breakin' D strings on my EJ strat - help please

[tone4days]

help folks

this is my first strat ever ... for some reason, i am breaking D strings VERY frequently - about once every 8 hours of playing .... no other strings breaking ... they always break right at the saddle ... i am a little bit heavy handed (but not VERY much so) - andOT playing hardcore 'chugga chugga' rhythm ... i do not use the trem ... i do not break D strings (or any other strings for that matter) on any of my other guitars

what can i do? what should i look for? anyone else having problems like that with an EJ strat bridge (or similar bridge)

any assistance will be greatly appreciated

thanks in advance
t4d

[scottlr]

Are they breaking right on the saddle? Or at the bend behind the saddle? Check to see if there's a barb on the saddle, as well as the plate where the string comes out before the saddle. SRV used to use surgical tubing on the string behind the bridge to prevent breakage there.

[tone4days]

yeah, i think it is right on the saddle, but i'll try to determine more closely to be sure ... there are no burrs on the saddle, not even a notch for the string to rest in ... i might try that 'tubing' idea if it looks like it is rubbing at the point where it pops through

anyone else?
t4d

[scottlr]

The tubing wouldn't help if it's right on the saddle where it breaks. Are you using a different brand of string on it than you have always used? If there's no burr or anything that might be catching the string, I don't know what to tell you, except maybe try another brand of strings??? I have found some bargain priced sets that seem to break where others never do.

[mrfjones]

some of the saddles seem to have different sized holes cut in them. I think that callaham made the holes bigger on their saddles so that the strings wouldn't rub there and break. try a different saddle or simply switch the d string saddle with the low e string and see what happens. if it still breaks d strings, then there is something wrong if the E string starts to break then it is the saddle definately.

[tone4days]

same ol' d'addario .028 D strings i have been using for decades

havent broken em on other guitars

i will be checking to see exactly where it is breaking

swapping the saddle with a different one is a good idea - i'll try that too

thanks
t4d

[xaos]

I had the same problem on my PRS when I bought it. I saw/felt no burr on it but took my repairman's suggestion to use some 600 grit sandpaper, fold it in half and pass it through the slot, and take a few downward passes towards the pick guard. Worked like a charm.

[tone4days]

thanks - will be stopping off on the way home ot grab some 600 grit

cheers
t4d

[meterman]

Sure sounds like a little rough spot or burr. Maddening problem BTW, I had a guitar that popped D strings right at the bridge in fact, and it was very hard to predict. Good luck getting it resolved....

cool tip on the surgical tubing BTW, I'll tuck that one away in case of emergency ;)