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leia_lynnette
- FB Fan -
8 Posts |
 Posted - 07/11/2006 : 16:29:01
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| Okay! Just curious as to if anyone has any advice on some halfway decent strings. I have a huge problem with snapping the e string. I stretch them and all, but I have a feeling I'm just using crappy strings. So! Let me know if y'all have suggestions on that. |
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Suicide_Samurai
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
431 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2006 : 16:34:34
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I like Ernie Ball's. All other strings sound metally compared to them.
Just about the only thing you can do about your problem is use thicker strings or don't strum as hard. Even if you like 9 gauge strings, you could buy a 10 or 11 E string separately so you'd be playing a hybrid of gauges. Ernie Ball do readymade hybrids... |
Edited by - Suicide_Samurai on 07/11/2006 16:39:06 |
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Oil Boy
- FB Fan -
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 06:22:57
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I had the same problem with my e string. I eventually took it to a guitar shop & the guy there filed the saddle down a bit. He said it was a little rough in the groove of the e string & the jagged edge must have been snapping the string. Since then, I haven't broken a string yet.
I agree with Suicide Samuri too... if it's not a problem with the guitar itself buy a heavy e string & that will help. |
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Doog
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1220 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 09:59:42
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What gauge are you currently using, Leia?
I used Ernie Ball 11-48s for a while, then found a cheaper set by "Guvnor" and they actually break less often! So price doesn't always equal quality.
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www.myspace.com/doog = solo choons
www.myspace.com/casabonitaband = noisey stuff
www.myspace.com/WKtheband = surfrockpop geekery
www.myspace.com/ukpixiestribute = Nimrod's Son |
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Ziggy
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
2463 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 10:05:42
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| My cheapo Epiphone loved to snap strings. Again, the roughness on the saddle was the problem. Rubbing a little graphite from a pencil over the saddle is a fine short term solution. Don't laugh. LOL. |
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danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2792 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 21:51:17
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| it's you your guitar the weather and gauge the band and hand of how you play. it's nothing but breaking strings. |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 22:29:28
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| I always get Elixir strings for my electric. I've never snapped a high E even on year old strings (yes I am lazy about changing strings). I'm probably not as rough on my strings though. I don't strum very hard. |
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Steak n Sabre
* Dog in the Sand *
Uzbekistan
1013 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 22:37:59
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Using thinner picks solved my string breakage problems.... i'll use Ernie's or GHS mainly, any brand (or gauge) works if you're in a bind...
 The Cult of Frank : Somewhere... Anywhere... |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2006 : 06:43:52
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The set I have on now, when I bought them not too long ago, the guy asked me what kind of guitar I had. I have a Telecaster, and he gave me D'addario EXL-125s.
Join the Cult Of Pob! And don't forget to listen to the Pobcast! |
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Ziggy
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
2463 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2006 : 09:09:27
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| D'Addario strings are excellent on my acoustic too. |
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Doog
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1220 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2006 : 10:01:36
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I strongly recommend (to everyone) slightly upping your gauge and pick weight. Thicker strings break less often, sound better and (providing you play regularly and pay attention to decent technique) will build up your left hand a treat.
Thicker picks give you more string control, great for playing leads/single string parts and equally great for some very dynamic strumming. Thin picks let you play quiet and.. slightly less quiet. Thick picks can do it all, thanks to the extra resistance. I can barely believe I used to use anything under 1mm, it feels like I'm playing with a piece of paper. I use 1.14mm picks now and love em.
I very very rarely break strings, but possibly because I tend to change em about every month. Every month-ish or when I'm playing a big show since brand new strings properly stretched in and fitted are a lot less likely to break than 2 week old ones, spesh when you play all the time like I do.
Trust me, I was a guitar teacher.
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www.myspace.com/doog = solo choons
www.myspace.com/casabonitaband = noisey stuff
www.myspace.com/WKtheband = surfrockpop geekery
www.myspace.com/ukpixiestribute = Nimrod's Son |
Edited by - Doog on 07/13/2006 10:08:53 |
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hammerhands
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1594 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2006 : 10:44:48
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I've only broken a couple of strings in the last decade, but I'm cheating!
You can dramatically increase the life of your strings if you wipe them down with a cloth after you play. Your hands are the most corrosive experience your strings will have.
As for picks, I play everything with my fingers which allows me to do some nifty triplets and bass-lines. When I do pop a string (I use a 11's or 12's depending on scale length) it is when I'm using my very heavy picks, I find they give me more control, as Doog says.
In deference to my guitar teacher, he strongly suggests 10's (because you can still bend the g-string) and lighter picks which he says give you more control. Among his arguments is that when you miss-pick and end up deeper in the string the lighter pick will give (to which I say, don't miss). About the volume loss with lighter picks he notes that electric guitars turn up.
I find it a little difficult to use the heavy pick lately as I do use it only rarely. Also, I hold that pick very close to the tip (another thing my teacher frets).
I also had trouble in the saddle once... |
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Suicide_Samurai
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
431 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2006 : 11:02:45
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| I like thin strings and picks. The positives of thicker strings/picks don't really interest me, I think thin strings feel better, are easier to fret, and I also like the pick sound you get when strumming an acoustic with a thin pick. Yup. |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2006 : 17:10:38
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I like medium picks. Too light, it's hard to get a decent attack, too heavy=clumsy and hard to be subtle!!
Join the Cult Of Pob! And don't forget to listen to the Pobcast! |
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jtjcp88
- FB Fan -
105 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2006 : 04:05:21
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quote:
Originally posted by hammerhands
I've only broken a couple of strings in the last decade, but I'm cheating!
You can dramatically increase the life of your strings if you wipe them down with a cloth after you play. Your hands are the most corrosive experience your strings will have.
As for picks, I play everything with my fingers which allows me to do some nifty triplets and bass-lines. When I do pop a string (I use a 11's or 12's depending on scale length) it is when I'm using my very heavy picks, I find they give me more control, as Doog says.
In deference to my guitar teacher, he strongly suggests 10's (because you can still bend the g-string) and lighter picks which he says give you more control. Among his arguments is that when you miss-pick and end up deeper in the string the lighter pick will give (to which I say, don't miss). About the volume loss with lighter picks he notes that electric guitars turn up.
I find it a little difficult to use the heavy pick lately as I do use it only rarely. Also, I hold that pick very close to the tip (another thing my teacher frets).
I also had trouble in the saddle once...
Do you not use hybrid-picking? I find it much better than just using only my fingers.
"Dance at my party." |
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Doog
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1220 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2006 : 04:36:25
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quote:
Originally posted by hammerhands
In deference to my guitar teacher, he strongly suggests 10's (because you can still bend the g-string) and lighter picks which he says give you more control. Among his arguments is that when you miss-pick and end up deeper in the string the lighter pick will give (to which I say, don't miss). About the volume loss with lighter picks he notes that electric guitars turn up.
Man, I couldn't disagree with your teacher more. I think he's missing the point about volume loss with lighter picks, it's more about loss of dynamic- you can only pick so hard before a thin pick bends.
Ah well, horses for courses. I'll just say that I've improved ten fold as a player since I upped gauge and pick thickness.
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www.myspace.com/doog = solo choons
www.myspace.com/casabonitaband = noisey stuff
www.myspace.com/WKtheband = surfrockpop geekery
www.myspace.com/ukpixiestribute = Nimrod's Son |
Edited by - Doog on 07/14/2006 04:38:10 |
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hammerhands
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1594 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2006 : 04:37:58
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No, I use what I assume is very traditional finger-style (thumb and three fingers, thumb and index strumming and some really poorly executed rasgueados).
What's hybrid-picking like, what can you do?
http://www.guitarnoise.com/article.php?id=406
My little finger rarely gets used.
There is this fellow in town who plays a flamenco style, I haven't seen him in many years, Paul Cameron Miller who had this thing he could do with his pinky, he would bend it in a strange way and get it to vibrate really fast and lay it down on the string and continue to finger pick with the other fingers with this very consistent tremolo on the top strings, unbelievable!
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hammerhands
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1594 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2006 : 05:46:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Doog
Man, I couldn't disagree with your teacher more. I think he's missing the point about volume loss with lighter picks, it's more about loss of dynamic- you can only pick so hard before a thin pick bends.
I think you can always pick more quietly, your soft notes can be softer therefore you don't actually lose dynamic range (as far as volume).
The volume loss was never my concern, I think there's other dynamics, more qualities that you can get with the harder pick and I think the harder picks force you to be more precise (which is both positive and negative).
I have the greatest respect for his opinions. |
Edited by - hammerhands on 07/14/2006 12:19:20 |
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jtjcp88
- FB Fan -
105 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2006 : 06:03:35
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quote:
Originally posted by hammerhands
No, I use what I assume is very traditional finger-style (thumb and three fingers, thumb and index strumming and some really poorly executed rasgueados).
What's hybrid-picking like, what can you do?
http://www.guitarnoise.com/article.php?id=406
My little finger rarely gets used.
There is this fellow in town who plays a flamenco style, I haven't seen him in many years, Paul Cameron Miller who had this thing he could do with his pinky, he would bend it in a strange way and get it to vibrate really fast and lay it down on the string and continue to finger pick with the other fingers with this very consistent tremolo on the top strings, unbelievable!
Well I dont think i'm as good as that guy. To be honest ive only been learning the style for the past 3 months, and most of the time is taken up building finger strength, especially the little finger and whatever the one next to it is called. However it does have its uses, specifically when wanting to play lead and rythm guitar at the same time ala Stairway to Heaven Plus it looks pretty cool.
"Dance at my party." |
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ScottP
= Cult of Ray =
USA
618 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2006 : 11:25:01
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Get a guitar tech. Have him toss you another guitar when you break a string. He'll grow tired of this after awhile and will fix the problem himself.
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leia_lynnette
- FB Fan -
8 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2006 : 10:17:11
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| P.S. I bought some Ernie Ball hybrids and I'm really liking them. The super-slinkies too. I haven't had to change a string since I posted this, so that's a lot better than I was doing before. Thanks, guys! |
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Hatchetman
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
234 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2006 : 10:54:05
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My guitar tech told me a way of making strings that are prone to snapping last longer (though I’ve never tried it)… Take a small electrical wire and strip it out of its casing, cut the casing to about 1cm - 1.5cm in length, then slip it over the string right up to the ‘ball’ end. Now when you put the string through the string ferrule, (on strung through body guitars) the casing should sit between the string itself and the bridge plate, therefore stopping the ‘metal on metal’ friction at that stress point.
Ade
As the air conditioner hummed.... |
Edited by - Hatchetman on 08/22/2006 10:54:48 |
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strings
