|
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| I have an electric classical that I've had many years and would love to play, but it just sits in the case. The reason it sits in the case is because every time I put a set of strings on it, within 2-3 days I have a broken wound string. When I first got it I used Extra-hard strings with a wound 3rd and the 3rd would always break--but not within a couple days, it was usually 2-3 weeks. I just lived with it and kept a bunch of extra 3rds on hand. I finally got tired of replacing the 3rd regularly and stuck a nylon 3rd on it. Well, the nylon 3rd doesn't break, but guess what? A different wound string breaks now. LOL! This guitar doesn't want me to play it!
They always break up toward the head stock. I've tried to do a little work on the nut to make sure the strings aren't pinched and to make sure there isn't a sharp edge that is cutting them. I've also tried to file the edge of the hole in the machine to make sure they aren't getting cut there. They still break.
A few years ago I even called Ovation and talked to somebody about it, thinking maybe breaking wound 3rd's was a known issue, but they said they weren't aware of a history of such a problem.
If anybody has any input on why my wound nylon string keep breaking I would appreciate it. It's so frustrating because I have this nice guitar the I love to play, but it's not worth the hassle to keep strings on it.
Thanks. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I am thinking it might have to do with fret work or the way you play, or a combination of both. Can you take a picture of the guitar with the broken string on it so we can see where the break is. Maybe a vid of you playing a similar tune to ones you play when it breaks. This is odd for sure. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| Yes, I'll take some pic's--no video, though. I haven't played a note in probably 5-6 years because the situation is just so discouraging. You know, on that guitar I pretty much just played straight chord/melody stuff--standards, latin--no rock, no bending strings, not even strumming rhythm or even a pick. I don't recall one breaking when I was playing; it's like I go to pick it up one day and, drat, another broken string! (No kids and I don't think my wife is that wacky. LOL! But maybe....) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I might be stating the obvious here, but are you sure you're tuning it to concert pitch?
Just as a stop-gap, try tuning it to DGCFAd, instead of EADGBe, and see if that stops the snapfest. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Also, for clarification, when you say it snaps "toward the headstock" do you mean somewhere on the fretboard, or between the nut and the tuner post, or AT the tuner post? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | A) sharp thingy on Nut.
B) sharp thingy on tuning spindle.
C) sharp edge on fret.
D) angry Cat taking revenge when you aren't looking. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| Hey everybody. No, I did not forget about this issue. After a year and a half I finally got around to taking some pics as requested. I'm going to work on getting them posted here, so please bear with me as I work on getting the pics sized properly and figure out how to post them. I suppose I have to upload them to something like Photobucket and then link to them from a forum post, right? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | robk - 2015-02-07 2:24 PM
I suppose I have to upload them to something like Photobucket and then link to them from a forum post, right?
That is what I tell people to do.
Just post the link here.
Or you can try to post it directly through Photobucket.
(I'd just do the link)
If you are resizing it to fit this page, 600 or less Width is what works for me.
Hope that helps. (I know nothing about nylon strings) 
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| Thank you OMA! I clicked the rich text editor and that gave me the controls I was looking for. First, please disregard the fact that the strings are corroded. The have been on the guitar for probably 10 years (lowered tension) because I've just been too frustrated to mess with it. I haven't bothered putting a new set on it because, per my original post, in a short time a wound will just break. As observeable in the pics below, in this case it is the "A" that broke. To answer a question above, they appear to break somewhere between the nut and the bridge, this is why I haven't been able to blame the problem on one or the other. I'm going to try to post the pics in multiple forum posts kind of by catagory. I'll start with a pic of the full guitar here. So, based on the pics below, does anyone see a problem that would cause a wound string to break? Do you think maybe I'm stringing it with an improper method? 
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| Here are some pics of the headstock and nut area. (BTW, how do you edit a forum post? I don't see a button to do that.) 
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| OK, now the neck: 
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| And now the bridge: 
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| OK, so how is that for a start? I do have some more pics, so if there is a view or something you feel like you would like to see let me know. Again, yes, I know the wounds are corroded. The issue isn't corroded strings breaking, it's new/newer strings breaking. Not just the windings separating, I'm talking broken strings. And, yeah, I know she needs some cleaning. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Are you tuning up at all ? What type of strings are you using? I used to have a string breakage issue long ago. I had forgotten about it, but it was on an Electric with Kahler no less. With rollers you'd think no way could a string just break... but it was whatever brand I was using. I switched to another brand, don't recall either at this time, and the problem ceased. Never happened again. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| Standard tuning at all times. I think I probably used D'Addario on it. Not sure whether I ever tried a different brand. That is a thought. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Rob,
You are free to roam about the site. There are only a few people that can respond in the Welcome Center here. One of our other members posted a thought on your dilemma in the main forum....
(from cliff)
Check Your Temperature and Humidity, and make sure that it stays CONSISTENT.
I've got 3 Nylon String guitars, and found that they (oddly enough) are the most susceptible to Temperature/Humidity changes.
I've actually sat at MyComputer in th'middle of th'Night in my MusicRoom to be startled by a sudden "SPROING" from a NylonString just POPPING on a Guitar hanging on th'Wall. This happening when there is somewhat of a TemperatureChange, no matter HOW (seemingly) "insignificant".
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 12
| Oh, OK. Thanks. I didn't realize that. I suppose the best thing would be for me to reply in that thread and put a link to this one...unless a moderator can just move this thread. |
|
| |
Why does my electric classical keep breakin strings?
