The Steel Guitar Forum

I just broke my 5th string (second Live Steel string I broke this week, broke #3 on Sunday, and they are less than 5 months old...anyone else having this issue? I almost never had broken strings before). Anyway, the end fell down into the changer; I cannot find it, but thus far the pedals and levers all seem to engage, but I'm concerned about it getting caught up in there. I can't see it with a flashlight, can't shake it out (I tipped it upside down and shook it -- not as easy as it sounds -- but nothing.

Anyone else ever have this? Do I just keep at it until I can fish it out? I haven't replaced the 5th string yet but I'm on limited time. Any thoughts?

Rick...Take a really close look on the floor around the area where the guitar was set up, many times the ball will fall straight through depending on where the string was broken.

Chances are it fell out. I sometimes find it in my case after I set it up for the next gig.

I've broken a few Live Steel Strings. More than when I used Jagwires. But they are still great strings. 5 months is a good run for a set of strings though, even if it's just used at home for practice. I wouldn't stress over breaking a string now and then.

no matter what brand you're using, it is VITAL to make sure that the ball end is out of the changer
as soon as it breaks, look for it
yes they do fall out of the changer but
if it's stuck in it you're liable to have some grief

Sorry, no matter what anyone says; you have to change the strings once in a while. 5 months without changing is way too long to go. I have several guitars, when I change any strings, I write it down on a calender. It's easy to see which ones have been changed or should be changed. I will not play a gig with a third string that has been used more than about 20 hours. I will give the 4th, 5th and 6th strings a little more time, but they are not allowed to get old either. The rest of the strings are not as critical, but they won't last forever. New ones sound better. Strings are cheap, keep them fresh! It's actually pretty rare for the ball end to get jammed somewhere in the changer, gravity wants to make it fall to the floor, or, when the guitar is in the case, drop out from the top. Don't worry about it too much.

Yes, five months seems like a very long time between string changes unless you spend very little time playing.
But regarding the broken end, I occasionally have found one in my guitar case after the guitar has been in there upside down for awhile. But a lot more often they turn up on the floor, at times a fair distance from the guitar.
As for Live Steel strings, I haven't broken one yet. And they seem to be holding their tone and clarity longer than any I've ever tried. I had two go dead early on the first set but I'm sure it was the result of being contaminated with something I had on my hands. Since that I've found them just excellent.

If you can see the ball end down in guitar, I use a stiff wire small enough to fit into ball end bend an L on end and work it down to ball end, insert wire into ball end and extract. I've done several that way thru the years.

Rick,
After you are sure all is clear, get a piece of soft sponge, and trim, and insert in the changer. I haven't needed it yet, but...Bill

Been there and done that and have scars to prove it. Had 2 3rd break on stage. MSA has a grove the string comes up through. If you have pins the sponge works great. Broke one 3rd one night on stage. put a new one on and tuned up couln't find the ball. Three songs later it caught in the change and sounded like a sick wild cat. One other time the boss was doing Marie Lavoe and I was making the scream on the steel.
It was time for marie to scream and did not, He turned around and I had my steel upside by 2 legs shaking it. Some of the crowd was laughing. Just as he turned around and looked the ball fell out on the stage. When I played on stage after that I run strong nylon string through the ball of string 3 and 5 so if one broke I could hook the string and pull the ball out of the changer. Had a couple doo doos to pull on them thinking they were trash. If you get a bad run of single .11 strings it can be nerve racking. Good Luck

I've only broken a couple of third strings on my Sho-Bud in 3-4 yrs. I've owned it. I've managed to find the ball end in the changer area and used a telescoping type magnet tool you find at your local hardware store to retreive it,works great! The hardest part was locating it!
I use George L's or Cobra coil strings, guitar was set up by Jim Palenscar,also my steel instructor(Kirk Eipper) has helped tweek it a couple of times also!I can't say enough good things about these guys!

hi,,,a very useful tool for your kit is a couple of dentist tools with the bends in them ,,handy for other things too,,,sometimes you can pick them up at flea markets for a song,,,ken

Another idea
use masking tape / scotch tape to tape the ball end of the strings. The balls will not drop should the string breaks.

"they are less than 5 months old."

That's about 95 in human years!