Can Someone Please Tell Me Why I Keep Breaking Strings

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Can Someone Please Tell Me Why I Keep Breaking Strings

Mudbone View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 09:43 AM
May 4 2011, 09:43 AM	Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 1.750 Joined: 6-May 10 From: Charlotte, NC (residence)/Boston, MA (home) USA	I've been practicing Lazlo's "SRV Intermediate" and I've already been through three sets of strings in a very short period of time. In fact, the first set lasted the longest, about a week, the second set lasted 15 minutes, and the third set lasted exactly 3 minutes. I keep breaking the high E string, and the second and third sets were 10's, so its not like they're thin strings. Whats funny is the set of 9's lasted the longest. The first two times they broke in the middle and the last time it broke at the bridge. So am I doing something wrong here? Should I let the strings stretch out a bit before I do any wild bends? This is getting kind of expensive You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- He who laughs last thinks slowest. "That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens Gear: Guitars: Uncle Rufus' Twanger Classic Amps: Mississippi Boom Box Mojo: Hammer of Odin and a pair of Ox gonads Inspiration: Samuel Adams Boston Lager Zero to Hero: 1,387/10,000

del-4fr53e3 View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 11:09 AM
May 4 2011, 11:09 AM	Learning Tone Master Posts: 1.940 Joined: 18-January 09	QUOTE (Mudbone @ May 4 2011, 10:43 AM) Should I let the strings stretch out a bit before I do any wild bends? Yes, stretch your strings when putting them on and tuning them for the first time. They thus stay in tune and are more durable. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

maharzan View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 12:01 PM
May 4 2011, 12:01 PM	Veteran Guitar Lord Posts: 2.381 Joined: 2-May 09 From: Kathmandu	Weird. Check if somethings wrong on the bridge or neck nut. Has it cut through the metal piece? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Checkout my YouTube & my band Nissim's YouTube channels.

Ben Higgins View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 01:43 PM
May 4 2011, 01:43 PM	Instructor Posts: 13.792 Joined: 11-March 10 From: England	That IS weird ! I think your fingers are too strong ! Ok sorry, less messing around.... as Maharzan asked, is there any possibility of a guitar component cutting into the string. (Although that wouldn't explain them breaking in different places.. so I've just invalidated my own question.) It shouldn't be because of not stretching the strings enough before playing because they're at their most flexible anyway before you tune them up and start etc.. stretching the strings out involves, well.. stretching them.. so bending them shouldn't be any different in theory. (In my case I grab the strings and pull them away from the fretboard by a couple of inches until they're a bit more stable, so a few bends shouldn't stress them out too much) Wish I could help more.. do the strings travel through the nut freely ? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My Lessons My Youtube Channel My Band

Fran View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 03:19 PM
May 4 2011, 03:19 PM	Learning Rock Star - Wiki Coordinator Posts: 8.451 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Spain	QUOTE (maharzan @ May 4 2011, 01:01 PM) Weird. Check if somethings wrong on the bridge or neck nut. Has it cut through the metal piece? +1 I used to break lots of strings years ago, witha Telecaster I had. Never happenned with any of my other guitars, so I guess there was something in that guitar's bridge that was edgy and made them slap. Check your bridge/nut. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Guitars: Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Ibanez RG2570MZ, Epiphone SG G-400 Amp: Vox AC4TVH head + V112TV cab Effects: Vox Satchurator, Vox Time Machine, Dunlop CryBaby, Boss MT-2, Boss CE-5, Boss TU-2, Boss ME-70 Recording: Line-6 POD X3 + FBV-Express, Pandora PX5D GMC wants YOU to take part in our Guitar-Wikipedia! Have a good time reading great articles and writing your own with us in our GUITAR WIKI! Share your playing and get Pro-advice from our Instructors: Join REC

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 04:12 PM
May 4 2011, 04:12 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	As Maharzan said it should be a component of your guitar that is cutting the string. What brand of strings are you using? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Justin Myrick View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 04:28 PM
May 4 2011, 04:28 PM	GMC Administrator Posts: 232 Joined: 13-October 10	QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ May 4 2011, 12:43 PM) That IS weird ! I think your fingers are too strong ! Stop working out your fingers so often at the gym. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- About Me Cheers, Justin Myrick GMC Administrator

Mudbone View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 05:21 PM
May 4 2011, 05:21 PM	Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 1.750 Joined: 6-May 10 From: Charlotte, NC (residence)/Boston, MA (home) USA	QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ May 4 2011, 08:43 AM) That IS weird ! I think your fingers are too strong ! Ok sorry, less messing around.... as Maharzan asked, is there any possibility of a guitar component cutting into the string. (Although that wouldn't explain them breaking in different places.. so I've just invalidated my own question.) It shouldn't be because of not stretching the strings enough before playing because they're at their most flexible anyway before you tune them up and start etc.. stretching the strings out involves, well.. stretching them.. so bending them shouldn't be any different in theory. (In my case I grab the strings and pull them away from the fretboard by a couple of inches until they're a bit more stable, so a few bends shouldn't stress them out too much) Wish I could help more.. do the strings travel through the nut freely ? I highly doubt its a case of my hands being too strong, because ever since I stopped doing manual labor I've been suffering from a case of serious "btch hands" I do bend the E and B string at the 10th fret up to D string, thats not too much of a stretch, is it? Initially I thought it was snapping at the bridge, but once it snapped in the middle, and once it snapped very close to the bridge, but not at a mechanical junction. It is a Stratocaster that I just picked up last month, so its not like its an old worn out guitar. But then again I have heard that some Strats have a tendency to break strings. I've also heard that Elvis is still alive. I've heard a lot of things. Anyhow, the string does slide freely through the nut, so no problems there. QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ May 4 2011, 11:12 AM) As Maharzan said it should be a component of your guitar that is cutting the string. What brand of strings are you using? The first set was the factory strings, the second set were D'Adarrio's, and the last set were Dunlops. in Arnold accent* I need a set made out of titanium and depleted uranium!" You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- He who laughs last thinks slowest. "That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens Gear: Guitars: Uncle Rufus' Twanger Classic Amps: Mississippi Boom Box Mojo: Hammer of Odin and a pair of Ox gonads Inspiration: Samuel Adams Boston Lager Zero to Hero: 1,387/10,000

Bogdan Radovic View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 05:24 PM
May 4 2011, 05:24 PM	Bass & Beginner Instructor Posts: 15.614 Joined: 30-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	I think you may have problem with your bridge cutting the string and this is quite often the case. Try to file it a bit to make it smoother. You can also take the guitar to the Luther. You should stretch your strings after you put them on but I'm not sure if that is causing them to break so soon. Though - you may have just bought a bad sets of strings if you got them from the same store. Maybe they are old and didn't get stored in proper conditions. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now!

Mudbone View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 05:43 PM
May 4 2011, 05:43 PM	Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 1.750 Joined: 6-May 10 From: Charlotte, NC (residence)/Boston, MA (home) USA	QUOTE (Bogdan Radovic @ May 4 2011, 12:24 PM) I think you may have problem with your bridge cutting the string and this is quite often the case. Try to file it a bit to make it smoother. You can also take the guitar to the Luther. You should stretch your strings after you put them on but I'm not sure if that is causing them to break so soon. Though - you may have just bought a bad sets of strings if you got them from the same store. Maybe they are old and didn't get stored in proper conditions. You make a great point, I might have to file the hole in the tremolo block. I don't think its the bridge saddle because its a round shape. I'm sure you're familiar with vintage Strat saddles. I've been getting strings from the same guitar store that I have always gotten them from. Its a pretty busy Guitar Center so its unlikely the strings are old. I think I'm going to order a bunch of E strings from this website called Naked Strings and see if I keep on having this problem. Its statistically possible that I just got a few bad sets in a row. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- He who laughs last thinks slowest. "That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens Gear: Guitars: Uncle Rufus' Twanger Classic Amps: Mississippi Boom Box Mojo: Hammer of Odin and a pair of Ox gonads Inspiration: Samuel Adams Boston Lager Zero to Hero: 1,387/10,000

Ben Higgins View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 06:17 PM
May 4 2011, 06:17 PM	Instructor Posts: 13.792 Joined: 11-March 10 From: England	QUOTE (Mudbone @ May 4 2011, 05:43 PM) I think I'm going to order a bunch of E strings from this website called Naked Strings and see if I keep on having this problem. Naked Strings ? Now why doesn't that surprise me ? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My Lessons My Youtube Channel My Band

Mudbone View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 06:34 PM
May 4 2011, 06:34 PM	Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 1.750 Joined: 6-May 10 From: Charlotte, NC (residence)/Boston, MA (home) USA	QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ May 4 2011, 01:17 PM) Naked Strings ? Now why doesn't that surprise me ? Booyah! Good one Should I get you a "G-string" while I'm ordering my E strings? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- He who laughs last thinks slowest. "That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens Gear: Guitars: Uncle Rufus' Twanger Classic Amps: Mississippi Boom Box Mojo: Hammer of Odin and a pair of Ox gonads Inspiration: Samuel Adams Boston Lager Zero to Hero: 1,387/10,000

Ben Higgins View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 06:40 PM
May 4 2011, 06:40 PM	Instructor Posts: 13.792 Joined: 11-March 10 From: England	QUOTE (Mudbone @ May 4 2011, 06:34 PM) Booyah! Good one Should I get you a "G-string" while I'm ordering my E strings? Don't be silly, you know I would never run out of those ! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My Lessons My Youtube Channel My Band

Mudbone View Member Profile	May 4 2011, 06:43 PM
May 4 2011, 06:43 PM	Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 1.750 Joined: 6-May 10 From: Charlotte, NC (residence)/Boston, MA (home) USA	QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ May 4 2011, 01:40 PM) Don't be silly, you know I would never run out of those ! HAHAHA You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- He who laughs last thinks slowest. "That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens Gear: Guitars: Uncle Rufus' Twanger Classic Amps: Mississippi Boom Box Mojo: Hammer of Odin and a pair of Ox gonads Inspiration: Samuel Adams Boston Lager Zero to Hero: 1,387/10,000

Todd Simpson View Member Profile	May 5 2011, 04:15 AM
May 5 2011, 04:15 AM	GMC:er Posts: 25.297 Joined: 23-December 09 From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA	What brand did you say these were that keep breaking? Also, is it only on this guitar? If you restring them all, play them all and this one keeps snapping strings take it to a guitar shop and have a bench tech look it over. Could be something mechanical that the untrained eye would miss. Not to disparage your eye, but bench guys at guitar shops see lots of guitars. Also, I must suggest my fav strings. The super slinky 9 sets. To each his own of course, but since I switched to these a bit back my string breaks have all but ceased. And as was mentioned, be sure to stretch y our strings/wear them in a bit before doing tons of crazy stevie ray vaugh style bends. Todd QUOTE (Mudbone @ May 4 2011, 12:43 PM) HAHAHA You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- EVERY QUICK LICK! http://bit.ly/quicklickswithtodd MY INSTRUCTOR FORUM MY SHRED JOURNEY (BOOTCAMP) LESSON NOTES/TABS MY INSTRUCTOR PROFILE @ GMC ME @ YOUTUBE.com ME @ Instagram.com ME @ TWITTER

Mudbone View Member Profile	May 8 2011, 10:17 PM
May 8 2011, 10:17 PM	Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 1.750 Joined: 6-May 10 From: Charlotte, NC (residence)/Boston, MA (home) USA	QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ May 4 2011, 11:15 PM) What brand did you say these were that keep breaking? Also, is it only on this guitar? If you restring them all, play them all and this one keeps snapping strings take it to a guitar shop and have a bench tech look it over. Could be something mechanical that the untrained eye would miss. Not to disparage your eye, but bench guys at guitar shops see lots of guitars. Also, I must suggest my fav strings. The super slinky 9 sets. To each his own of course, but since I switched to these a bit back my string breaks have all but ceased. And as was mentioned, be sure to stretch y our strings/wear them in a bit before doing tons of crazy stevie ray vaugh style bends. Todd The strings were the factory strings, D'Addarios, and Dunlops. I've never had any issues with D'Addarios, but I have broken some Dunlops before. Personally I've never really cared for Ernie Balls, simply because they don't have enough "twang" for me, to each his own I guess. Right now my favorite strings are the Dunlops, even though they haven't been the most reliable. But I wouldn't as far to say that they're unreliable. They're not as bright as the D'Addarios, but they sound much more even and don't take forever to stabilize. You should definitely try them out if you haven't already. Anyhow, I have just gotten a set of six Ernie Ball 10 gauge E strings Thats all that Guitar Center had, so we'll see how it goes. Lets see if I break all six. And if I do break all of them, I'll see where I broke it. If all six break at the bridge, then most certainly its a mechanical issue. Funny thing is, I'm kinda paranoid to go apeshit with the bends now... the last time that string snapped it got me pretty good You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- He who laughs last thinks slowest. "That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens Gear: Guitars: Uncle Rufus' Twanger Classic Amps: Mississippi Boom Box Mojo: Hammer of Odin and a pair of Ox gonads Inspiration: Samuel Adams Boston Lager Zero to Hero: 1,387/10,000

Bogdan Radovic View Member Profile	May 8 2011, 10:38 PM
May 8 2011, 10:38 PM	Bass & Beginner Instructor Posts: 15.614 Joined: 30-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	QUOTE (Mudbone @ May 8 2011, 11:17 PM) The strings were the factory strings, D'Addarios, and Dunlops. I've never had any issues with D'Addarios, but I have broken some Dunlops before. Personally I've never really cared for Ernie Balls, simply because they don't have enough "twang" for me, to each his own I guess. Right now my favorite strings are the Dunlops, even though they haven't been the most reliable. But I wouldn't as far to say that they're unreliable. They're not as bright as the D'Addarios, but they sound much more even and don't take forever to stabilize. You should definitely try them out if you haven't already. Anyhow, I have just gotten a set of six Ernie Ball 10 gauge E strings Thats all that Guitar Center had, so we'll see how it goes. Lets see if I break all six. And if I do break all of them, I'll see where I broke it. If all six break at the bridge, then most certainly its a mechanical issue. Funny thing is, I'm kinda paranoid to go apeshit with the bends now... the last time that string snapped it got me pretty good Keep monitoring the situation. Maybe you were just lucky to break them so often in a row Don't be afraid of bending, just imagine you are playing bass )) hahhaha You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now!

Mudbone View Member Profile	May 8 2011, 10:45 PM
May 8 2011, 10:45 PM	Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 1.750 Joined: 6-May 10 From: Charlotte, NC (residence)/Boston, MA (home) USA	QUOTE (Bogdan Radovic @ May 8 2011, 05:38 PM) Keep monitoring the situation. Maybe you were just lucky to break them so often in a row Don't be afraid of bending, just imagine you are playing bass )) hahhaha Cool, I'll try to imagine that next time I'm playing You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- He who laughs last thinks slowest. "That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens Gear: Guitars: Uncle Rufus' Twanger Classic Amps: Mississippi Boom Box Mojo: Hammer of Odin and a pair of Ox gonads Inspiration: Samuel Adams Boston Lager Zero to Hero: 1,387/10,000

Ivan Milenkovic View Member Profile	May 8 2011, 10:52 PM
May 8 2011, 10:52 PM	Instructor Posts: 25.396 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	I snapped lots of 10s on gigs and in practice, right now I'm on 11-52 set. Never broke any of those You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE - Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :)

Mudbone View Member Profile	May 8 2011, 11:07 PM
May 8 2011, 11:07 PM	Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 1.750 Joined: 6-May 10 From: Charlotte, NC (residence)/Boston, MA (home) USA	QUOTE (Ivan Milenkovic @ May 8 2011, 05:52 PM) I snapped lots of 10s on gigs and in practice, right now I'm on 11-52 set. Never broke any of those Thats what I got on my LTD and have never broken any of those either no matter how old they are I just don't have an extra trem spring to put on my strat so I can't use the 11's on it without the trem lifting up. 11's are great, once you get the hang of them they're not that difficult to play. But one thing I noticed is if you don't have jumbo frets they can be somewhat difficult to play. I had some 11's on a Peavey Predator that had medium frets with a glossy urethane finished fretboard, and I found it very difficult to do bends and eliminate buzzing when playing chords. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- He who laughs last thinks slowest. "That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens Gear: Guitars: Uncle Rufus' Twanger Classic Amps: Mississippi Boom Box Mojo: Hammer of Odin and a pair of Ox gonads Inspiration: Samuel Adams Boston Lager Zero to Hero: 1,387/10,000

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