The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a 3+1 maverick/E9 tuning. I'm trying to get the G# string in tune w/ pedalB raising it to A. I have no trouble tuning to G# but when I try to tune to A, the string breaks. It is always breaking at the tuning peg. What is the correct way to wind the string? I am using D'Addario strings; .011p.
I am using a chromatic tuner so I know I am not going above A with the pedal. Thanks in advance.

I should have searched the forum before i posted this problem. Looks like I found many solutions to my problem. BTW, this is all new to me but i'm very excited. What a great sounding instrument. I'm done with reading - it's time to learn and play.

Have you tried a #10 for that G# string ??
I use a #10 and very seldom break a 3rd string.



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Bill,
I went the other way. I use a 12 on the 3rd string and experience very little breakage. I tried a 10 & 11 and thought they didn't have the fullness I like.
Erv

I was always breakin the G# on my 78 emmons pp, but I have yet to break one on my 84 emmons all pull. and I have played that thing to death!

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TW Sneed

The only time I had a real problem with breaking 3rd strings was when I ran out of George L 011's and picked up a half dozen D'Addario singles from the local music store. As I recall I popped 3 of them in a row trying to get them up to an A with the B pedal. Try a different brand.

Some of the Mavericks don't have a roller nut. Is the string breaking at the nut?

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<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax</font>

Richard - I fought the same battle when I first started playing - I found out that if you leave more string to wind on the tuning peg so that it winds to the side of the hole onto the solid shaft, It will not break as easy!

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Ron Petersen &
The Keep'n Tyme Band
Mullen Universal 12 - 1975 Session 400

Bobby - it's breaking at the tuning peg. I read a lot of information on the forum that suggests leaving enough string to make sure it is not over the hole in the tuning peg when it approaches A ( thanks Ron)- i will try this tonight. I need to get past this problem so I can start learning how to play. The rest of the Maverick is in good shape. All the strings are in tune with and without the pedals. I need to finish the rods for the lever - should not be a problem. Thanks for the replies/help.

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Sounds like a "burr" or a sharp edge on the 3rd stg tuning key. With the string off, wipe a cotton ball or swab across both sides of the hole in the shaft. If strands of cotton stick, there's your problem spot.
Some light file work to smooth out the burr and you should be able to pull it up to A with out cutting the string in two!
JE:-)>

What Jim said, also when you unwind a string, be sure and be carefull not to put a kink in it(sometimes hard to do)

Bill

Has anyone did this, I broke 3rd string on a MSA,and every time i tried to tune it up to G#, it broke about where G was, I thought the new strings i bought were bad. I bought a new dozen and the 3rd broke even faster,.. Then i noticed my tuner , a Boss TU-100 from the 80's was not on the C scale but was on something else. Like a Eflat,F or a B flat. Anyway , i put it on the right scale and all at once it tuned up very easily. Well thats my .02 cents

Richard,

The following procedure was taught to me long ago. Since I started using it, I have only broken two strings at the keypeg. And they were both Ernie Ball .011 reinforced strings. Needless to say I never used them again.

1. Attach the ball end of the string on the pin at the changer.

2. While holding it on the pin, stretch the string all the way past the nut roller and key. Go past by about the distance of three key pegs.

3. Cut the string off at this length.

4. Bend a loop back between 3/8 and 1/2 inch in the string.

5. While holding the ball end attached, pull this loop back into the key post hole from atop the peg. (It is best if you align the holes parallel to the guitar before you start.)

6. While holding a little pressure on the string by raising it in the air, begin winding the string so the winding causes the string to exit from atop the peg rather than below it on its way to the roller. (note the idea is to end up so the string is dead straight in line all the way from the changer to the nut to the peg.) This is to lesson Hysterisis problems.

7. Wind it right on up to pitch as your "tension" goes down with the string flat between nut and roller.

Note: Absolutely NO need to tarry in this procedure. If the string breaks it was defective to begin with. Believe me on this. "Jes' run that sapsucker on up there" as the late and great Gene O'Neal used to tell me.

Pump the pedal several times and bring the string back up to pitch with the key.

If you follow this procedure you will not break strings at the keyhead, unless the string is a bad one.

Now, at the changer end, well that is a horse of a different color and that is for another thread

carl