Does the breaking 011 scare the bejeebers out of you?

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 23 Mar 2017 4:24 pm

I jumped off my seat when I broke one today

Tim Heidner · Post by **Tim Heidner** » 23 Mar 2017 5:20 pm

I'm always scared it's gonna hit me in the eye.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 23 Mar 2017 5:34 pm

Only when it wraps around my finger while playing... And
cuts it.

James Marlowe · Post by **James Marlowe** » 23 Mar 2017 5:38 pm

I'm using a brand that just doesn't break. But I used to drop my bar when it happend. I'm afraid I've gotten complacent and one day when one does turn loose Im sure I will come off my seat.

Larry Haas · Post by **Larry Haas** » 23 Mar 2017 5:42 pm

I give it the Sarah Jory facial expressions when I get close to the mark.

Richard

Kevin Fix · Post by **Kevin Fix** » 23 Mar 2017 7:26 pm

I use Earnie Ball nickel wounds. I use a .010 gauge in the place of the .011. I put a lot of miles on my Mullen Discovery last year. Did not have time to gather any dust.!!!! Only broke one all last year. I always wind an extra bit of string on that one when I replace it.

Marty Broussard · Post by **Marty Broussard** » 23 Mar 2017 8:48 pm

Not nearly as much as when I use a .012p. Those things are violent. The experience of ONE of those breaking will encourage you to keep fresh strings on ur guitar---or at least that one. LOL.

Daniel McKee · Post by **Daniel McKee** » 23 Mar 2017 10:20 pm

Breaking a string while playing doesn't bother me too much but on a few occasions while restringing I have broke one and that kind of caught me off guard because I wasn't expecting it. An 11 gauge hurts pretty bad, I can't imagine having a 12 to break.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 24 Mar 2017 2:50 am

After all these years it still makes me jump!!

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 24 Mar 2017 2:50 am

I have been cut by a 3rd string and generally change them every 3rd or 4th gig.
They are pretty cheap by the dozen.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 24 Mar 2017 2:52 am

My first pedal steel guitar was a Sho-Bud"Maverick"and I used to break at least 3 a day blood every time!!

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 24 Mar 2017 5:37 am

Back in the day, I used to break the 3rd with regularity on my Pro lll, so to a certain extend the shock value diminishes a bit... These days on my Mullen, it’s a pretty rare thing, so if and when it does happen, I’m pretty sure I better have the paddles handy to restart my heart.

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 24 Mar 2017 8:40 am

Yes, it still scares me. There, I've said it.

Broke an .011 on two push-pulls recently. One just last night. Truth be told, its my own fault because I'm terrible about changing strings. So, this morning was devoted to restringing and tweaking raises and lowers.

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 24 Mar 2017 8:48 am

We should probably keep this to ourselves...if O.S.H.A. finds out we'll all be forced to wear safety glasses and play in work gloves...or the gov't will mandate some sort of string guard retrofit

The perfect combination is when your heart rate has just returned to normal after a "bejeebers incident" and then you drive the cut end of a new string through your thumb while trying not to scratch the finish restringing it.

Bob Bestor · Post by **Bob Bestor** » 24 Mar 2017 9:01 am

So I am new to this pedal steel thing. Got my Mullen Discovery in September. Have averaged an hour a day of practice since then. Do I need to change my strings?

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 24 Mar 2017 12:40 pm

Generally, they'll start misbehaving pitch-wise before they sound dead or break. If you find yourself tuning the changes (meaning the nylon nuts), change them.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 24 Mar 2017 12:41 pm

Generally, they'll start misbehaving pitch-wise before they sound dead or break. If you find yourself tuning the changes (meaning the nylon nuts), change them.

Rich Upright · Post by **Rich Upright** » 24 Mar 2017 1:11 pm

I haven't broken an 11 in years. Used to break them all the time before I switch to a tempered tuning.
Been gigging since 82 and I have never broken a guitar string.

John Palumbo · Post by **John Palumbo** » 24 Mar 2017 3:56 pm

My Williams S-10 has never broken any string, not one. Always hated that 3rd string breaking on other guitars I have owned.

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 24 Mar 2017 7:00 pm

I carry a scar on my right wrist that I got in the middle 80s when one broke on a maverick I had. I don't think I ever blend that much before

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 25 Mar 2017 3:07 am

My take on the third string not breaking is if they aren't breaking you aren't practicing enough. I've went months without breaking one. Than other times replacing every month.
I hear alot of people say they're Carter doesn't break any strings. Mine does lol

Georg Sørtun · Post by **Georg Sørtun** » 25 Mar 2017 3:50 am

Back in the days I used to put so many turns on the tuning peg for the 3d string that I could reuse the same string three times by re-hooking it on the changer. It held for about 6-8 hours playing, and then snapped on top of the changer. It drew blood quite a few times...

Part of the reason for short-living 3d is that I have both raised (to A) and lowered (to F#) the 3d string along with the 6th since the mid -80 - a change I use quite frequently.
Have same changes (and the same PSG) today, but strings have improved in quality over the years. Nowadays I get at least 30 hours playing time out of a .0115 3d string before it starts to sound off and nearing breaking-time.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 25 Mar 2017 4:15 am

The Steel Guitarists Prayer
by Mason Naylor

Lord I pray that I may never
fail to use the right knee lever.
And while I'm pressing Pedal B
Guide my foot past A and C.

Help me remember whatever the key.
Is it pedal up or down of with the knee?
And give me the strength no matter how far
To carry my steel back to the car.

And may I ask as my final plea
That I don't break string number three.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 25 Mar 2017 7:39 am

Scares, and ANNOYS, me to no end.

Igor Fiksman · Post by **Igor Fiksman** » 26 Mar 2017 11:10 pm

Been using 0.115 guage from Jagwire. Doesn't break nowhere near as often. But still amazed I have both eyes intact. Also, when it breaks, it's almost always right after a band leader announces a steel guitar solo.

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