New strings

Wizard

I am embarrassed to say that I have only now got around to replacing the strings on the Cort M200 I bought cheaply a good while back.
At the same time I decided to raise the action to see what effect it had.

On the downside I managed to snap the high e-string in installation.
(string snapped at tuner end)
I opened a new pack of strings and snapped the other new e-string too ...
... And Bothners is now closed on a Sunday so I have a 5 string guitar ?

(I clearly need help with installing high E strings)

I have fallen in love with this cheap little guitar all over again.
How often does that happen? Your favourite instrument is the cheap one?
Amazing what a difference new strings make !

It has also made me realize that while I have been trying out different guitars, a very significant part of me liking or not liking them is related to the freshness of the strings.

The other surprising insight is that the high action is not unpalatable.
In fact, I quite like it.

I live & learn.

Actually ... I've got to learn how to install a high E string without snapping the damn thing

ezietsman

strange, I have snapped only 3 strings in 10 years of playing. If you snapped 2 new strings on installation there may be something wrong with the nut or something. Are you using standard tuning? Are you using abnormally thick strings? (Dunno if this has an effect, thicker strings are tighter but presumably also stronger)

Wizard

ezietsman wrote ... If you snapped 2 new strings on installation there may be something wrong with the nut or something ...

Gross incompetence is a more likely explanation ...

ezietsman

That is a nice looking guitar ?

The way I see it there is a couple of possibilities

1. The strings were dud. What brand do you use?

2. Incompetence? I doubt it. Did you make sure to wind the string around the tuning from the inside clockwise? (high-e means the thin one, right?)

3. Nut. Did it snap right at the nut? If the nut is cut wrong it can put a lot of pressure on the string. Maybe its has a sharp edge where the string rests? or the slot is too narrow? Alan will know ?

4. Your tuner is borked and you tried to tune to a much higher pitch than it should be. Is your tuner set to 440Hz?

5. More than one of the above.

Strings are strong and it takes a fair bit of violence to break them. What string gauge do you use?

TomCat

When I change strings on a guitar I always change one string at a time and tune it up to pitch before changing the next string.

This has a number of advantages:
1. keeps the correct tension on the neck during the string change.
2. It is easy to hear the pitch of the new string compared to the next string, so overwinding the string is almost impossible.
3. Makes tuning the guitar once all the new strings are one a lot easier.

I also give the string a few gentile stretches and re-tune the string before moving to he next string.
It also seems to make the guitar a lot more stable and less likely to drift off pitch once tuned.

I also always work from 6E down to 1E

I have also never broken a string playing either although I have broken one string being a little too enthusiastic stretching a string.... ☹....which is why I always have a spare set......

Wizard

Both strings snapped at the tuner itself ... maybe a problem there ...

AlanRatcliffe

Wizard wrote Both strings snapped at the tuner itself ... maybe a problem there ...

Almost certainly. Quite often I find the cheap tuners have flaws in the chrome plating that create sharp edges at the tuner hole. A quick smooth down and roundover with a round keyfile usually works.

Wizard

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Almost certainly. Quite often I find the cheap tuners have flaws in the chrome plating that create sharp edges at the tuner hole. A quick smooth down and roundover with a round keyfile usually works.

Seems very obvious with hindsight Alan ... but I wouldn't have thought of that if you hadn't said it.
Thanks ...

AlanRatcliffe

Lol! Don't worry - last time it happened to me (with a brand new set of Sperzels) it took me three broken strings before I realised.

Jack-Flash-Jr

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Lol! Don't worry - last time it happened to me (with a brand new set of Sperzels) it took me three broken strings before I realised.

Hmmm... so readers of Muse should take your advice with a pinch of salt ?

AlanRatcliffe

Jack Flash Jr wrote Hmmm... so readers of Muse should take your advice with a pinch of salt ?

Yup! I know I do... ? I also have my "D'oh!" moments and have been known to spend hours troubleshooting only to find embarrassingly simple mistakes (forgetting to plug guitar into amp, or amp into wall, connecting speakers to each other instead of to amp, etc., etc., etc.).

In my defence, you don't expect bad plating with a supposedly high quality set like Sperzels.

Bob-Dubery

Wizard wrote
ezietsman wrote ... If you snapped 2 new strings on installation there may be something wrong with the nut or something ...
Gross incompetence is a more likely explanation ...

Are you by any chance using some kind of power tool? I found those are great for taking strings off in a hurry, but also great for over tightening and then snapping the new strings that I'm fitting.

Wizard

Are you by any chance using some kind of power tool? I found those are great for taking strings off in a hurry, but also great for over tightening and then snapping the new strings that I'm fitting

No.
It's snapping at the point where the string exits the tuner.
Was in town, so popped into Marshall's.
Discovered the expected ... that you can't buy Ernie Ball Regular Slinky E strings on their own ... so will use a D'Addario string instead
(at least until I've figured out what the issue is)

AlanRatcliffe

Wizard wrote Discovered the expected ... that you can't buy Ernie Ball Regular Slinky E strings on their own

Maybe not from Marshall's...

If it's High E (1st string), any brand will do - they are all pretty much of a muchness.

Renesongs

Paul Bothners in Claremont sell single Erni Ball Strings all gauges it's only the titanium coated ones you have to buy in sets

Wizard

Renesongs wrote Paul Bothners in Claremont sell single Erni Ball Strings all gauges it's only the titanium coated ones you have to buy in sets

Good to know ...

Gearhead

TomCat wrote When I change strings on a guitar I always change one string at a time and tune it up to pitch before changing the next string.

This has a number of advantages:

Agreed, but it also has a number of disadvantages:
1. much harder to clean fretboard and body close to bridge
2. much harder to clean inside of acoustic
3. not useful when changing gauges and adjusting truss rod to match since you then need to slacken all strings anyway

Wizard

Smoothed off the tuner as Alan suggested.
Successfully replaced high E string.
Really love this cheap guitar even more again.