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Post by calv on Jul 4, 2013 21:51:33 GMT
Hi all,
My step-daughter is apparently having problems with her strings snapping ( i say apparently, my girlfriend relayed this info to me just now), she has been trying different tunings, not sure which ones as yet.
Now i am sure i asked about this on the old forum when i wanted to use the CGCGGC tuning that Ben Howard uses a lot, i think i was told to always tune DOWN, not up. I think i was told that some strings can handle being tuned up a couple of notes, but not all.
Is that right? Always down to your alternative tuning?
Thanks,
Calv.
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Post by jackorion on Jul 5, 2013 6:05:18 GMT
Well it depends on the tuning and the strings I guess...
I use a regular set of 12s but with a 56 on the 6th string and play in dadgad, open d, open c, cgcgcd and orkney tuning and never seem to have any issue with breaking strings - tuning the 'b' up to c doesn't seem to be an issue.
I'm assuming the G on the 2nd string isn't tuned UP to G but, if so, then I think you'd need to put a thinner string on there, maybe a 10 or even a 9 (which are the two guages normally used on 12 string sets for the octave G).
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Post by scripsit on Jul 5, 2013 6:27:19 GMT
Interesting topic, and I'd like to know more from those people who regularly alter tunings.
I've found (13s on all guitars) that tuning the B string up to C doesn't cause much hassle, and taking bass strings down for the various C tunings is fine, but anything that disturbs the G string can quickly lead to breakages of that string.
For this reason I actively avoid open D (because the G has to go down to F#), and only muck about with DADEAE (Ed Gerhard's 'Handing down' and several other interesting pieces) in the last couple of days before I change strings. I've had the G string break in both tunings on several guitars, including some old 'beaters', even when its down a few semitones.
I usually have one guitar in standard, and alter that to dropped D or double dropped D at need, and another lives in DADGAD but can be retuned to the various C tunings easily. I notice that the strings become deadened quicker if there is much retuning.
I assume the thin wound G objects to retuning because of its (small) size, but the breaking thing is definitely real. I've used the old electric guitar trick of graphite in the nut slot, but it doesn't seem to make much difference and the string usually breaks at the bridge.
Kym
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Post by calv on Jul 5, 2013 10:51:35 GMT
Just found out she's toying around with DADGAD for the first time....
Calv.
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Post by ianlp59 on Jul 5, 2013 10:54:31 GMT
I use a lot of altered tunings but I have a number of guitars so I can keep them in a mixture of C D and G based tunings which prevents a lot of re-tuning. However, it's always the 3rd string that breaks as I use two C tunings CGCGCD and CGCFCD at lot. Basically, the only way to avoid the problem is to change strings more frequently. I use Elixirs but have to change them every two to three weeks on the guitar(s) where I'm re-tuning the third string a lot in order to avoid breakage. Breaks, when they do occur are always on the winding post which suggests metal fatigue is the underlying cause.
Cheers,
Ian
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davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,544
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Post by davewhite on Jul 5, 2013 11:35:25 GMT
I really like the D'Addario EJ24's for C, G and D tunings - 13,17,24,32,44,56. I tend to stay in tunings rather than flit between them lots - and have a few guitars - but the 3rd string is certainly and issue if you go from CGCGCD to CGCFCD a lot or Open D to DADGAD. Easiest is to buy a few single 24 strings - you can even get single Elixers now - and expect some breakages.
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Post by scripsit on Jul 5, 2013 14:43:35 GMT
I obviously need more good guitars.
Kym
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Post by Banadog on Jul 5, 2013 19:40:51 GMT
I always keep the excess bits you cut off when fitting new strings.If a string breaks at the winding post I use the corresponding piece to join the string,if you bend the two pieces flat away from each other when winding them together they shouldn't slip.
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 11, 2013 10:16:11 GMT
If you are regularly changing tunings you have to expect broken strings. And yes it is the third that is the biggest problem. A few things that I have found that helps.
I often have problems when tuning down. On the third string I release the pressure very slowly in very small turns of the tuner.I can here a kind of clinking clanging sound as the string begins to relax. If de-tune too quickly it is at this point that the string breaks.
One thing that I don't quite understand, and which Dave might be able to help with.
A couple of months ago I seemed to be breaking strings more regularly than I remembered. When I next restrung I had a good look at the tuner machine. Without any string attached I wound the tuner 'back' — or loosened it on the thread. This seems to have made a difference. A few weeks later I had a couple of breaks on the 4th string which had never happened before. I repeated the same operation on this string and the problem seems to have gone away.
It seems odd to me but it is almost as if the tuner thread had got too tight. Is this possible or am I imagining things?
The guitar was about 13 years old at this point!
Changing tunings regularly — I only really use one guitar now — does mean changing tunings regularly. This will help your sound a lot. THe bass strings can go off quite quickly!
I buy my strings in bulk in packets of 10!
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