I use Ernie Ball 10-46 strings on all my electric guitars but Iāve found lately that I keep on breaking the top E and B strings.
I play mostly Blues and therefore do a lot of bends on the two top strings but in the last two months, Ive had to replace the top two strings numerous timesā¦
Any suggestionsā¦
Could I put 11-46 strings on the top two strings and the remainder at 10-46. I know the bending will be harder but might help with the breakagesā¦
Or did a just receive a bad batch of stringsā¦
I donāt think you need to increase the string gauge. I have 10s on my electric and bend a lot of notes and I have not broken or replaced strings in like a year (probably should but have not). You could possibly have gotten a bad batch, but seems unlikely.
I would think there is something about the guitar or the way you are playing that is causing the breaks. Can you identify when are the strings breaking? It is when you are bending? or are you strumming super hard on those high strings when it breaks?
I would also look at (and this is probably the most likely) is there a burr or sharp angle on the bridge / saddle / string tree or other metal bits that are touching the string and maybe scraping them?
Itās mainly when Iām playing bends. Iāll have a look at the two guitars bridges/saddles/string tree and see if as you say are any sharp edges etc.
Thanks for the advise
I agree with the question above about where the break is on the strings being your best clue. If it varies significantly, itās either the strings themselves or more likely something in your technique.
If itās appropriately in the same location, especially since itās on two different gauge strings, itās most likely the guitar. When you move the strings back & forth on the frets (vibrato type technique) do the frets feel rough or gritty? Do you have āfret sproutā? You might need to polish frets or have something similar worked on by a luthier.
Good luck!
Hard to say where they break but looked at the last break and was roughly near the 14th fret (Strat). From what a can remember, most seem be around that area roughly on Strat and SG.
I have been working on my bends technique recently, as someone commented that it was not right.
Both guitars were setup by a luthier so I know frets are good but Iāll check them again.
On a side note, never had a problem before, strings lasted a long time. So it must either be my technique (been to aggressive), way Iām restringing, the frets or sharp edges on the bridge etcā¦
Needle in a haystack
Iād take a really hard look at technique. Your strat has a 25.5in scale and your SG has a 24.75in scale. If your breaking string in the same spot on both guitars then Iād put my money on technique.
Are you over bending? I know youāve had problems hitting the correct pitch in the past, you may be over compensating and bending to far.
Id concur with @stitch here. Likely technique and/ or extended practice time.
Youāre not likely to have multiple faulty EB stringsets.
Or have the same problem on multiple guitars; worth checking for sure, but unlikely.
Keep working on the correct technique; and practice bends in shorter time intervals.
Also, I would seriously think about moving to 9s.
You will find bending much easier.
If it is breaking near the middle like that, on bends, look at the frets there. Bending over a slightly sharp or rough fret could be the problem and solvable with a little elbow grease.
@rachelcoles Are all of these strings from the same package? Where did you buy them? Iāve definitely heard of counterfeit strings being sold on Amazon.
I would agree with @stitch on BLIM3 there quite a number of people snapping high E strings for the first few months, Gradually it stopped as technique improved.
Just to be sure I would examine the frets between 11 to 15 with a fret rocker tool, to see if any are high and rubbing on the string where up from where you are bending. Itās possible but you should hear it choking if thatās happening.
If no fret issues then you could try this, with a digital tuner fret down at each fret 12-15 (donāt not bend) and see if you are sending the note sharp. If you are then itās likely you are coming down hard onto the string with too much pressure. If thatās the case try fretting without send the note sharp, and then bending. Take a look at Justinās bending technique lessons you want fingers behind the string and a wrist twist motion so that Palm moves up towards the neck as you bend.
Question for you (@stitch): do you have a notion of what specific bad technique could lead to string breakage? I suppose ābending too farā can snap a string, is that what you are thinking of? Or is there something else to look out for? Many thanks.
Thank you all for you comments and suggestions etc. I rewatched JG bending videoās to make sure my technique was fine. I did some practice bends and I think Iāve been a little aggressive and maybe forcing the bends, not been relaxedā¦ (I am using my wrist and arm)
I think I know the reason for this and it stems from my settings on my ampā¦
Explanation Time:
I use the Spark 2 amp and I used to set the āNoise Gateā threshold high to stop the buzzing but after watching a video last week, this was wrong. Basically, I was ākillingā the sound when I was doing bends, and therefore I was either bending to much or to little to try and get the right note. After changing it this week, I noticed a vast difference but I was still been aggressive, force of habit
So Iām going to practice my bends technique again and try and be more relaxed and focus on getting them right.
I did check both again guitars and the frets are fine, no spurs or anything.
I think itās me been to aggressive due to amp settings etc.
On a side note:
I do practise a lot - I mean a lotā¦Most days depending on how Iām feeling, I can play between 3-4hrs per day. Also recently (6 weeks) Iāve been working on improving my Blues improv skills, so Iām doing a lot of bends, vibrato etc. and I love playing at the bottom end of the neck from e.g. fret 10-17.
Rachel - do you tend to practice the same bend over many (many) repetitions? This will heat up the fret / string and it can start to get āscratchyā - particularly if you have a less than mirror smooth fret surface. I have broken strings this way before. I polish my frets from time to time, but also if Iām practicing a particular phrase or bend and notice it starting to get that āscratchyā feeling Iāll shift to a different fret or move to something else entirely for a while.
Love the hat!!!
I do practise the same bends/riffs over and over to make sure I get it rightā¦especially when Iām learning a new song etc. Maybe Iāll do what you suggest and move to a different fret or do another riff on a different part.
What do you use to polish your frets? (I thought us women were high maintenance ), looks like my guitars are worseā¦
Haha - it was my daughters
If my frets are in a bit of a state then I use fret rubbers - they look and feel a bit like ordinary pencil erasers/rubbers but have different grades for finishing and polishing - I donāt do this very often , but if I find a fret is a bit rough then thatās normally the trigger. If I just want a quick polish up then I tend to use a fret polish (I think itās from MusicNomad) and a cloth.
), looks like my guitars are worseā¦