string keep breaking when i try and tune it in

dann · #1 April 9th, 2006

hi all im a proper noob at all this - i got a guitar the other day and tried to tune it in and when i was tuning it the strings felt really loose and i was getting buzzing on all the strings so i decided that they were all to loose(the strings) so i tried to tighten them up and get it back in tune but then they felt too tight and then i broke the fat E string while trying to get it in tune then i broke the D string- how tight should the strings be/have i got crappy strings i dont know anybody near where i live to ask so i hope you guys could help , i think that the strings that came with the guitar must be a real cheapo make- my guitar is only a cheapo les paul copy - so to summarise i cant get the bloody thing tuned up without breaking strings any help will be gratefully appreciated as i cant practice with only 4 strings and dont want to put anymore on untill i have got some advice on where i am going wrong, please help -

thanks

allthumbs · #2 April 9th, 2006

Never heard of breaking the 6 string before. Are you tuning it with a tuner. Have you read this link and used the on line tuner? Sounds like your trying to tune by ear.
http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/tuning.html

dann · #3 April 9th, 2006

hi- im using a tuner -its a quick tune tuner and ive also got a danelectro tuner that i have been using -it just seems that when i get it in tune the strings are either too tight or way too loose

allthumbs · #4 April 9th, 2006

You could be tuning an octive too low and then over tuning to the next octive above the right one. See if your pitch for each string is the same as on the on line tuner when your in tune.

dann · #5 April 9th, 2006

hi again sorry it was the 1st string i broke little e

Ultimate Garage Band · #6 April 10th, 2006

Qwik Tune tuners are, generally, awful. They are slow to respond to the note and thus the player is turning and the tuner is searching for the missed note. It's EASY to mess up with one of those tuners. If the strings break at the bridge I'd look for a sharp saddle. If they break at the tuning peg my guess would be a poorly wound string that crossed itself on the peg and cut itself off.

dann · #7 April 10th, 2006

hi i would say that my strings must be poorley wound from what you are saying have you got any info on how to wind them properly- i will check the forum- what do you think about the danelectro tuner i have-are they any good?

Ultimate Garage Band · #8 April 10th, 2006

Never used a DE tuner so I don't know.

You want as few wraps as possible on the tuning peg. I always shoot for three or less and they start from the top and work their way down.

Andy S · #9 April 10th, 2006

"my guitar is only a cheapo les paul copy"

Where are they breaking? Near or on the bridge? Near the nut (by the tuning keys?)
Reason I ask, I've had two similar situations, both with different causes. I currently have a Dean Evo that is their version of a LP. I had made some adjustments and lowered the stop bar (the part that holds the end of the strings. I started breaking strings just after tuning & playing for a short while. In that situation, The string was rubbing up against the hole where the string comes out & up toward the nut. It rubbed enough so that after just a short bit of playing, "PING!" right at the point where it made contact with the stop bar. Solution was to raise the stop bar a bit. This changed the angle the strings were coming through the hole, no contact, no broken strings.

The other situation was a friends guitar. He changed string size (went smaller) and all of a sudden saw his strings breaking at the bridge itself when he brought them up to pitch and started to play. He went from .10 strings to .08. After looking at & feeling the saddle where the strings sat, we noticed a slight defect in the saddle. Enough to where the smaller strings (.08s)got damaged almost immediately but the original larger strings (.10) seemed less affected by it. I took some emery cloth, folded, and ran the edge through the saddle to remove the burr (defect, whatever it was). Problem gone. Similar to what UGB mentioned.

I do agree with UGB, though. It sounds , from your description, that they are breaking as you try to tune it and that it may be an issue with the tuner not responding fast enough and you overshooting the target, then going to the next octave.

Keep us posted on your progress. Good Luck!

737blues · #10 April 10th, 2006

If you're tuning a whole octave too high before breaking strings you must be using a plumbers spanner on the machine head ...... or have a very strong fingers and very light guage strings! Why don't you take your guitar into a shop, ask them to check it for any faults such as those Andrew described and have the broken strings replaced? Ask them to tune it for you. Feel the tension of each string by pulling the string gently away from the fingerboard when it's properly tuned and get a feel for that tension. This also stretches the string if it's newly fitted. I think any decent shop would probably do that for a nominal charge or even free, particularly if you purchased the guitar there. If they want a full setup fee for just doing that, go to another shop. Be fair though and pick a time when they are not busy ....

With any tuning meter you should be sure the meter is not still responding to a previous note or inadvertantly plucked strings. Mute the strings until the reading drops towards zero then be careful to pluck only the string you wish to tune before final adjustment. Make sure the volume is up on the guitar or your tuning meter may not respond properly at all. Go slow and just use your common sense, if the string is very tight and your tuning meter still shows it to be flat, careful! you probably are going an octave high.

dann · #11 April 11th, 2006

hi andrew theye breaking near the tuning pegs but not right at the top it seems to be about 3/4 of the way nearest the top - i will have to have a look at the stop bar- have you ever heard of a blueridge electric les paul/ epiphone copy as i cant find ant info on the guitar anyware thanks for the advice andy cheers

allthumbs · #12 April 11th, 2006

I found a bluerigge electric on E bay. Not yours though. It looks like a small company in the U K maybe so I would search the U.K for them. Might turn something up.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Blueridge-WST1...QQcmdZViewItem

allthumbs · #13 April 11th, 2006

Look on U.k. Ebay under Guitar packages. Found 2 there. They seem to be a low end starter instrument company that also makes banjos. Anybodies guess what the Name of the parent company is.

USGold · #14 April 13th, 2006

Samik?