Takamine - String Breaking

[Mustang]

I bought my son an EG561C and in just over a year he has broken the 'G' string 3 times??? It's breaking right at the bridge. I checked the bridge, thinking maybe something is wearing the string at this point. To my surprise there's not much of a slot in the bridge to hold the string in place. Just a very small shallow groove. Or do you think it may be that I just went a little overboard buying extra light gauge strings to make it easier for him to play while learning. I've been using Elixir PolyWeb Extra Light (0.047 - 0.10)

Should I just go to a heavier gauge string, or should I look somewhere else for a problem? Maybe a little less aggressive with the strumming action.

[pollyshero]

If it's the same string, in the same place, over and again, best bet that you're problem's right there.

Even though the groove in the bridge saddle is very shallow, it may be cut at the wrong angle or have sharp or hard edges that are cutting the string. Take a good look at the string slot with a magnifier. If you're feeling squirrely, smooth any hard angles down with a nut or jeweler's file or some very fine sandpaper.

If you're smarter than you are brave, take the guitar to a trusted repair shop & ask them to evaluate the bridge saddle. Beware of repairmen who try to sell you a new bridge saddle to "fix" the problem. A file in competent hands will fix the problem. A "repair" like that is easy, shouldn't take more than a few minutes for someone who knows what they're doing and should be REAL cheap, if not free.

good luck

[TooManyWires]

Breaking a string three times in over a year isn't really all that bad. (Or at least I wouldn't think so.) How often do you change the whole set of strings? I've noticed that I'm much more likely to break an older string than a newer one. (Unless you have some kind of fluke and break one while tuning it up and stretching it out and that kind of thing.) Is the g string wound, or plain?

[pollyshero]

toomanywires said:

Breaking a string three times in over a year isn't really all that bad.

I have a hard time understanding the whole string-breaking phenomenon and why so many players see it as something they can accept as common and normal.

Cheap strings tend to break more often. Fix it by spending a little more next time. If you're already using premium strings, they shouldn't be breaking. IMHO 3 times in a year is three times too many.

Strings DO break - but the cause is usually fixable, and the causes are usually found on the guitar itself. Improperly formed nuts and bridge saddles, contact at the string hole edges on trem equipped bridges, sharp edges at string binding posts - all are easily remedied.

I played bass for years before I switched to 6 string. I play often, and I have a pretty aggressive attack. I don't change strings as often as I should (I'm lazy). I used to break a LOT of strings. Once I learned why they were breaking, I fixed the problem with a little judicious filing. I can count on one hand how many strings I've broken in the last ten years.

DO NOT accept string breakage as normal or common. DO recognize that you can minimize or even eliminate string breakage altogether.

[UnklMickey]

pollyshero said:

... Beware of repairmen who try to sell you a new bridge saddle to "fix" the problem...

... A "repair" like that is easy, shouldn't take more than a few minutes for someone who knows what they're doing and should be REAL cheap, if not free...

and when you find the store who's repair tech does fix it for free or a nominal fee, be sure to go back and pay the extra buck for a set of strings, or whatever items. we need to keep the honest guys in business. and they have to eat too!

[Mustang]

I always replace all the strings when I replace them. I haven't found individual Elixir Strings.

TooManyWires - The 'G' string in the Elixir PolyWeb Extra Light is wound, 0.023"

PolysHero - I tend to agree with you about string breaking. I can't remember the last time I had a string break on my Fender or Takamine. Of course I don't do the Pete Townsend 'windmill' either. I have a Takamine 360S that I bought new in 1980 or '81 and I 've never broken a string on it. I've been using the Elixir strings on it for a couple of years now. I've used Martin, Dean Markley and D'Addario in the past but like the Elixir better. I was thinking they were quality strings.

I'll take another look the next time I restring his guitar. But it will take a magnifying glass for sure. The slot is almost non-existent. In fact, that's a good point. I need to take a closer look at the bridge on my older Takamine and see if there's a difference.

Thanks to all!