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Topic: String Breakage on my Williams 400 |
Marc Weller
From:
Upland, Ca. 91784
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Posted 11 Nov 2003 10:30 pm |
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| I've had no string breakage problems on my Williams 400 until now. I just installed a set of my usual Jagwires and plink, as soon as I hit the B pedal my 3rd (.011) went plink. I have plenty of extra .011's so I replaced it and plink again. I realized the strings were breaking at the changer end so I examined the finger for burrs, polished the area of string contact with a file and some emery cloth and it still immediately broke a string. After my last Jagwire broke, I went to the music store and bought a couple of GHS .011s and, you guessed it, plink plink. I know this has been discussed in the past but I'm desperate for suggestions. |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2003 11:10 pm
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Marc, are you using a tuner and if so are you sure it has not accidently gotten calibrated above 440-442. or if not that is the pedal pulling the 3rd string higher than a 440 "A"? The 3rd string .011 can't stand a pull very sharp at all on any guitar as it is being stretched to the limit when being pulled accurately. If the problem is not with either of these it is possible the lowering spring does not have quite enough tension and the pedal could be pulling past the A note and the lower is taking over and dropping the string below pitch after it has gone too sharp before the pedal bottomed out. This is far fetched speculation but it is remotely possible. If you have not had to run the nylon tuner any sharper that is not likely. I would check out carefully to make sure you have not drifted sharp of 440 as this seems the most likely problem. Don't fret too much, you will find the problem and be able to correct it.
Jerry[This message was edited by Jerry Roller on 11 November 2003 at 11:11 PM.] |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2003 11:03 am
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You need to put at least 5 or 6 wraps around the tuning peg post...to stableize that end...otherwise the changer end will take all the pressure.
Jerry has a valid point also...
And I'm assuming they all were not bad strings?>most likely not.
So other than the changer having a burr/groove....>I believe you need MORE wraps on the tuning post.
Ricky |
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Dan Dowd
From:
Paducah, KY, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Nov 2003 8:14 pm
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| Mark, you might want to try a .012 for your 3rd string. I have been using them for several years and they last longer that the .011 did. They also feel better. but when they break it will scare the hell out of you. I stiil prefer them over the .011's. |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2003 8:37 pm
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Marc, it is evident that something is different than it was when you were not breaking strings. After you broke a batch that could have been a bad run you got a different brand which is a very good string and they also broke. You gotta figure out what has changed. You are either tuning the string too high or something is causing more stress on it. If you get frustrated enough you might remove the 2nd or 4th string and try a .011 on that finger using the same 3rd string key and see if you can run it up to pitch on that finger. If you can you might need to look some more for something in the 3rd string finger although I have never been too sold on the fact that a burr on a finger can cause a string to break. I just don't know that for sure. Just be careful not the try to tune the .011 too high.
Good luck,
Jerry |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2003 2:37 am
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Just a thought........are you backing off on the nylon nut for the third string when you change it? I had the same problem you did when I first started playing and when I talked to Bill he recomeneded backing off on the nut two complete turns.
What was happening was, when I changed the strings and didn't back off on the nut, the travel was repetedly going further out so the string had a lot of strain on it when you depressed the B pedal and would "snap". There wouldn't be any travel left on it.
Give it a try and see if this helps.
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SUAS U' PHIOB
Geo
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Marc Weller
From:
Upland, Ca. 91784
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Posted 14 Nov 2003 11:32 pm
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| I want to thank everyone who responded to my post, especially Jerry Fessenden who insisited on sending me a couple of SIT PG strings free of charge. Anyway, I tried every suggestion and continued to break strings. Substituting an .010 was suggested and I tried this successfully but I really wanted to continue using an .011 in this position. I'd probably gone through 10 strings when I realized that the ball end of the string was being untwisting as I was bringing the string to pitch. I cut a ball from one of my discarded strings and slipped that over a new string. This moved the twist out further from the contact point when I installed this string there was no breakage. I can't imagine that my lever has changed in such a fashion that it is untwisting my strings. Is it possible that the twists are slightly longer on this latest batch of Jagwires? When the SIT arrives from Jerry I'll measure the twist for comparison. |
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Randy Wade
From:
Batesville, Arkansas, USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2003 11:52 pm
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I have been using an.011 guage string from George L lately that has a special nylon thread cover over the twists and it seems to be giving longer life before breaking Anyone else tried these?
Randy |
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