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SG String problems


black_six6

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I have an Epiphone SG (G400) and for some reason the strings on my guitar are only lasting about a month to 2 months before one or more break. And every break is on the wound strings and its right ON the bridge. Every time. Now, I do play my guitar hard, but I've had 4 sets of strings break on me in the last 6-8 months.

 

I had a set of GHS Boomers (Set DYM, 13(?)-56) and they lasted over a year. Then I changed em to the SAME set (another DYM set) and the (wound) G string broke within like 3 weeks. I hadn't even fully broken them in yet. Then I changed to Ernie Ball Power Slinkys. I've gone through 3 sets now and they have all broken either the top E, A, or D string after about a month.

 

I have NO idea what the problem is. I mean, I've had the guitar for almost 2 years now and I have not had this problem before. Like I said, one of those DYM sets lasted me OVER a year. Now, strings dont last a month? Really?

 

 

BTW, the reason I didn't post this on the Epiphone forums is they deleted my profile on there after I had it for 3 days. Retards.

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Wait who's the Retard?

 

 

That was with an s. Therefore its plural. Therefore I meant multiple people. I was referring to whoever deleted my profile on the Epiphone forums after I had only been on there 3 day. And I had posted every one of those days, so there was no reason to delete it say of inactivity. I tried to log on and, bang. "No such username or password exists" or another equivalent statement.

 

^_^

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Wait a minute here..........ONLY two months!?

I'm lucky to get two weeks out of my strings, and i pay a lot for them (Gibson Vintage Reissue 10-46).

If you're getting two months out of a set of strings, you should be extremely happy!

 

That is........unless you don't play very much, then that might be a problem.

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sounds like a burr on the saddle' date=' or maybe just not cut well. Also, the break angle over the bridge may be too great, so it's breaking the strings there.[/quote']

 

Hmm, I had not thought of that. My action is pretty high as I usually play in non-standard tunings. Usually in drop C# and C, and I have to keep my action high to keep the strings from rattling like crazy while playing.

 

 

 

I play about every day for probably an hour or so. But I'm guessing SGplayers post was supposed to be a joke? Two friggin weeks? Dang, you play harder then me [cool] I didn't think that was possible....

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I honestly get a week or two before my strings go dead then I have to change them. I can squeeze a month out of D'Addario but that is when I hardly play and the days I hardly play is 2 to 3 hours.....When I normally play it's about 5 or more hours and I use the thickest dunlop tortex picks I can find and I pick pretty hard, but I hardly have a string break. I also use 9's for what its worth.

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Hmm' date=' I had not thought of that. My action is pretty high as I usually play in non-standard tunings. Usually in drop C# and C, and I have to keep my action high to keep the strings from rattling like crazy while playing.

 

 

 

I play about every day for probably an hour or so. But I'm guessing SGplayers post was supposed to be a joke? Two friggin weeks? Dang, you play harder then me [blush I didn't think that was possible....

 

He's probably like me and we just have higher standards of string perfomance than you. I just prefer the way strings perform when they're fresh.

 

My friend let's his strings rot on his guitar for months. They actually start to constantly sound flat. Completely lifeless. Can't do harmonics etc...

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Hmm' date=' I had not thought of that. My action is pretty high as I usually play in non-standard tunings. Usually in drop C# and C, and I have to keep my action high to keep the strings from rattling like crazy while playing.

 

 

 

I play about every day for probably an hour or so. But I'm guessing SGplayers post was supposed to be a joke? Two friggin weeks? Dang, you play harder then me [blush I didn't think that was possible....

 

He's probably like me and we just have higher standards of string perfomance than you. I just prefer the way strings perform when they're fresh.

 

My friend let's his strings rot on his guitar for months. They actually start to constantly sound flat. Completely lifeless. Can't do harmonics etc...

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Right on Black Six! They usually break at the bridge (I strum pretty hard to try to get that Angus tone) or they just go completely lifeless after doing some soloing and pinch harmonics for about 3 hours a day. (I also think that I must have some sweaty fingers, I clean my strings twice a week so they don't get black and nasty).

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Hmm, I don't really like the really "twangy" sound of new strings. But now I don't feel like an idiot for breaking strings all the time anymore [biggrin] I'm going to go to some heavier strings so I can lower my action a bit, and when I change 'em I'm also going to check for burrs and stuff.

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sounds like a burr on the saddle' date=' or maybe just not cut well. Also, the break angle over the bridge may be too great, so it's breaking the strings there.[/quote']

 

I agree with tbone, if you're breaking the same string in the same place there's a common problem. Burr and or saddle angle for me.

 

- OR -

 

Maybe you only play that string?

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I had the exact same problem. I would suggest replaceing your stop bar tailpiece. On my sg, when i had the problem, I noticed the tailpiece had little grooves(which is what was cutting my strings) on the holes that the strings went through. I wrapped my strings on the outside of the tailpiece because that side was fresh and had no wear on it. Ever since i did that, my strings have lasted 4-5 months, and could last longer. I also got some Gibson alloy strings for humbucker guitars.

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Am I the only one going WTF when it comes to complaining strings only last A MONTH OR TWO. Strings loose there usefulness after a week. Then its time to change them bad boys. Can't have old strings be the culprit of bad tone.

 

PS. As I Lay Dying are awesome [bored]

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Am I the only one going WTF when it comes to complaining strings only last A MONTH OR TWO. Strings loose there usefulness after a week. Then its time to change them bad boys. Can't have old strings be the culprit of bad tone.

 

PS. As I Lay Dying are awesome [biggrin]

 

 

Yessssss, best freakin metal band ever.

 

 

I will look into the stop bar as well. The strings are breaking right on top of the lower bridge (the little trapezoid shaped thingys) every time. I'm beginning to think its the action hight. When I change my strings, I'm going to take a file to the bridge to make sure the strings are resting IN the groves instead of on top of them (another problem that I think may be shortening the life of the strings) and to get rid of any burrs that might be there.

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Hmm' date=' I had not thought of that. My action is pretty high as I usually play in non-standard tunings. Usually in drop C# and C, and I have to keep my action high to keep the strings from rattling like crazy while playing.

 

I play about every day for probably an hour or so. But I'm guessing SGplayers post was supposed to be a joke? Two friggin weeks? Dang, you play harder then me [biggrin I didn't think that was possible....

have you raised both the stop bar AND the bridge? a lot of people like to bottom out the stop bar, but it really should be used to keep the angle from getting too severe.

 

also, some people have sweat that just kills strings, even with string treatments like fast fret and such. I thankfully, do not.

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have you raised both the stop bar AND the bridge? a lot of people like to bottom out the stop bar' date=' but it really should be used to keep the angle from getting too severe.

 

also, some people have sweat that just kills strings, even with string treatments like fast fret and such. I thankfully, do not.

[/quote']

 

 

Yeh, I'm a sweaty guy when I play hard, and I'm sure my strings don't appreciate that a whole lot. I will also look into raising the stop bar a bit, I had not thought of that. It might help to lower the angle a bit.

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