Scott0 Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 Across all guitars. I play nickel wound D'Addario XL 9s and they are unraveling at the ferrule. I do a lot of bends. I buy 10 packs of these strings, could I have gotten a bad 10 pack? I actually top wrapped the '56 LP reissue to try and squelch this problem on that guitar, which seems to be working but I am also breaking that string on my guitars with trapeze tails. Any ideas? Also, when you break a string do you go ahead and just put the entire new set of strings on or just the replace the broken one and leave the remaining strings in the opened packaging? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 Switch to 10's? I have played D'Addario 10's for years with lots of bending and never break them. In my early years I used 9's and broke them all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 graph-tech saddles At the tuner/headstock ferrule, no idea, sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 I just reread your post and noticed you said they are unraveling at the ferrule. That sounds like a bad set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 Also, I only replace the broken ones. I have many "half and 3/4 packs"...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted April 27, 2014 Author Share Posted April 27, 2014 thanks for the quick replies. I should give 10s a whirl regardless really, I like 9s though. Yeah, unraveling, it's happened with 4 sets of strings on 3 different guitars, all 4 sets out the same 10 pack, just seems weird but these are very inexpensive strings also, $3/set. Crust, 2 of the guitars have graph tech saddles/bridges even! 1 has a custom bone nut, one a plastic nut and the MIK Casino not sure. I might make the jump to some 10s from another brand or series. I liked the value of these as I change my strings pretty often Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 thanks for the quick replies. I should give 10s a whirl regardless really, I like 9s though. Yeah, unraveling, it's happened with 4 sets of strings on 3 different guitars, all 4 sets out the same 10 pack, just seems weird but these are very inexpensive strings also, $3/set. Given the info in the previous posts, I think I'd contact D'Addario. My guess is they'll take back the balance of your 10 pack and make things right otherwise. I would normally say that string breakage is due to either age or a saddle burr, but unraveling at the ferrule is something I've never experienced. I usually don't break strings, but if/when I do, I change the whole set (I'm kind of a whole set guy anyway. Sort of like buying just one new tire for your car, you know?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Pauler Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 Do you have access to a soldering iron? You could try soldering them. I have been using 10s too with our problems. Good luck. Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted April 27, 2014 Author Share Posted April 27, 2014 thanks for the feedback, perhaps a switch to 10s is in order. And it makes sense to check in with D'Addario and get their view. While I figured the strings had unraveled, based on how the end of the string looked, I wanted to make sure so I tracked down today's broken e string ferrule and snapped a pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 The only thing that I could see being possible,since it has happened on other guitars with the same string, is that your string sets came from a batch of string wire that had some kind of rarely occurring manufacturing defect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted April 28, 2014 Author Share Posted April 28, 2014 It's highly unlikely to come across a whole multi-set carton of faulty strings.Up until recently I used exclusively D-Addario .008-.038 strings for at least the past 30 years and never experienced anything but very rare string breaks and never any unwinding, and being someone who has been doing Hendrix covers for over 40 years, I have made it a practice to really give strings a brutal going over by using extremely deep bends and very intense vibrato arm abuse but string breakage was always a rare occurrence.I would guess that your string breakage is due to some mechanical issue such as the strings contacting something that is causing the outer wrap of the string weaken and eventually break and unwind.Did you closely inspect the ferrules to see if there were any rough spots or sharp areas or if the string was coming in contact with any sharp points while being installed?Sometimes sharp or rough contact points have a way of staying out of sight unless a very close examination with a good,powerful magnifying glass is done.I think that you should go this route,because only having this issue with one string and on only one guitar certainly points to a point of contact doing the damage. I find it strange myself, but it has happened on 3 guitars, not just one, that ferrule in the pic is just from today's broken string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Ernie Ball "Regular" Slinky 10-48 guage broken 2 in 20+ yrs....and I "pull" most bends for that little "extra" oomph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Scales Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Dodgy production batch I'd wager. The (only) consistent factors are the particular 10 pack, the specific (E) string and the breakpoint (fault). It happens. Suggest you buy 10 high E's assuming no other strings are breaking - at least then you still got reasonable value for your original $30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Dodgy production batch I'd wager. The (only) consistent factors are the particular 10 pack, the specific (E) string and the breakpoint (fault). It happens. Suggest you buy 10 high E's assuming no other strings are breaking - at least then you still got reasonable value for your original $30. or buy 10 .058 low e's and string up like SRV....... elevator cables i'm sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Scott0, This is gonna sound a bit nuts but I'll put it up anyway.....(just in case) Besides all of the above there are also fake D'Addario strings. Sound nuts? They were at their peak from 2009 - 2012. That doesn't mean that the problem is over. Fakes are still around! I'm not saying that is your problem....only a possibility. I know the one article was written in 2010 but still, have a look: http://www.daddario.com/upload/DABR_Counterfeit_Strings_LowRes_12587.pdf http://daddarioinc.blogspot.com/2010/09/play-real-beware-of-counterfeit.html Just a thought, Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted April 28, 2014 Author Share Posted April 28, 2014 Thanks for the feedback, WW, thanks for tracking down those links. I've got a call planned to D'Addario to check in with them but I've been sidetracked by work today, so it will be later, I'll post what they say. oh, didn't mean to imply I'm a madman bender, I'm not. I just play a lot of songs with bends, but I don't bend the string more than a full step bend in any of them. I'm more of a nuance bender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrvond Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Thanks for the feedback, WW, thanks for tracking down those links. I've got a call planned to D'Addario to check in with them but I've been sidetracked by work today, so it will be later, I'll post what they say. oh, didn't mean to imply I'm a madman bender, I'm not. I just play a lot of songs with bends, but I don't bend the string more than a full step bend in any of them. I'm more of a nuance bender. Scott0, D'Addario's are quality strings, and you should not be experiencing the problem you describe. Questions: Are all guitars tuned the same, and is the tuning unusual? Are the strings being mounted properly? For example, I saw a post somewhere that showed the strings being fed through the stop bar backwards, which bent the strings across a very sharp edge. Assuming all three guitars are different, with different tail pieces, the mounting is probably not the issue, but gotta ask anyway. Are you sure you are tuning to the correct octave? I have D'Addario EPN120 9/41's on all my guitars with no issues. I once broke a non-wound G because I wasn't paying attention and tuned the E A and D strings one octave too high. I'd be inclined to look further into what's going on with the guitars rather than blame the strings. There is something common to all three guitars causing a problem, and it isn't the guitars or the strings. The only common element I can identify is you, so carefully review how you are installing and tuning your strings. Switching to 10's may fix your problem, but I think it would only be a Band-Aid, covering up an underlying problem that may actually damage your guitars due to higher string tension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted April 29, 2014 Author Share Posted April 29, 2014 Yes, I agree, D'Addario makes quality strings. IN fact, I've been buying this 10 pack exclusively for quite a while now and using the strings on all my electrics and this is the first it has happened afterm many purchases of this 10 pack so I am not thinking that quality is the issue. Examining my string changing procedure, tuning, playing style, etc., I can tell you it's not because I've become a better guitarist all the sudden! lolz. But I can't pinpoint a change in how I change the strings or tune. I tune up using the same snark I've had and then double-check that often through my practive sessions and such with software that's running and haven't noticed anything different. All the unravelings have happened the exact same way though, the string drops waaaaaaaay out of tune, like off the scale out of tune with plenty of slop around the tuner peg. I tighten that up up up and get it back in tune, it will be fine for a period of time, then blam, do that same exact thing, maybe even do that a couple more times, then finally, while either tightening the string back up yet again or ASAP after that, while playing, the string snaps- snap! ferrule shoots out from the tailpiece. I put that call in to D'Addario CS and left a message on VM, someone is supposed to return my call, I'd imagine tomorrow or so. Like most things, I'm sure there's a logical 'splanation, maybe we can sort it out chatting with D'Addario. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Marlowe Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Hopefully you haven't used up the last of them. I'm sure D'Addario will want the old strings to look at them etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAZIE Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Ernie Ball "Regular" Slinky 10-48 guage broken 2 in 20+ yrs....and I "pull" most bends for that little "extra" oomph. I'm with bender on this one.regular slinkys are great.although i haven't had much problem with the super slinky 9s either.but when i break a string it always seems to be right over my bridge bucker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrvond Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Yes, I agree, D'Addario makes quality strings. IN fact, I've been buying this 10 pack exclusively for quite a while now and using the strings on all my electrics and this is the first it has happened afterm many purchases of this 10 pack so I am not thinking that quality is the issue. Examining my string changing procedure, tuning, playing style, etc., I can tell you it's not because I've become a better guitarist all the sudden! lolz. But I can't pinpoint a change in how I change the strings or tune. I tune up using the same snark I've had and then double-check that often through my practive sessions and such with software that's running and haven't noticed anything different. All the unravelings have happened the exact same way though, the string drops waaaaaaaay out of tune, like off the scale out of tune with plenty of slop around the tuner peg. I tighten that up up up and get it back in tune, it will be fine for a period of time, then blam, do that same exact thing, maybe even do that a couple more times, then finally, while either tightening the string back up yet again or ASAP after that, while playing, the string snaps- snap! ferrule shoots out from the tailpiece. I put that call in to D'Addario CS and left a message on VM, someone is supposed to return my call, I'd imagine tomorrow or so. Like most things, I'm sure there's a logical 'splanation, maybe we can sort it out chatting with D'Addario. Well, it is always possible that D'Addario has actually changed something in the manufacturing process that has resulted in this problem. I doubt they'd admit to that though... It'll be interesting to hear what their take on this problem is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share Posted May 1, 2014 Just wrapped the call up with D'Addario CS, the nice gal said the batch was a bad batch that had poorly wound little e strings in it. She apologized for the issue and is sending replacement strings. Thanks for all the feedback folks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Glad to hear that worked out for you. And kudo's to D'Addario for "fessing up" and making things right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 Glad to hear that worked out for you. And kudo's to D'Addario for "fessing up" and making things right. She was very helpful and stated that strings unwinding like this is the telltale sign of a poorly wound string. She went on to say that for the solid strings, like this little e string, the stretching of a new string is actually the winding tightening up onto itself so if it unravels like these did, it didn't tighten up on itself, i.e., poor wind. made sense to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.