ShortScale.org

.... o.k. so i've tried a bunch of string manufacturers / I've filed & I've sanded the holes yet still the strings keep snapping at the ball end. 3 snapped in one day once. Mainly it's the high E that has been the most problematic.

At the moment I'm dunking the ball end in clear enamel to see if that works out, initially I was going to try nail varnish but I'm a boy you see !!

I hear people soldering the windings to stop them from unwinding but that's not really the issue for me... its snapping where the string bends around the ball end.

I've been think about maybe forming a sleeve or washer or something to try prevent snapping but thought I'd see if you people could have any bright ideas. I do use the trem but I don't think thats the culprit. They never snap when using it, usually on full bends !!! which surely it could cope with ?!? I've used 10s / 11s & 10.5s recently.... oh its a CIJ Jag.

cheers
Owen

Hmm. Weird. I don't think I've ever had a string break on the ball end.

You've tried D'addario EXL115s?

Mike wrote:Hmm. Weird. I don't think I've ever had a string break on the ball end.

Me either, have used a variety of string makes too.
What gauge you using?

I'm not sure where you mean on the string, like just generally at that end? Or the string slips off the ball? Or snaps right at the ball? I've had a few snap at that end, or fray if wound, and/or slip off the ball, but they were all Ernie Balls, and Ernie Balls are shit and shite.

I've just been using EXL110+ which are basically 10.5 - 48 guage.

I moved from ernie balls to these to see if it was the strings, but it's not.

Maybe I should just invest in a American made trem ??

or I was thinking the strings with cloth covered ball ends but they don't really cover the part that's snapping.

hmmmmm...

Probably a sharp edge in the tail piece hole but if you have filed it its odd that its still a problem. Friction however is a constant problem on any tremolo, try lubing the holes with graphite or vaseline, using something like surgical tube could be a last resort but seems a bit drastic as does purchasing an AVRI tremolo.

Quick photo from my phone of the last string that snapped... they all look identical in placement.

That's got ernie ball written all over it.

That is really weird. How about cutting out a bit of a duster to thread the string through so it's not rubbing against anything offensive? Possible short term fix at least.

This strings is a D'addario !! 10.5 guage

It was doing the exact same thing with the ernie balls...

I used a roto sound replacement on the high E once and that lasted well... & I'm not sure that it even broke before I came to replace the strings.

Or better still, get a small piece of rubber and thread it through that as a rest?

I was thinking of something similar... strip of electrical tape along the back of the of the trem plate where the strings thread through.

pin prick holes through centrally for the strings to pass through, even if they rip open further there should still be even protection around the hole. That was one of my other experiments i was soon to try...

othomas2 wrote:I was thinking of something similar... strip of electrical tape along the back of the of the trem plate where the strings thread through.

pin prick holes through centrally for the strings to pass through, even if they rip open further there should still be even protection around the hole. That was one of my other experiments i was soon to try...

that sounds like it might work. also, maybe hit it with some high grit steal wool around the holes. can you feel any sharp edges?

didn't we just have a thread like this?

maybe similar but it didn't deal with the same issues... you got the answer ??

The enamel dried on the windings of the strings(fresh from pack !!)... strung it up... went to lightly stretch the string, and the string flew across the room... no success !! Seems to be getting worse...

I've totally pulled the trem apart this time to gain full access and I'm gonna sand some more and enamel around the holes to fill any minor cavities .

On closer inspection its strange cause the holes are nicely beveled on the side that faces the bridge yet pretty sharp and angular on the ball end side.

Fender got that the wrong way !!!

Solder the winding.

i don't use trem much but try fender bullets. they're fucking AWESOME and i use them on all my guitars, even hard tails. it's rare that i ever break a string.

I've been using D'Addarios for years on two separate Jap Jag's and I've never snapped a string. I say just file the trem, on both sides, so that there is no hard edge and it should be fine.

Fran wrote:Solder the winding.

othomas2 wrote:I hear people soldering the windings to stop them from unwinding but that's not really the issue for me... its snapping where the string bends around the ball end.

even so, in hindsight I don't think enamel was right for the job.