bend a minor 3rd = broken string

[mtlin]

Whenever I try to practice a lick that involves bending up a minor 3rd on the high E at, for example, the 12th fret, I break a string after a few repetitions. I'm using 10's on a strat tuned to A440. Any advice?

[KRosser]

Whenever I try to practice a lick that involves bending up a minor 3rd on the high E at, for example, the 12th fret, I break a string after a few repetitions. I'm using 10's on a strat tuned to A440. Any advice?

I don't know, but that doesn't sound right. I bend a minor 3rd or more on all my strings and I never break them (10's). Maybe the right hand is the real culprit? I play with a pretty light right hand

[mtlin]

I didn't think it sounded right either. I don't think of myself as having a heavy right hand. I also use SOS brand strings but don't change them very often. I was also practicing bending with a tuner (a great excercise btw) so I know that if anything I was consistently a of cents flat.

[brad347]

You probably have a very tiny scratch or burr on your saddle (or nut) that is cutting through the string.

Does it always break in the exact same spot? (on the string)

[JRenn]

I think Brad's right... Waiting for the answer to his question...

[HarryJ]

I used to have that problem years ago when I would bend the 1st to a major 3rd or more. As a result, I almost aways transpose larger bends to the 2nd string. I rarely if ever break a string
I agree that it may be a bridge piece issue for a b3, or maybe that in conjunction with a heavy attack in your picking.

A folded piece of fine sandpaper gently used on the bridge piece can solve the problem if it does in fact always break on the bridge

HJ

[mtlin]

Oddly, the string I broke last night broke at around the 12th fret. Later, I'm going to re-string and practice that bend with an electric tuner. (I picked up that trick from you, Harry, from a video lesson online somewhere.) I'll see what happens. Thanks for all of you comments so far!

[HarryJ]

Small world mtlin :-)
Prolly got the tuner idea there too?
I have a series of instructional videos dealing with various wacky bending techniques at: www.workshoplive.com (http://www.workshoplive.com)

Harry Jacobson
www.harryj.net (http://www.harryj.net)

[mtlin]

Well, I've restrung the guitar. I haven't succeeded in making the bend yet. Another thing that seems odd is that I'm pushing the high E far enough that I'm starting to push the D string a bit. And I'm still not hitting the G bending up from the 12th fret E. In other words I'm pushing the high E string more than half way across the neck and not hitting a G. Does that seem odd to anyone? :confused: I haven't incorporated bends bigger than a whole step into my playing much. This is kind of new for me. BTW, I have no trouble making the bend on a fixed bridge Gibson scale guitar.

Harry, I watched those lessons a couple of months ago. Very cool!

[kimock]

Whenever I try to practice a lick that involves bending up a minor 3rd on the high E at, for example, the 12th fret, I break a string after a few repetitions. I'm using 10's on a strat tuned to A440. Any advice?

Try the same bend on the B string, 17th fret, E up to G.
That might be a little easier bend, and less liKely to breaK the string.
Issues with burrs on the saddle and hard picK attacK aside, there's something about the alloy on the available wire that fails in the G,G#,A frequency range. I Know that sounds a little strange, but the info came on a tech call with D'Addario addressing that same problem.
Maybe somebody here who has experience with metallurgy can comment.

[mtlin]

Well, I was practicing this bend with a tuner tonight and I broke another string. It took about four tries and, according to the tuner, I never did get the bend to pitch. It broke at the same place too. Right in the middle.

Does it matter that I've got the strat trem set up to float?

Interesting information kimock, but if other people aren't having this problem, then it can't be an issue about materials. I would assume you can bend up a minor third on your high E, can't you?

I'm very frustrated.

Thanks for all your comments!

[mtlin]

I should also note that I made sure I was using a light attack with my right hand.

[kimock]

Well, I was practicing this bend with a tuner tonight and I broke another string. It took about four tries and, according to the tuner, I never did get the bend to pitch. It broke at the same place too. Right in the middle.

Does it matter that I've got the strat trem set up to float?

Interesting information kimock, but if other people aren't having this problem, then it can't be an issue about materials. I would assume you can bend up a minor third on your high E, can't you?

I'm very frustrated.

Thanks for all your comments!

I haven't used a floating bridge on a Fender guitar in thirty years, so I'm out of my comfort zone there, but I'll bet it's a contributing factor.
If you can't actually see or feel (with your thumbnail) any glitches on your saddle, it's still possible that the edge of the sustain blocK and the bottom of the bridge or the edge of the hole coming from the bridge up to the saddle are sharp enough to breaK the string.

Get one of those little plastic straws off a can of WD-40 or a little coffee stirrer and drop it over the new string after you've got it through the blocK.
MaKe sure it goes all the way down to the ball end, pinch it with your thumb where it clears the saddle, pop it off, cut it, and put it bacK over the string.
That should protect the wire from any burrs or edges that are hidden from view.
It sounds liKe you might need to screw your claw further into the body, and/or add a spring before you get up to the pitch you want.

Re material quality, everybody has the same issues; strings breaK.
I'll bet at least 25% of all 12 string guitars on Earth at any given time are missing the octave G string for exactly that reason...:rolleyes:

Anyway, try the spring/straw thing and see if it doesn't improve.
SucKs to have these string breaKing issues, but I Know you're gonna be over the hump soon.

Peace, SK

[brad347]

try placing the palm of your hand on the bridge and applying pressure when you do the bend.

With it floating like that, it's lowering the pitch as you try to raise the pitch... i.e. counteracting to a degree what you're trying to do.

[KRosser]

With it floating like that, it's lowering the pitch as you try to raise the pitch... i.e. counteracting to a degree what you're trying to do.

Bingo - that sounds like it could conceivably be the culprit.

Otherwise, I was going to suggest checking out the actual fret surfaces where it appears to be breaking? It's not rare, but a have seen some jagged fret wear sometimes that strings can catch on. You can really feel that, though, before it breaks.