https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:58:45 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-205960 Sat, 28 Oct 2006 05:08:46 +0000
Misanthrope, I'm not touching that! :lol:]]> Slide and Alternate tunings Ricochet https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-205960 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-205577 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 23:06:44 +0000 Slide and Alternate tunings Misanthrope https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-205577 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-205548 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 20:58:33 +0000
In this last case of breaking a G string, I may be able to find an old string lying around that will work, but otherwise I won't get to play my tricone for about 2 weeks. That's a bummer.

So, I am getting a 12 string set up with a new set of strings I already have and I will be playing that for awhile instead of the tricone, and messing with the other guitars but I'll miss the tricone.

It's the broken string blues, you want to avoid that.]]> Slide and Alternate tunings phangeaux https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-205548 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-205543 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 20:48:46 +0000
I broke a wound G string on my tricone the other day, fairly new set of strings, a 'dobro' set. I had noticed some binding at the nut for a few days when changing tunings and I knew I needed to lubricate the nut but I neglected to do it.

I was using an invisible teflon spray lubricant applied with a cotton tipped swab- (Q-Tip is one brand) it seemed to work fine. I can't recall if I did so with this fairly recent set of strings but in any case I may go to a heavier lubricant.

I am not going to file the nut to accommodate heavier guage strings. This is an expensive and precision crafted instruemnt and filing the nut slots a precision operation requiring precision nut files which I can't afford to buy. I would not file it even if I had the files, I'll just let the strings eventually shape the nut. I'd rather break strings than mess up a nice bone nut. This guitar has been just too perfect to mess with. It is a Continental Style II from 1997 and they did a great job on this one. I have had it for about 4 or 5 years and it never ceases to amaze me with it's perfection.

It is certainly worthy of using the best possible strings but I haven't figured out what those are yet and I have to work within my budget.

I don't recall what brand these are, they are phosphor bronze and labelled as 'dobro' strings and I think they start with a 16 ga. on one and 60 or 62 on 6. I am not much impressed with the tone on the higher frets on the tricone, so I'll be looking for something better now.

I have to either order strings online which is difficult since I don't have a credit card, or I have to wait until I go into Seattle and the place to buy good strings is about 75 miles (121km) from where I live. So that, considering the price of gas, my low income and the inconvenience means that I need to be careful about breaking strings.

If there is a moral to this story it may be, "don't neglect simple string maintenance" It can be a bummer when a string breaks.

phangeaux]]> Slide and Alternate tunings phangeaux https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-205543 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-202493 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 19:09:54 +0000 Slide and Alternate tunings Ricochet https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-202493 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-202433 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 08:02:05 +0000
For whatever cause I have found that lubrication has helped a great deal to remedy the breaking string poblem.

There are products that are sold in guitar stores for this. I think they are a graphite lubricant. Personally I would not use any petroleum based lubricant products on a guitar due to the petroleum based solvents which are probably not compatable with the nut or the finish on the guitar.

I would feel comfortable using a silicone lubricant but what I am using now is a small spray can of Teflon lubricant. (Slick 50 brand) and I spray some on a cotton swab and then dab it from the swab into the nut slots and on the strings just a little bit beyond where the string rests in the nut slot.

I remember in the old days, we used a little bit of graphite powder from a pencil lead.]]> Slide and Alternate tunings phangeaux https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-202433 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-189303 Sat, 15 Jul 2006 02:05:17 +0000 Slide and Alternate tunings Ricochet https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-189303 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-188986 Thu, 13 Jul 2006 07:24:16 +0000
Thx for the tip]]> Slide and Alternate tunings lord_ariez https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-188986 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-188945 Thu, 13 Jul 2006 01:23:48 +0000
Remember the lower you tune, the higher you will be placing the capo, thus the more out of tune it will be when capoed. So make sure you check your tuning again after putting the capo on.]]> Slide and Alternate tunings Fierce_Teapot https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-188945 https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-188648 Tue, 11 Jul 2006 12:18:55 +0000

Drop it down nice and low to save the strings and throw a capo on...... Genius! Thanx!


Now I don't need to buy a special set and have to leave my guitar in that tuning.]]> Slide and Alternate tunings lord_ariez https://guitarnoise.forum/slide-and-alternate-tunings/alternate-tunings-and-breaking-strings/#post-188648