String breaking and solutions, with pics included —hope you’ll find it useful

[zorrow]

Before blaming the brands, I’ve had similar problems with D’Addario, Ernie Ball, Dean Markley, Fender, GHS Boomers… 

Fact is, my high E string keeps on breaking often. Here are some solutions I’ve tried so far:

1- Wrapping the string around the stop-tail.

2- Using a soldering iron to strengthen the tip of the string and its winding —unwinding occurs sometimes, specially with D’Addario. 

3- Adding an extra “ball” to the tip of the string.

Solution 1 above works for TOM bridges. Solutions 2 and 3 work for other bridges, specially for my Brian May-like tremolo.

Today I combined 1, 2 & 3 on one of my guitars, and also did 2 & 3 on my Mayday V. Some pics:

Hope you’ll find this useful.

CU around! 

[velorush]

Are they consistently breaking at the ball end?

[zorrow]

5 hours ago, velorush said:

Are they consistently breaking at the ball end?

Yes. Well, they were. I’ve taken some measures, as you can see. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Biz Prof]

7 hours ago, zorrow said:

2- Using a soldering iron to strengthen the tip of the string and its winding —unwinding occurs sometimes, specially with D’Addario. 

This is precisely how D'Addario lost me as a loyal customer after 24 or so years.  Typically D and A strings on multiple guitars...and nearly always during gigs.

[RobB]

6 hours ago, Biz Prof said:

This is precisely how D'Addario lost me as a loyal customer after 24 or so years.  Typically D and A strings on multiple guitars.

Interesting. I've had no such issues. When did you change to your current brand?

[Biz Prof]

6 hours ago, RobB said:

Interesting. I've had no such issues. When did you change to your current brand?

Almost two years ago. Tried Stringjoy...once. Not impressed.  Gave EB Primo Slinky (.0095-.044) a go and that's what I've used since.

[velorush]

16 hours ago, zorrow said:

Yes. Well, they were. I’ve taken some measures, as you can see. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Amazing. In all my years of playing I can recall one string breaking at the ball end. I used D'Addario 80's to mid-90's, GHS after that. Lately I've been using Ernie Ball. 

[hamerhead]

When I was gigging regularly I'd buy D'Addarios in the bulk box (25 sets). One of those boxes had that unraveling-at-the-ball issue with the high E string, but they sent replacements and all was good. And it hasn't happened since.

It's really odd to have it happen on a regular, consistent basis. And across all string brands and tailpiece types.

Try these:

They're expensive, not as bright-sounding as the regulars, and a bit stiff but seem pretty robust. I haven't broke one yet.

[zorrow]

1 hour ago, hamerhead said:

 

It's really odd to have it happen on a regular, consistent basis. And across all string brands and tailpiece types.

It might be something I do that might weaken the strings there. I put roller saddles on all my TOM bridges because I like sometimes pushing down the strings behind the bridge, for a tremolo-like effect. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Look:

 

I do that even on my Mayday-V. I don’t do it that often, but I guess that only sometimes creates a weak spot at the tip that snaps later on, when I go wild on bending. 

[zorrow]

10 hours ago, RobB said:

Interesting. I've had no such issues. When did you change to your current brand?

I mostly use Ernie Ball these days, but I use whatever is at hand. I still have high E and B strings around I’ve purchased in bulk —D’Addario. I also have several “mutilated” sets of different brands, because when I go to a guitar shop I often compulsively buy a set of strings when leaving. 🤪