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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | The bridge on my Legend wore such deep grooves from the 3rd and 4th strings it caused the strings to break almost immediately after replacing the strings. Brand new strings, back to back breaking the D and G in the first two songs we played at rehearsal. Ane the strings break right at the bridge.
Well, I know the real fix is to get a new bridge piece. I took it into my local dealer and he filed down the plastic of the bridge to smooth the grooves out. Action is still OK, guess I got used to the grooved in height of the strings.
Seems to work but I proceeded to play the next day and break the same two strings over our 3 1/2 hour gig at mile 22 of the White Rock Lake (Dallas) Marathon. IT WAS REALLY COLD, fingers were pretty much numb for the first hour and a-half!
Anyway, one good thing the wearing out of the bridge piece means I play this guitar a lot :D ...
Will lighter gauge strings have more flexibility and a tendancy not to break (I've been using D'Addario Phosphour Bronze Medium guage), and/or would heavier gauage strings last longer becasue they're heavier?
Anyone else worn grooves into the bridge piece?
Paul |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | The problem would seem to be with the edges on the saddle. Smooth that out or replace it.
Except for bad edges, the only other causes I have seen for string breakage is innadequate monitor volume. You really can't get that much more volume out of an acoustic by playing harder, but yet we try! |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Yeah, I keep tyring to turn it up, but, there are other peoeple in the band...
I'll inspect the edges of the saddle when I get home. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Paul;
I've experienced (still do) the same thing.
I was CONSTANTLY breaking D's & G's at gigs.
Replaced the saddle w/a brand new one (from Al).
Didn't really help.
Are you a fairly "aggressive" strummer?
That's my problem.
I'll often play with very rhythmic, "slappy" style (to compensate for not having a percussionist).
I play with D'Add PhosBronze Lights.
Switched to Mediums. Didn't help. Still broke D's & G's. Went back to Lights.
My Advice(fwiw):
Turn up a little and back off on the strumming . . .
(Takes a while t'get used to, tho) |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | I do get aggressive on the strumming, especially in a couple of songs we do...
My Ovation dealer Alan has given me a "lecture" a time or two about using a heavier gauge pick (I like the .60s for rythm playing/strumming) and using a "circular motion" on the up-and-down strokes. I thinkI'm to set in the way I've strummed for such a long time... |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Try going a little heavier.
I usually keep 3 or different thickness picks on my mic stand (Tortex .5mm up to PlanetWaves 1.044mm), and have taught myself when to change for different songs . . |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I've had the same problem, and I know it's due to my strumming technique. I also tend to try to compensate for not having percussion, and have had to force myself to back off a little and use heavier picks. It has helped.
Of course, this points out one of my favorite things about Ovations and neck stability. I've never played any other brand of guitar that stays in tune after a string break. My O's let me get to a point where I can change it without being too much of a distraction. I've had people come up to me after church and ask why I was changing a string - they hadn't noticed I'd broken one.
Wait... maybe I misunderstood what they were saying... |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 382
Location: USA | Hmmm...
I had the same problem with my 1597. Took it to the factory,they replaced the saddle and the nut...and it hasnt done it since.
Before i had the saddle changed...i use to take an emery board and gently file the saddle...that helped for awhile...
They told me it was a common problem...some did it some didnt. They realy didnt have an explanation. They did however tell me that they are not a fan of the saddle and the nut that comes with it. So maybe they put a better quality on when they replaced it...
http://www.myspace.com/styllheartandsoul |
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String Breakage/Bridge Wear
