e-string breakage...

i_pwn · #1 October 2nd, 2006

hey guys, i have a mitchell acoustic and i had not replaced the strings until last week. before that i had it for about 3 years. ok the problem is i bought pretty high end strings for it and the low e-string broke after like 3 days. does anyone know what couldve happened?

randomaire · #2 October 2nd, 2006

Was it tuned properly?

How hard were you picking it?

What type of string?

Did it break while you were playing it? or did you find it broke?

i_pwn · #3 October 2nd, 2006

it was tuned properly, or as far as i know, ive restringed my other guitars the same way and this didnt happen. when it broke i had my hand resting on the strings just taking a break.
it was a gibson string that i payed about 7 bucks for a pack.
not sure how to answer, i wasnt playing it but i was there...

randomaire · #4 October 2nd, 2006

Just a fluke maybe? The one bad string in thousands.

i_pwn · #5 October 2nd, 2006

dang it that means i still gotta buy a whole nother set. and what to tell my parents! they werent too happy last week when i broke both my g-string and low e-string in one week. now i replaced the strings and one breaks. i can imagine theyll love that ~thumbs up~ lol

randomaire · #6 October 2nd, 2006

Well honestly the only thing I can think of is that you have tuned the strings too tight, or that you're shredding a tad hard on the power chords. Bending alot, pulling off alot, etc.

Those are the two thickest strings, thats why I was saying maybe you're playing the bass strings a tad hard.

i_pwn · #7 October 2nd, 2006

well i have been playing master of puppets quite a bit, could palm muting help too? and should i take it a little easy when the strings are new?

randomaire · #8 October 2nd, 2006

Yeah kind of figured something like that, palm muting the top two strings can put a lot of wear on em, specially when playing a metal type power chord song. Depending on how hard you're laying the palm down on the strings could be a big factor. Yes I would give the strings at least a couple of days to settle in before power chording them.

Could you tell me what type and guage you're using? Maybe you want to go for a heavier gauge. And remember you don't have to play harder to get the sound louder

Good clean pic execution at the right angle with the pic and the proper volume and distortion effect will give you the sound you want without having to hit the strings hard. And yes those strings can get expensive after a while especially when you play metal type music.

Oh and maybe swith to a thin pic. not medium or hard, the pic will bend easier allowing you to take some of the strain off the downstrokes.

6string · #9 October 2nd, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_pwn

dang it that means i still gotta buy a whole nother set. and what to tell my parents! they werent too happy last week when i broke both my g-string and low e-string in one week. now i replaced the strings and one breaks. i can imagine theyll love that ~thumbs up~ lol

You should be able to buy strings individually, most guitar stores sell them that way I think

Lcjones · #10 October 2nd, 2006

Hey Slider,

Define high end strings.

I've been hacking acoustics for 35 years and never broke a low E string.

Check the nut and bridge for sharpness that may dig into the string.
Get, if you don't already have one, a chromatic tuner and use it to tune up.

Some acoustic guitars have floating bridges that you can adjust, side to side. When changing strings your bridge may have become out of alignment with the nut and put the string in a bind. That's another reason to change one string at a time and not de-tune the guitar all at once.

Unless you're just jack-hammering the strings, the low E shouldn't have any reason to break. It could just be a manufacturers flaw. I wouldn't fret it if it's not a recurring problem. If it becomes or is a frequent problem, send the guitar to a luthier and have them set up the guitar again. $20-40 bucks??

Also, I asked about high end strings. I buy $5-$6 dollar sets for my acoustic sixes and $7 dollar sets for my acoustic 12's. However, on my Rickenbacker 360/12 I buy Pyramid Golds. Now, Pryamids are high end strings. Of course, the mention of Pyramid strings was to get you to listen to my Rickenbacker!

**
Les

6string · #11 October 2nd, 2006

By low E, you mean the thick one?

Lcjones · #12 October 2nd, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6string

By low E, you mean the thick one?

Ha! Good point.

randomaire · #13 October 2nd, 2006

Don't think I've ever broke a low E either, have broken plenty of high e strings though.

Those hurt lol.

SkyNet · #14 October 3rd, 2006

Quote:

I buy Pyramid Golds

Holy cow, $25.50 for a pack of electric guitar strings! You must like em a lot.

You sure had good tone in your clip lcj.

cshude · #15 October 3rd, 2006

The only time I've ever broken strings was actually while stretching them during a string change. Boy was I ticked off. Learned very quickly that you very gently stretch the strings (especially the 1st and 2nd) at first. Never busted one during playing even with the big bends that I like to do.