The Steel Guitar Forum

Thanks everybody for your suggestions! I'm going to give a .12 a shot, and I'm going to return to a wound string on my 6th. I just felt like I lost a lot of stability and punch when I went plain.

If you drop your 6th string from G# to F#, some changes can't handle that with a wound string.
Erv

Thanks Erv. I'm unable to swing that change on my machine anyway. I've got a GFI Expo that I either need an extra rod to stabilize the return pitch, or I'm tuning it wrong. Either way, I can live without.

My experience has been the brand of strings you use or a run of bad strings is the biggest cause of breakage.. To find out if you have a string issue or something else, put Live Steel strings on. If they break, you have another problem. Live Steel strings don't break

Respectfully, I doubt very much "Live" makes their own strings. Very, very few string brands actually have any winding (including ball end attachment) done in house; even fewer "draw" their own wire.

There are tiny number of alloys used for plain strings. Chances are "Live"plain strings are made by D'Addario, Darco, Black Diamond, Fender or one of the other huge companies that makes private label strings. It's just not cost effective for a small label to manufacture their own strings - the equipment expense alone is huge.

String breakage is caused by sharp corners, burrs and corrosion on the instrument . The only problems related to strings themselves are poor handling storage that cause the strings to corrode in the package. Related to storage is the age of strings - if they've been sitting on a store or warehouse shelf for a year they may go bad in the package.

Same problem if you store them at home for extended period, or store them in humid conditions. They can corrode and pit in places so small you can't seem the problem without a microscopic - but they'll still fail.

Over the years I've tested major name brands, small brands and countless "bulk string" brands. The only strings that break more commonly than others are cheap bulk (packaged by the dozen) strings that arrive with no silica gel or other moisture absorbing material in the package.

There's just no difference in packaged set plain strings - unless they are stored badly.

Kevin Fix wrote:I use only .011 now. I have used a .010 at times. I like the .011 better.

Same. 0.011 sounds way better, but I break fewer with .010. Thicker than .011 I can't get any life out of them at all. <snap>!

I'm too scared to use a 12, they hurt when they break

11 is as far as I dare, even then I'm a nervous wreck when I press the B pedal

I've used a 12 for many years without a problem.
You get a richer, fuller tone with a 12.
Erv

To eliminate the possibility that the breakage may be tuner related, you might try exchanging the tuner for string #3 with that of String #7 (which normally does not have a change on it). If strings cease to break, then problem solved. If not, you can always try increasing the string gauge later.

I've used 12 Daddario NYXL and have never broken on any of my guitars.

Trade the tuning peg for a different one.. that should tell ya... also lube your roller

I have almost always used a .012 ... they sound far meatier and last forever ! On my guitars at least :-}

respectfully, theres a problem . Use a piece of cotton to identify if and where there is a burr or an edge. Where the string breaks is a clear indicator.

ALSO, are you tuned to 440 ?

Before randomly changing to another gauge or brand , identify the problem.

When changing strings, are you inadvertently allowing a BEND then allowing it to move before winding at the peg , thus we now have TWO bends at the peg. IF this is the case you would be lucky to get 2 or 3 hours of use.


Way above it is stated that string breakage every few hours is normal. Nahh .

If we are playing gigs every week and practicing, we should easily be able to go 1 to 2 weeks which is more like +/- 20 hours of consistent playing.

Also do not discount that the batch of strings is also NOT consistent. Use a string from another batch or set that you have, not from the same batch.