Breaking strings

wayneirie · December 2013

I keep breaking strings at the bridge, I do a lot of Townsend style acoustic violence. But I break them when I'm doing thumb and finger open tuned slide blues as well. With my palm on the bridge to mute. I stretch them when I put them on any ideas how I can stop this? Apart from being gentler which doesn't appeal to me.

JAYJO · December 2013

a little bit of lube in the grooves at both ends may help. Bridge and nut.

viz · December 2013

Maybe you've got sharp points on your bridge. And try thinner strings.

wayneirie · December 2013

I'm using 13s and orange tortex, it's always the d and g, and occasionally the low e. I might try lowering the gauge to 12s and see what happens. As I have a resonator kicking about for the blues stuff. Cheers

BenSirAmos · December 2013

Stop sweating. The moisture from your hand on the saddle is corroding the string and causing the breakage. Try wearing marigolds - or keep wiping your hand on a towel

bertie · December 2013

no idea who "Townsend" is.......(not Pete surely ??)....but if you're a heavy handed flatpicker/strummer giving the strings a good belting, then lower gaugestrings arent going to help.............. I suspect you're causing "damage" and/or a weakness during your "flailing" moments, and then and the fact they're breaking when fingerpicking could be down to the down tune/re tuning....that can accentuate any metal fatigue/damage

Strings breakages is nothing but an occupational hazard if you're very heavy handed........but not to the extent you're getting them I suspect

Id definitely get the strings off, and check the bridge for sharp edges, a little light sanding with emery paper might help - or even a new bridge saddle !!

ChrisMusic · December 2013

Pretty much all of the above, plus as BenSirAmos said, sweat is getting trapped in the string windings from palm wrest / muting and corroding the string core where it is weakest. Not sure whether it is good advice (caveat), but WD40 or similar carefully and sparingly applied to just that bit (i.e. not sprayed on) may protect the string core from corrosive moisture somewhat and prolong string life. Probably not good for the wood though. Just a thought...

edit: Maybe vegetable oil or similar may be effective and less risky, what do others think?

Wolfetone · December 2013

wayneirie said:

I keep breaking strings at the bridge, I do a lot of Townsend style acoustic violence. But I break them when I'm doing thumb and finger open tuned slide blues as well. With my palm on the bridge to mute. I stretch them when I put them on any ideas how I can stop this? Apart from being gentler which doesn't appeal to me.

It's like complaining that your guitar keeps breaking when you stand on it.....go figure.

)

ToneControl · December 2013

buy some 1000 or 2000 grade emery paper, fold it, and sand the saddles a bit

It could be your flails though

Lukeage · December 2013

I hate breaking strings.

Play softer.

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Breaking strings

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