Broke a string on my new stop tail

[tip]

So is this common? I used to break a lot of strings with a tone deaf right hand as a rocker 20 years ago. I can't remember the last time I broke one.

In defense of the CU22 it is a NOS 2014 and I just kept the strings on. SO the strings are old and I have probably 5 to 10 hours on this.
It happened last night during my first band play. Around the fifth song the High E snapped at the bridge. Full tone bend.

Do some stop tail break points need filing or sanding around the release point?

 

[drdoom8793]

So is this common? I used to break a lot of strings with a tone deaf right hand as a rocker 20 years ago. I can't remember the last time I broke one.

In defense of the CU22 it is a NOS 2014 and I just kept the strings on. SO the strings are old and I have probably 5 to 10 hours on this.
I happened last night during my first band playing with it. Around the fifth song the High E snapped at the bridge. Full tone bend.

Do some stop tail break points need filing or sanding around the release point?

I would just try some fresh strings. Who knows how long those had been on there. I would also check and see if you notice any sharp points on the bridge around where it broke. It's possible that there could be a sharp spot but I'm leaning towards old strings. I've never had any issues with my stoptail. The only strings I've broken on it were my own fault.

 

[shinksma]

Just change the strings. Have a quick look at the bridge to see if there is anything obvious.

If it happens two or three more times in the next month, then I would be concerned and look carefully at the bridge.

 

[gball]

I think its just strings. I have not broken a string on my PRS stoptails. Not one. And I am pretty liberal with the bending and the wanking.

 

[jfb]

I'd consider it a fluke until it happened a few more times like that. Keep an eye on it for now I'd say. Keep us posted.

 

[jimfisher]

Probably just a fluke but rub a q-tip over the slot and see if you get any 'pulls'.

Jim

 

[gush]

I just don't get those of you who never break strings. Even on stop tails I will break strings after two shows. Always have.

 

[garrettb]

I can't even remember the last time I broke a string that I didn't previously weaken by taking off and putting back on for a pickup swap, etc. And in those cases, they break at the peg.

It's been YEARS.

 

[vchizzle]

Change the strings. Like JFB said, if it's a recurring issue when your strings are fresh, then there might be something going on. The Q-tip thing, seems like a good call. I play fairly hard when we do shows, I also sweat a bunch. I won't play more than 1 show on a set of strings. That's just me though, I'm sure I could make it longer but I'd rather not go through the hassle mid-song. Those strings could be original, in which I wouldn't expect much out of them.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I just don't get those of you who never break strings. Even on stop tails I will break strings after two shows. Always have.

+1

 

[dmatthews]

I was a fairly regular string buster on my 305 trem. Oddly I'd blow the D or the G. I hit chords hard and they'd always snap at the bridge.

Stoptail? Not so much! Can't remember the last one I broke.

 

[Mixstar]

I think the last one I broke was in 1966

 

[CVS]

I used to break high E strings repeatedly on my Strat. In last 4 years I have only broken one string on a PRS - a high E string when I was down tuning from E to D before that start of a song (huh?) . (Now that I have disclosed this - I know what will start happening :biggrin

Agree with advice offered by the others - Change the strings & do a quick inspection of the bridge (and don't worry too much about it at this point)

 

[turboblues]

... Oddly I'd blow the D or the G. I hit chords hard and they'd always snap at the bridge..

The D string is the one I break the most (with every guitar). I guess it's just my playing style.

 

[CoreyT]

Last string I broke I was a teenager.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

​(waits for "we all remember our first time as a teenager" jokes to come filing in...)

 

[Ovibos]

​(waits for "we all remember our first time as a teenager" jokes to come filing in...)

(or "breaking G-string" quips...)

 

[CoreyT]

He he, it was the 1st and 2nd string most of the time.

 

[iounothing]

This happens to me way too frequently on my Siggy stoptail - lucky to get 5 hours of playing time tops. Took it to the local dealer "nothing wrong with the bridge." Still happens.

 

[11top]

Used to break a few when I used 9s. Since going to 10s it rarely happens.