breaking strings

Don Thompson December 12, 2010 at 8:12pm

Mark, the OP never mentioned that the string broke at the same place, perhaps it did, but he never said. And yes, too great a breakover can be a problem with string breakage.

Don

Francois said:

Somehow, I suspect the problem might be at the point where the strings attach to the guitar using the string nuts (the little tube things on each string).

If the line bends at too sharp an angle before going to the bridge, it will make a weak point in the string and pretty much guarantees that the strings will break at that point.

YeahDoIt December 12, 2010 at 7:01am

I change string tension slowly on the thin strings, about a half note per minute.

You might use steel fishing wire, it's much cheaper than guitar strings, until you get this problem figured out. Sold in fishing stores. I use the number 2 size 0.11 inch diameter for first and second guitar strings, $ 1.39 for 30 feet.

http://www.americanfishingwire.com/toothproof.asp

http://www.malinco.com/fishing-hardwire.html

Don Thompson December 11, 2010 at 1:03pm

Rand Moore said:

Rand, Didn't mean it to sound like I was correcting you. I was merely pointing out that a .010 tuned down 1 full step to d from e shouldn't be breaking. It may well be that a slightly thicker string will solve the problem. Once again, sorry.

Don

Okay. I stand corrected. I'm sure you are (Don Thompson is) more knowledgeable about these things than I am. But I have had a similar experience on a Chinese 3-Stringer called a Qin-Qin and I kept breaking the melody string (string 1) until I increased the diameter of the string. If all else fails, Big Quig, try a thicker string.

Rand Moore December 11, 2010 at 10:47am

Okay. I stand corrected. I'm sure you are (Don Thompson is) more knowledgeable about these things than I am. But I have had a similar experience on a Chinese 3-Stringer called a Qin-Qin and I kept breaking the melody string (string 1) until I increased the diameter of the string. If all else fails, Big Quig, try a thicker string.

Don Thompson said:

Rand, That calculator's function is to locate string diameters based on certain parameters, scale length and string tension based on 13.8 lbs not on the likely hood a string will break. A .09 string at d will feel quite different than a .014 in the same scale length. MArk's problems with breakage is elsewhere.
Don
Rand Moore said:

Hi Big Quig.

I'm surprised Diane from Chicago hasn't suggested her favorite string gauge calculator. You can use it to verify if the string diameter is adequate for the note you are trying to tune it to. Here is the link. By the way, Diane, thanks for finding and telling us about this useful Internet based tool.

I entered some figures for different scale lengths assuming open tuning note is 'd' and got the following results:

Scale length: - - 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

String Gauge: - 13 13 12 11 11 11 10 10 9

So if your scale length is 26" or better a 10 gauge string should work, but if your scale length is shorter, it will likely break, so try a thicker gauge string (gauge 11 or 12).

-Rand.

Don Thompson December 11, 2010 at 7:53am

Rand, That calculator's function is to locate string diameters based on certain parameters, scale length and string tension based on 13.8 lbs not on the likely hood a string will break. A .09 string at d will feel quite different than a .014 in the same scale length. MArk's problems with breakage is elsewhere.
Don
Rand Moore said:

Hi Big Quig.

I'm surprised Diane from Chicago hasn't suggested her favorite string gauge calculator. You can use it to verify if the string diameter is adequate for the note you are trying to tune it to. Here is the link. By the way, Diane, thanks for finding and telling us about this useful Internet based tool.

I entered some figures for different scale lengths assuming open tuning note is 'd' and got the following results:

Scale length: - - 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

String Gauge: - 13 13 12 11 11 11 10 10 9

So if your scale length is 26" or better a 10 gauge string should work, but if your scale length is shorter, it will likely break, so try a thicker gauge string (gauge 11 or 12).

-Rand.

Rand Moore December 11, 2010 at 5:30am

Hi Big Quig.

I'm surprised Diane from Chicago hasn't suggested her favorite string gauge calculator. You can use it to verify if the string diameter is adequate for the note you are trying to tune it to. Here is the link. By the way, Diane, thanks for finding and telling us about this useful Internet based tool.

I entered some figures for different scale lengths assuming open tuning note is 'd' and got the following results:

Scale length: - - 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

String Gauge: - 13 13 12 11 11 11 10 10 9

So if your scale length is 26" or better a 10 gauge string should work, but if your scale length is shorter, it will likely break, so try a thicker gauge string (gauge 11 or 12).

-Rand.

carverman December 9, 2010 at 3:37pm

Good point on the threaded bolt bridge thing. I know from my six string experience, the notched
saddles on the t-o-m can sometimes cause that as well.

MichaelS said:

I broke a few strings too when I strung up my first. That tinny little 10 string will snap easy. Try pressing down fretting the string as you tune it up and get a feel for the tension, it should not be really stiff, if its getting stiff to press down back off and find your note by loosening instead. If they keep breaking on the same string and the same end (nut of bridge) You may have a sharp edge on the threaded bolts, smooth these up some if this is the case. I'm guessing its not but you never know.

David L. December 8, 2010 at 6:46pm

Hi, I used to do this when I first started tuning my guitar. The best thing I found was the free AP tuner program from here
http://www.aptuner.com/cgi-bin/aptuner/apmain.html You need a computer with a microphone. When you load it it always asks if you wish to register - click no and you get this

The bar down the right shows exactly where you are at so there is no chance of over tuning. Once you get close you use the pointer to fine tune. You can use the toolbar at the top - Note/Note preset for some other instruments, dropped tuning etc or use Note/Edit note presets to add your own tunings.

Don Thompson December 8, 2010 at 6:28pm

Ok, thanks Mark. I'm going to assume this is unfretted, your using a slide. Open G tuning your high D is one full step below what gauge of string is usually tuned to,the high E on a six string so really you shouldn't have any problems. Using your tuner start tuning that high string first, note, this is reverse from the way it's usually done, low to high. Turn the gears until you hit your target pitch, D. If it feels very loose and floppy then continue for another full octave, D,D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A#,B,C,C# and then the octave higher D. The string tone should be very clear now with no rattling. The G can be tuned now and then the B. As you tune up your other strings you will find you will have to also tune up your High D string again. Here's a tuning tip: The first time as you turn the tuning machine pull the string up a few times making sure it is tight on the tuning machine peg. If you happen to go too far then back the tuner off a half step then tune up again. This will help you stay in tune. Better to come up to pitch than down to pitch. Once you get the feel for the way the tension is on the strings use the low to high method.
Don

mark "Big Quig" quigley said:

3 string acoustic extra lite from cb gittyusing opn g tunig gbd .022w .014p .010p

Don Thompson said:
I'm guessing here but you may be an octave too high. More info on your tuning and strings you are using would be helpful.
Don

MichaelS Country Boy Guitars December 8, 2010 at 5:33pm

I broke a few strings too when I strung up my first. That tinny little 10 string will snap easy. Try pressing down fretting the string as you tune it up and get a feel for the tension, it should not be really stiff, if its getting stiff to press down back off and find your note by loosening instead. If they keep breaking on the same string and the same end (nut of bridge) You may have a sharp edge on the threaded bolts, smooth these up some if this is the case. I'm guessing its not but you never know.

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breaking strings

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