In the span of 2 days, I’ve managed to break the E string on two of main jam guitars. Bad luck, or bad technique? I’m betting on the latter lol

  • blackstrat@lemmy.fwgx.uk
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    10 months ago

    I’d be checking for notches, scratches or burrs at the saddles and making sure you seat the string properly when stringing it. What gauge are they? I haven’t broken a string in 20 years despite doing 2 stop bends regularly.

    • ArtVandelay@lemmy.worldOPM
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      10 months ago

      Yeah, I haven’t broken a string in about that time as well, then all of a sudden two in a row lol. These are elixir nanoweb 10 gauge

  • Ross_audio@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Did you restring these guitars at a similar time?

    If you bought these strings on eBay or Amazon there are a lot of fakes around and they break very easily.

    • ArtVandelay@lemmy.worldOPM
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      10 months ago

      The left is a Woodford Elite custom order/design from PJD guitars in the UK. The right is a Ernie Ball MusicMan JP15

  • The_Tired_Horizon@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Give the frets a gentle polish if it breaks over a set range of frets. Could be friction wear on the thinnest string. If it breaks up by the nut or any other part then check for burrs. Very light sanding, or (preferably if its gold hardware or expensive) some old, clean cotton rag rubbed over the area should fix that.

  • Leviathan@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    I had three A strings break while jamming with my band over the course of a month, one from a set of brand new strings. I too would love to know what the hell I’m doing to the A string that makes it give up and die.

  • DetachablePianist@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Buddy of mine from way back in the day was a bend master. If he didn’t break the high E string on at least one guitar at a show, he wasn’t playing his best.

  • XTL
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    10 months ago

    There is a ton of variables and while the problem may be related to where you see a string break, it might also be something completely different.

    Have you tried different string brands? One thing that might matter is how you string the guitars. Are you creating twists or kinks and how evenly you stretch the string. Might be worth watching some videos about it. We all forget things even if we’ve learned them once and there are worse and better methods.

    Just two breaks is still mostly just coincidence. Especially on two different guitars. And strings break. Especially top e.

  • Zanz@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Solder the string ends around the winds. I have to do that on my jazzmaster or else I break e strings all the time with them coming unwound.