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Topic: Williams 700 Rarely Breaks Strings |
Steve Mueller
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Jan 2013 2:48 pm |
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I've had my new Williams 700 D10 8 x 8 since May 2012 and have rarely broken any strings. I play probably 10 hours a week and strings last 3 months or more! I've broken probably 4 strings total in over eight months. Anyone else have that experience? What a great guitar, sounds good, plays easy, stays in tune and doesn't break strings - or my back either since it weighs under 40 lbs!
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2016 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2015 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2023 Williams S12 4 x 5, Milkman Amps, 1974 Gibson Byrdland |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 4 Jan 2013 2:54 pm
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My 1960's Fender 800 S-10 [6+4] has broken 1 string since Oct of 2011.. It was an 012 on the 3rd.. I replaced it about a year ago with an 011, and thats the last string it ever broke.. It is played every day.. bob
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 4 Jan 2013 3:40 pm
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You will probably find that the folks who are "wearing out" strings (which is when they break) such as the 3rd string have far more than 10 hours a week of playing time.
On my Carter, when I am active, I change 3 and 5 every other week which can be in the +30 hour range, I change the strings before they break.... I don't recall in recent memory breaking any strings at gigs in years....
I personally think 3 months is the max tone life of a full set and way past the typical life of a 3rd and 5th string with regular playing and practice. $4000 axe, 50 cent string
Williams make a great Steel, enjoy...
_________________
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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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 4 Jan 2013 4:58 pm
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Williams 400 keyless.I had went 1 year +, zero broken strings. I think you'll find this pretty common on Williams guitars. It's a comfort to know you will almost never have any embarrassing premature string breakage on Willys. They will just go dead before they break.
In my case, I'd leave 'em on there 'til they started sounding dead or having tuning inconsistencies.
Last edited by Jerry Overstreet on 4 Jan 2013 9:36 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 4 Jan 2013 5:37 pm
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I have a 13 year old Carter and had a brand new Williams 600, and the Williams actually broke strings more than the Carter, and I would put twice the playing time on the Carter. Same strings on both. Of course, both guitars rarely ever broke strings.
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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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Peter Nylund
From:
Finland
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 3:20 am
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I usually buy a new guitar if a string breaks.
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I know my playing is a bit pitchy, but at least my tone sucks |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 6:32 am
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some of you have strings on your guitars for a year ? Are we aiming for the Guinness worlds record or something like that....?
_________________
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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Rick Kreuziger
From:
Merrillan, Wisconsin
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 7:53 am
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...
Last edited by Rick Kreuziger on 5 Jan 2013 4:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 8:06 am
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| Quote: |
| Picking technique can make a difference... if you're hitting the string with the edge of the pick it'll have a sawing effect that will contribute to breakage. |
But what if the string doesn't break where you are picking? Most break where the string passes over the changer finger. I have never seen anyone pick at 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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Sid Hudson
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 9:36 am
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Micro slippage is primary reason many break strings when installing or sooner than you think they should at or near the changer finger.
Micro slippage occurs at the point when the new string is nearly up to pitch. (For the first time)
The slippage of the string across the changer finger can damage the string (on the underside) enough to make it break prematurely especially when there is any kind of wear marks on the changer finger.
One very good solution to this problem is to take some light lubricant and put it on your finger.
Rub your finger on the changer finger everywhere the string makes contact with the changer finger. Then install the new string. |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 9:42 am
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Strings usually break because of metal fatigue by being bent up and down over the changer every time we push/release pedal/lever. 3d string raise on an E9er results in the largest bending angle, and the string is thin, so naturally 3d tends to break first.
Conclusion: don't push pedals if you want strings to last longer 
I used to estimate playing time between 3d string breaks to around 6 hours. Strings have improved over the years, so now I usually get around twice that playing time out of a 3d.
Should mention that I also lower 3d string a full tone, which doesn't exactly reduce string breakage. |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 9:44 am
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| Sid Hudson wrote: |
One very good solution to this problem is to take some light lubricant and put it on your finger.
Rub your finger on the changer finger everywhere the string makes contact with the changer finger. Then install the new string. |
Have done that for decades. It helps. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 12:05 pm
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| Quote: |
| Conclusion: don't push pedals if you want strings to last longer |
I find they last longer and never break if I just leave them in the package. 
_________________
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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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 2:02 pm
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Conclusion: don't push pedals if you want strings to last longer |
I find they last longer and never break if I just leave them in the package. |
Might work for some, but hard to figure out "playing time between breakages" for them then
Anyway, any changer variant that causes strings to be stretched/released more linearly than bending them over the regular around 7/8 inch dia roller on shaft found on most PSGs, will almost automatically give more playing time between string breakages.
Question is how good a tone-bridge the various more linear variants result in, as we are still talking about "playing time" aren't we? |
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John Palumbo
From:
Lansdale, PA.
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 3:19 pm
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Check out the Williams changer it is almost a straight pull, unlike most other guitars, so that there is very minimal back and forth bending on the strings as they are raised and lowered causing them not to break. It's a great design. I have never had any string break on my Williams 700 series S10.
I do replace the entire set when they loose their punch. But the guitar itself has never broken any string. |
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John Palumbo
From:
Lansdale, PA.
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 3:26 pm Williams changer
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 5:24 pm
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| Tony Prior wrote: |
| some of you have strings on your guitars for a year ? Are we aiming for the Guinness worlds record or something like that....? |
I change strings when they break.. Sometimes not even then.. For years I carried spare ball ends around and re tied them back on to broken 3rd/4th/5th strings, as long as they broke at the changer which was 99% of the time..
Worked great.. Whenever I did put a new string/strings on, I left a lot of extra length on at the keyhead. so I had enough string to "back off" the key side, so there was enough string to re tie the brass ball end to at the changer end.. I got very good at it, and it was much faster than a new string, and kept the pickup output across the strings in balance, instead of the new string being a lot louder.. NEVER had a problem, and I did it for over 30 years.. cheap??? you betcha.. Pay $3K for a steel, tons of expensive effects, a $1,000 amp, and too chintzy to pop for a $1.00 string.. yep, thats me... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 5:25 pm Re: Williams changer
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| John Palumbo wrote: |
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Yes, very well designed!
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Sid Hudson
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 5:53 pm
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I have never seen a Williams up close like this.
I do love the way the string is not so bent. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 7:46 pm
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My 600 had that same changer but still broke strings (mind you, not very often), and I change them fairly often.
_________________
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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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 8:09 pm
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| Does the Williams changer pull/release strings via true linear movement, or is it a "nose on a roller" to reduce angle? Image doesn't tell. |
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John Palumbo
From:
Lansdale, PA.
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 8:27 pm
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Georg, it is not true horizontal raise / lower, but the angle on the fingers are at a reduced angle as you state.
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 8:45 pm
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I see ... much clearer picture of the changer, thanks.
Looks like an improvement over the regular roller design in some ways, but still changes angle (bends strings up and down) during changes. |
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Dave Bertoncini
From:
Sun City West, Arizona USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 9:10 pm
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| Sid...you have led a sheltered life They also aren't held by a pin or slot, they actually feed through a hole and makes changing alot easier. Not so much acrobatics required |
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mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2013 9:54 pm
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I have 2 Williams 400 series. The changer finger design is nearly identical, with slots rather than a hole in the end.... great design. I don't recall ever breaking a string, but I change strings often. I have only used Jagwire or Live Steel strings on these guitars.
Richard,
I'm curious about the brand of strings that you were using on your Williams. |
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