Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on October 25, 2018 at 8:34pm

Morning, Arthur.

There can be several reasons for string breakage on new builds. I'll try and suggest a few then I'm sure others will be able to help some too.

Check the machine heads for burrs or sharper bits to make sure that's not why they're snapping at the machine heads.

Make sure your break angle over the nut and/or bridge isn't too severe. If it's too steep of an angle going over these then that can create similar issues.

Along with break angle, if you're building a slide guitar, make sure your string height above the neck or fretboard isn't too high. Better a lower action even for a slide guitar unless you're building to lapsteel specification?

As you said they're new strings I won't suggest avoiding using old strings.

Last one I can think of right now is make sure you're tuning to the correct octave of GDg. Even with an electronic tuner it can be easy to tune past the correct octave tuning to a higher octave that the strings weren't meant to tune to. Unfortunately I don't know what the correct octave is or whether your tuner gives a readout for octaves but generally you should be able to depress the strings without too much pushing.

Try these things and as mentioned I'm sure others will be around to help soon. Have a great day and best regards,

Bear :0)

Permalink Reply by Arthur Payne on October 25, 2018 at 11:44pm

Many thanks.   I'll check it all.

Art

Permalink Reply by Gerald Schwenke on October 26, 2018 at 3:43pm

the correct octave is G 2nd octave D 3rd and G 3rd. I got that from a book while trying to string my first build last weekend. It worked great!

Permalink Reply by Arthur Payne on October 25, 2018 at 11:45pm

Thank you.   That's good info.

Art

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on October 25, 2018 at 9:56pm

Deburr with fine sandpaper, I’m sure it’s a sharp point somewhere? Tuners can have sharp edges? Good luck.

Permalink Reply by Arthur Payne on October 25, 2018 at 11:46pm

Thanks Brian.   That was suggested earlier.   I think it's the most likely.

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on October 26, 2018 at 2:58am

Arthur, I have been using .044, ,034 & .026 and have never broken a string. Generally build to a 25.5" scale and tune G,D,G.