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strong g string. :-)

ryanwilliams	Date: July 27, 2008 @ 3:20 AM Hello! Have a question on behalf of my lead guitarist. He does a lot of bending, particuarly on the G string (acoustic), and as such, it often ends up breaking, and has happened at shows a few times, despite his best efforts (new strings before each show). I'm wondering if anybody else who has run into this problem might be able to reccomend a brand of acoustic strings that might be able to take what he's doing to them a bit better. He doesn't have this problem nearly as much on the electric, but we were discussing it and figured it'd be tough to get what we were looking for if we googled "strong g string."
zedsalt	Date: July 27, 2008 @ 3:52 AM SITs are pretty strong. But for me, the most effective means of avoiding breakage has been something I do for tone. I've always hated the sound of new, "live" strings (The tonal differences between live and dead strings are the same frequencies as dragging fingernails across a chalkboard, a squealing baloon, grinding teeth, etc. Who wants that?). I read about how many of my favorite guitarists boil their strings before they put them on to artificially age, "deaden" them. Back when I used to put on new strings on a regular basis, keep the guitar in standard all the time, wipe down the strings after each session, etc. I was constantly breaking strings. Now, I boil the strings first, crank those babies nine half-steps this way and that several times in a sitting, bend what would be the B string in standard across the neck until it goes off the other side of the neck, ride 'em hard and put 'em away wet a few times a day, and I have strings that haven't broken in decades. I figure that in the 26 years that I've done things this way, I've broken about the same number of strings as an average six weeks when I did things the "right" way...and I don't have to play an instrument for weeks before it starts making ear-pleasing sounds.
ShadowMom	Date: July 27, 2008 @ 8:48 AM I wonder how many hits google got just for the title of this thread.
evansorchid	Date: July 27, 2008 @ 9:49 AM Are the strings breaking in the same place every time. I might check the nut and/or the bridge to see if there was a sharp edge that was biting into the string and file it down if that was the case. Or, your guitarist friend might try nylon core strings that are coiled in nickel or copper. That might help if he does alot of bending.
Tattoomom	Date: July 27, 2008 @ 2:05 PM I have a strong g-string....it's lasted me through three husbands now!
GeneHilbert	Date: July 27, 2008 @ 2:56 PM It could be the gauge is too high, acoustic strings are not designed for bending. They are designed for projection. Or as Evan pointed you could have a burr cutting a string but if this is an acoustic with a bone bridge and nut this unlikely more likely a fret. Clean the strings with WD40 before stringing and after each practice and performance. If he does not change strings before a show and they more than 20 playing hours on them they could be metal fatigue. I this is an electric acoustic try a 9 or 10 gauge electric sets. GHS are my preference â€“ and donâ€™t forget to clean them with WD40 sprayed on a quarter piece paper towel, double folded. Run under each string. There is also a product called â€œNut Butterâ€ you can apply to the nut and bridge saddle. I guess a lighter gauge string will do the trick. Tattoomom - you naughty little vamp....
Distilled1	Date: July 27, 2008 @ 2:57 PM I tend to break the G as well all the time on my 12 string!!! this is strumming hard or getting into a little riff. I am going to try the boil next time , yep just replaced them last night!!! damn it! anyway I hate the sound of new strings as well Zed... don't know I used to like it that real bright sound... Ryan, I can say this D'addio (sic 12-42 do great on my 6 string acoustic, and I do some blues lead on it when the mood strikes and can bend a lot they seem to hold up nice, another thing I found is really really bend and stretch those un-wound ones yep the E,B, and G till you think your going to break or more when re stringing. I'm Guessing he does this anyway, but ya never know. Hey and when do I get some new Ryan Fix I need another new CD, would love some live tracks your live stuff really is fantastic!!!
leedsquietman	Date: July 27, 2008 @ 3:33 PM Is this what you were referring to Crystal ? This a strong enough G string for ya Ryan
zedsalt	Date: July 28, 2008 @ 3:26 AM What EO and Gene said got me thinkin'- it might pay to take a good close look at the nut for sideways cracks in the string grooves. That's another habit I have that probably helps with string life: I scribble in the nutgrooves every once in a while with a .5mm pencil. I HATE the feel of any kind of lubey goo on the portion of the strings I touch while playing, but those little smudges of graphite have probably saved me a lot of strings.
Tattoomom	Date: July 28, 2008 @ 6:11 AM That thing looks like one of those dog shocking collars which could be extremely unpleasant..... or ...... pleasant ... depending upon your mood....
GeneHilbert	Date: July 28, 2008 @ 6:37 AM appropriate attire for a dog fight.. LOL
pog	Date: July 28, 2008 @ 9:28 AM definitely sounds like a burred nut or a rusted saddle.
pog	Date: July 28, 2008 @ 9:28 AM and you can take that either way
Mojosnake	Date: July 28, 2008 @ 5:28 PM i take it all ways
Snoogans775	Date: August 18, 2008 @ 11:45 PM eeeeew. I have one suggestion, though your guitarist will HATE it. I find that strings tend to break on the higher strings because a lot of guitarists(my students) change their angle of attack as they move down the strings. it's made a difference before, it might be worth a shot. it might also be worth it to check the age of this thread