have you ever had a heart attack from breaking a string ???

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 25 Apr 2009 7:20 pm

I played an outside gig this afternoon under a tent.
We were playing a Ray Price song, I was really into it when bam I broke a 3rd string. It scared the holy crap out of me. Some how the end of the string even stuck me in the finger.
I know everyone break's a string once in a while. Does it effect you like this or am I a wuss.

Ron Wright · Post by **Ron Wright** » 25 Apr 2009 7:31 pm

always startles me ..hasn't happened in along time though ..knock on wood

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 25 Apr 2009 8:22 pm

You have to be sure nobody is standing close at either end of your Steel Guitar. When these strings break they could whip around and put someone's eye out. Especially small kids, they want to get right on top of you and strum across the strings and turn the tuning keys.

Dale Hansen · Post by **Dale Hansen** » 25 Apr 2009 8:48 pm

Back in 89' I was playing the Buckaroo club in Anchorage, Alaska. The first night there,.. in the first 45 minute set, I popped 5, or 6 -011's; one right after another. And they all really popped too, and loud, unlike any others before or since. I got so gun shy for awhile there, I didn't wanna go anywhere near my guitar without a hockey mask and welding gloves.

They were GHS in the yellow and white envelope wrappers. I bought a 12 pack of em' before I left home. It was just a bad batch. I tossed the rest of them out that night, after finding a couple of loose spares that I still had.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 25 Apr 2009 8:56 pm

About 10 years ago I remember getting a bad batch of .011 George L's. Mine were bought at Bobbe Seymour's but Duane Marrs also told me he had got some bad .011's from that same run.

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 26 Apr 2009 12:13 am

Bill

your not a wuss unless you have to change pants
before changing the string

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 26 Apr 2009 3:15 am

Main reason I always change my 3rd string the day before any job if it has been on the guitar for more than a few hours. Best $1.25 or so you will ever spend.

Luke Morell · Post by **Luke Morell** » 26 Apr 2009 5:29 am

I've had the third string break, and as it was flying on off to another universe, it cut the side of my right hand enough to draw blood.

Chuck Hall · Post by **Chuck Hall** » 26 Apr 2009 6:02 am

I don't want to talk real loud (you know if you have a few extra bucks and you speak to loud, either the house or car will automatically need it. lol) but since I stopped using picks and started playing with my fingertips I haven't broke a 3rd string in a great while. Now I can break a string occasionally from picking too hard but I'm working on that. Only broke about 2 or 3 strings in all of last year on two steels.

Chuck

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 26 Apr 2009 6:07 am

I change the 3rd every 10-12 hours
5th every other time with the 3rd.
that way i get very few breaks
once a 10th string popped and a couple of 5ths.
online I get them for 3.00 a doz.
Also the more I change them the faster I get at it.

Randal Smith · Post by **Randal Smith** » 26 Apr 2009 2:05 pm

I work as a guitar inspector for a well known guitar company here in Nashville. Been at it over 4 years now. Breaking strings is an almost daily occurrence for me.

I still jump most times, especially on acoustics.

Dean Richard Varga · Post by **Dean Richard Varga** » 27 Apr 2009 12:07 am

You heard about J.D.s unexpected third thring breaking?

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 27 Apr 2009 5:16 am

Someone at the Jim Thompson's show this weekend broke a string and had to have it removed from his hand, he was scheduled to play but it messed his picking hand up.I diddn,t ask but I would guess it was a no.three.

Tamara James · Post by **Tamara James** » 27 Apr 2009 7:19 am

Bob Cox wrote:Someone at the Jim Thompson's show this weekend broke a string and had to have it removed from his hand, he was scheduled to play but it messed his picking hand up.I diddn,t ask but I would guess it was a no.three.

Yes. Number 3. Took 5 stiches. He stayed the weekend in spite of it. Great guy.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 27 Apr 2009 7:27 am

A string breaking always startles me.
Winding one up to pitch scares the crap out of me. I get very tense anticipating the snap.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 27 Apr 2009 7:36 am

I haven't broken a string since I started using Jagwires and Cobra Coils.

Chuck - I'm sure I just jinxed myself by posting this!

Lee, from South Texas

Frank Sprague · Post by **Frank Sprague** » 27 Apr 2009 12:01 pm

Yes - It wakes you up real quick! Why is it mostly the 3rd ? However , I broke a 5th a while back . . I think they're louder than a 3rd .

Parr Bryan · Post by **Parr Bryan** » 27 Apr 2009 12:05 pm

Great post,
Most of the time I drop my bar when one pops while saying something that I shouldn't.
I changed my 4th pedal on C6 to pull 2 and 6 +1/2 which is a way to very closely achieve the E9 stuff until break time when I can change the string on E9.

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 27 Apr 2009 7:00 pm

On the Performance steel guitar site,Jerry Brightman talks about string breakage of the 3rd string. He suggested changing either a day before or just before you perform. That way the string will be in the process of being stretched before you go on. And yes I have had one break while playing. It's embarassing, because the band keeps on playing while you are tying another string on. This way you don't have to stop in the middle of show to replace a broken string.
Tommy Shown

Larry Hamilton · Post by **Larry Hamilton** » 28 Apr 2009 11:20 am

The 5th strings scares me the worst since it's bigger, but sometimes it gives me a little notice with tuning problems.

Every since going to a .012 on the 3rd string about two years ago., I have NEVER broke one. I am careful to tune it up a little slower than the rest to give it just a little more to stretch.

Only one time did breaking a g# stick and lodge in a finger on the left hand. Man did it smart.

Jack Dougherty · Post by **Jack Dougherty** » 29 Apr 2009 6:10 am

Yes but I don't remember much. Apparently a string was broken. However. I was brought back. There was a doctor there. He said I should be ok. No residual effects or memory loss.

Yes but I don't remember much. Apparently a string was broken. However. I was brought back. There was a doctor there. He said I should be ok. No residual effects or memory loss.

JD

Frank Sprague · Post by **Frank Sprague** » 29 Apr 2009 9:04 am

Why does the 3rd string break before the others ?

John Cadeau · Post by **John Cadeau** » 29 Apr 2009 10:14 am

Broke a fifth string during my steel break on a song. The reason it bothered me so much, is that it was during a live radio show, ouch.
John

Barry Hyman · Post by **Barry Hyman** » 29 Apr 2009 6:06 pm

I broke a third string once and it wrapped AROUND one of the fingers on my left hand and drew blood in a complete circle!

I agree with Chuck Hall who doesn't play with picks anymore. Metal picks eat metal strings! Fingernails almost never break strings, and the tone is quite hot enough for my taste...

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 30 Apr 2009 3:28 am

This is just my theory on why the third string breaks more often. Most steel players use an "11" for the third which is normally tuned to an open G# note (E9 tuning). On a standard acoustic six string guitar, this string is generally intended for use as a first or high "E" string. Given that fact, on a steel guitar this string is initially tuned two whole steps higher than on a standard guitar and then pulled an additional 1/2 step repeatedly by pedal B, the added stress possibly being the contributing factor to its shorter life.

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have you ever had a heart attack from breaking a string ???

have you ever had a heart attack from breaking a string ???

string breakage

third thring breaking

have you ever had a heart attack breaking a string?

have you ever had a heart attack breaking a string?

Have you ever had a heart attack from breaking a string

3rd string