the forum store in a number of gauges... |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 20 Nov 2011 10:51 am
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| what do you mean, stronger, steve? |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2011 11:19 am
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| Check your fingerpicks! The most insignificant bur at the pick's edge, could lift the .011 far above the desired (A) note pitch, for a split second. The sudden jolt creates a wave of impulses capable of quaking the string's weakest point. That point if near the roller bridge. |
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Jeff Metz Jr.
From:
York, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2011 12:06 pm
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I've been actually playing in D9th tuning lately and never ever break strings anymore.
Its a been of a learning curve but nothing too serious. Plus it gives you a useful fretted E.
_________________
Mullen G2 SD10 , Lil Izzy Buffer, Goodrich 120 volume pedal, Boss DD-7, Peterson Strobo flip, Peavey Nashville 112 |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 21 Nov 2011 10:49 am
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| bill..i don't have burrs on my fingerpicks...you should stop using yours for screwdrivers. your vertical fretboard manufacturing company deserves a real screwdriver! |
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Steve Lipsey
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 21 Nov 2011 12:51 pm
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| Or it could be the string is wrapped too tight. Or when you mash down on the pedal, the string has hit it's stress point. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 21 Nov 2011 1:41 pm
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is this higher break strength due to metallurgy or wrap or ball end wraps or ..?......or marketing..?
we of the hyperdimensional and quantum physics era want to know. |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2011 3:14 pm
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Change the 3rd every 3-4 gigs or 12 hrs playing time
Strings can be had for $3 a doz.
A Williams changer seems to be the ticket for string endurance.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Jim Park
From:
Carson City, Nv
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Posted 21 Nov 2011 5:51 pm Breaking .011's
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| My Fessenden rarely breaks 11's, I use George L's and I change strings in sets now. They get old rather than break |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2011 8:01 pm Changer design matters.
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Any ideas on how to stop breakage on the 3rd string ( 11 gauge ) on E-9. Can I use a 12 or 11 1/2 gauge instead<<
Yeah, do like I did and get a Williams steel. Most string breakage occurs at the changer end of the guitar..the Williams changer's design is different from most of the Steels now on the market..check it out and see for yourself..I'm glad I did. The Williams changer is designed so that there is less string bending at the changer end..I have not broken a 3rd string in 4 years. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 21 Nov 2011 8:40 pm
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Funny thing, I had a Williams 600 (2009) series and I actually broke more strings on it than my 1999 Carter. Granted, it was very few, but they do break, even on a Williams.
_________________
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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Rick Kreuziger
From:
Merrillan, Wisconsin
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Posted 22 Nov 2011 7:13 am
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| Funny thing, I had a Williams 600 (2009) series and I actually broke more strings on it than my 1999 Carter. Granted, it was very few, but they do break, even on a Williams. |
Same experience on my 700 series. Excellent guitar, great changer design, however, I think string brand & quality are the biggest factors in breakage.
I have a 25 1/2" scale length Excel that's like a string breakage test bed. 
I went through literally dozens of strings of various brands trying to get one to not pop either while bringing it up to pitch or while pulling to A. Yes, all the potential string path, etc. issues were fully explored. Only one I found that works on this guitar is Ernie Ball's.
Their standard ones work and their RPS (Reinforced Plain String) version is even better and what I use.
They'll last for months, in fact I haven't broke one yet. (.011 on the 25.5" scale; about equivalent to using .012 on a 24.25" or 24.5")
In all fairness, I didn't try George L's or Cobra Coils. |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2011 1:43 pm GHS (Super Steels)
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Funny thing, I had a Williams 600 (2009) series and I actually broke more strings on it than my 1999 Carter. Granted, it was very few, but they do break, even on a Williams<<
Richard, The only string brand I have used on my Williams Model 600 (2007) Wide body are the GHS (super Steels)..that's the brand that was installed on the steel from the builder and I saw no reason to change brands. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 22 Nov 2011 3:23 pm
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I broke the third string a couple days after I got the Willy. I hadn't even gigged with it yet. After that, it was Jagwires, the same as I use on my Carter. I don't think it had anything to do with switching brands. My string breakage on both guitars in very minimal (especially with Jagwires).
Another thing happened to me Saturday night. I still hadn't gotten those S*IT strings changed. After the 2nd break sometime, the 6th string wouldn't stay in tune and lost all it's tone quality. Through my many years of playing, I have come to recognize the change in sound a string makes SOMETIMES before it breaks, and that is what my 6th string sounds like. I break very few if any strings as I have come to know the signs of string that is about to break. Like, tuning stability, dead tone, just knowing that it has been a while since I put the string on and I should change it just in case.
_________________
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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