The Steel Guitar Forum

I have been following the "Yet another question about 3rd string breakeage" thread and thinking how cool I was that I haven't broken a string yet. Well I just got over my first PSG Heart Attack - yes folks, I sat at the steel and no longer than a minute at it, good old number 3 decided to pop right off and send my nerves out into outer space.

I decided it was a good time to learn how to change my strings. I strung it with some Jagwire Stainless Steel strings. Its amazing what a new set of strings will do to your sound and playing. Although I don't really have much to compare it to since the strings on the steel I purchased were old I really like how even and full the Jagwire strings sound.

I was wondering about the Stainless Steels. When I slide my bar around they seem a bit louder than the strings I had on before. When I say louder I don't mean the actual volume of the strings but the bar seems to scrape along the wound strings. I don't know what type of strings were on the steel before since they were the set that came with the guitar but these do feel a lot different than the old ones. Are the Stainless a bit noisier than most strings or was it that my old strings were so old and dead that I never noticed it as much? Would nickel be a bit quieter. I did go from a plain 6th to a wound 6th. Could that be it?

Another thing I am noticing is when I vibrato the first string I hear a kind of twinkling sound coming from the changer. I recorded myself today and the sound doesn't come through the amp but I do hear it from my playing position. Should I look into that?

Joey its probably not the extra wound string. Since the strings you were playing with were very old, its probably just that you aren't used to the guitar with fresh new strings on. Anytime you hear bar noise regardless of what kind of strings you have on is a sign that you need to check on your blocking techniques. Obviously there will be some bar noise if you are letting strings sustain while you move the bar, but palm blocking properly will stop most of the unwanted bar noise. For me, the twinkling noise happens usually as the bar gets closer to the nut end. A little more pressure on the bar can help. I try to stay in the habit of keeping the round end of the bar at the highest string I'm playing on cause if you're not playing on the upper strings then the bar doesn't need to cover them.

New strings make all the difference. I got tired of breaking string 3 usually during the middle of a job, so I started changing strings about every two to three weeks. Most will probably think that is too often and it can be expensive, BUT if you desire that pristine sound that new strings give you, then I say the extra $$ are worth it. I usually change about 20 sets per year depending on how much I'm working.

I tried the Jagwire stainless strings on my U12 Marlen. I am impressed with the tone. I do feel some friction from the wound strings under the bar, but that improves after you play a little while. No problem for me.
BTW, in case you don't already know,the winding is stainless,the wire string is not......JD

I had the same "problem" when changing to a new set of Jagwire Stainless. The strings that were on the steel at purchase were roundwounds like the Jagwires, but worn flat on the topside.

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Klaus Caprani

MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com

Joey,
Another possiblity is that if you are using a stainless steel bar, the friction against stainless strings is greater than if you were to use a chrome bar. Do a side-by-side if you can. I think you will notice a difference.

Read this old discussion.

Click Here

Lee, from South Texas

Thanks for the link Lee. These quotes from Bobbe probably give the answer to my problem.

Thanks to every one else for your comments.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR><SMALL>You guys are missing the biggest point of all. Stainless bars on stainless strings dont work.Period. If you cant hear and feel the diffrence between hard chrome and stainless bars on stainless steel strings,you shouldnt even be reading this.HARD CHROME is the only way to go on S. S. strings. If you have trouble holding your bar and drop it often and chip it up,buy another bar.and get some experince learning to hold it.Be a good steel player, not a good bar dropper. S.S. is OK for amature or training perposes or players that cant tell the diffrence,NOT for professionals.
IF YOU WANT A STAINLESS STEEL BAR USE NICKEL STRINGS! STAINLESS STRINGS NEED HARD CHROME BARS !
Bobbe </SMALL><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

and

<SMALL> Two objects in contact with each other made of the same material have a tendency to adhere or stick to each other.</SMALL>

Looks like its time to place another order with b0b <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joey Aguilera on 31 December 2004 at 12:47 PM.]</p></FONT>

Um...I hesitate to disagree with Bobbe, but there are some hard facts that are missing above. All unwound strings, and the cores of all wound strings are stainless steel. It is only the wrapping of the wound strings that is varied. A lot of the steel-on-steel friction Bobbe refers to comes from the plain strings, where the contact is closest between the string and bar. That being the case, if what Bobbe says is strictly true, then no one should ever use a stainless steel bar on any strings. Chrome bars do feel slicker to me, on steel or nickel strings. I think chrome is just harder and smoother. And it does make sense that same-on-same has more friction. But tons of steelers have used stainless steel bars on stainless or nickel strings. The chrome is a little slicker, but it also chips and flakes easily when bumped. I can only get my beloved double-bullet Twister in steel, and it works just fine on stainless strings (I'd buy it chromed if it was offered that way). Of course I'll never be as fast as Bobbe, but I haven't found that using a chrome bar changes that noticeably.

Nickel wound strings do have a little less bar noise than stainless, but they also sound duller when picked. Some people like the warmer (duller) sound of nickel wounds. I use stainless wounds because they sound crisp longer, and I'm lazy about changing strings. If you change strings every time your 3rd breaks, you may end up spending more time and money than you need to on string changes. Most steelers buy bunches of extra 3rd strings and change it often to avoid having it break while playing. I change it before every gig. The 5th string 0.17 also breaks often. After a few 3rd string changes, I change the 5th too, just to be safe. The rest of the strings can last until you think they are beginning to sound bad, which will be longer with stainless wounds. I don't think anyone other than studio pros change the whole set more often than evey month or two, certainly not every time the 3rd breaks. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by David Doggett on 31 December 2004 at 02:09 PM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by David Doggett on 31 December 2004 at 02:11 PM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL>A lot of the steel-on-steel friction Bobbe refers to comes from the plain strings</SMALL>

I don't get any real noticeable noise on the plain strings.