Uh.. and a ?
Alrighty so there I am lost in my own lil world ... when... boing! wow I broke a string... A 'D' string? So I am looking at it and I am like ok well I was attacking it pretty hard... Then I realize no, it ain't broke. It was like it just unraveled off the machinehead! WTF? Did the gear break or some thing else?
So I start pulling on the string, there is no end to it, it just keeps getting longer!? Aw AHa! the winding broke and the more I pull the more it just comes un wound! WTF? Using a dunlop 1.14mm pick isn't new but it doesn't have no knife edge either... Dang I just put them strings on, a yr an half ago!
So anyways... Has anyone had or heard of any quality problems lately with EB's? Or just one of them things!?
Ok, now brings me to my next question... Which probably is stupid... This all happened on my 61 strat .. been putting this off, so now is the time.. The surgical tubing on the pups needs replacing ... it is original and has no resiliance left in them.. So I was wondering if anyone has any modern suggestions for replacements that may be better than the surgical tubing... But as I have a family member in the hospital right now, I was thinking what a great opportunity to score some.... Ya, I know. Stuff pretty cheap, but where is the excitement in buying it???
Man, what a pisser. Who ever heard of changing strings in less than 2 yrs???
So I start pulling on the string, there is no end to it, it just keeps getting longer!? Aw AHa! the winding broke and the more I pull the more it just comes un wound! WTF? Using a dunlop 1.14mm pick isn't new but it doesn't have no knife edge either... Dang I just put them strings on, a yr an half ago!
So anyways... Has anyone had or heard of any quality problems lately with EB's? Or just one of them things!?
Ok, now brings me to my next question... Which probably is stupid... This all happened on my 61 strat .. been putting this off, so now is the time.. The surgical tubing on the pups needs replacing ... it is original and has no resiliance left in them.. So I was wondering if anyone has any modern suggestions for replacements that may be better than the surgical tubing... But as I have a family member in the hospital right now, I was thinking what a great opportunity to score some.... Ya, I know. Stuff pretty cheap, but where is the excitement in buying it???
Man, what a pisser. Who ever heard of changing strings in less than 2 yrs???
Comments
0.o
I know you're probably kidding, but....wow.
I use to change strings on 3 guitars weekly, usually right before the show that started the weekend (more often than not Friday night). The strings were left on for one week (for all rehearsals and shows that week), but that's it. We played enough back then that they needed changing weekly. The third guitar in the lineup may have lasted two weeks, but #1 and #2...no way. Sweat, grime, and just general abuse on stage, they were dead within a week.
Could also have something to do with a real embarrassing moment in my first \"real\" band back in '84. Had just purchased my 1984 Kramer Pacer Imperial from Melody Shop here in Dallas. Had a show scheduled the following week (self produced, outdoor venue, lots of planning required) so I never got around to changing out the strings. Started the show with the strings that were on it when I bought it.
Lights dim, crowd starts cheering because they know what's coming. Fog machine starts rolling some mist across the stage, keyboard fades in with an eerie Juno 8 sixty cycle hum leading up to some thunder/lightening sound effects. Lights flash in unison with the lightening sounds, red eye above the drums fades in, then comes the big intro power chord. As we all jump toward the front of the stage and the lights come up full....
/PLINK!!!!
.42 snapped on the down stroke. No \"do overs\" here boys. Live and large, and fumbling for my backup while the rest of the band keeps trudging on. Even caught that lil mishap on tape, but it will NEVER see the light of day.
Ever since then they were always changed weekly if we were playing out live anywhere.
Only if it has been worn and unwashed! 8)
If I was giggin', yea! But I am not, usually just play it by ear..<
unintended pun :roll: But just sittin' here at home ... usually go about a month or two, depending on usage and summer/ winter and degree of laziness! etc ..:oops:
:shock: :twisted: Now that's a real pisser! Especially in front of a general public crowd, may not be so bad in front of a/the regular following.. but still a why me, why now moment!
String breakage isn't nothing new. But a wound one is! And definitely never had one unwind!...
Get your surgical tubing at the Hospital, and try the Jello...
...oh yeah... if the bucket of used tubing says \"Bio-Hazard\" ...wear latex gloves.
Brand selection is personal, but obviously some strings will out last others, due to craftsmanship or material. Stainless steel will outlast most others, but you loose tone. Electroplated plain steel like mine are a good compromise. I use D'Addario's. They will last longer than Ernie Balls for me. You have to try out strings to see what works best for you.
Here are my string tips;
Strings will last 6-12 hours of playing time. Some brands will last longer, but probably cost a lot more per set as well. If you don't mind dull strings for general practice, your strings can last much longer. This varies for each player too. In general though...I think to answer why they don't last, is from poor habits, and corrosion. Sweat and harmful oils from the hands are a huge problem. Wash hands first, but the best method is to use a dime size drop of sanitizer. It will evaporate harmful oils, and not soften your hands and callouses like soap and water will. Always wipe the strings with a cotton cloth after playing, and use your favorite lube. Polish the frets from time to time. You may not \"see\" it, but they corrode as well, and will be \"hard\" on strings.
Not withstanding;
Neglecting your strings will set up a force of cascading events which will fold infinitely back upon itself. A bad string will send distorted vibrations fluctuating rapidly like a pulsar projecting and reflecting, and while everything around you seems to be streams of great tone and sustain, and deceptivly all you would see is a spectrum colored plaid. This all would create a hyperbolic fluxgramifacation worm hole and time would warp as well as tone would exceed nueclitoric ogasmical amplification and your whole Galaxy or comparative Universe would be reduced to the size of a speck reverberating back to normal pulse and bits of your atoms would shear off with each vibration. Oi vey...vat a mess I tell you. :?
You don't just borrow a man's rusty G-string
But it isn't down there :roll: Higher... I'm talking D-cup!(string)
Nope, always give 'em a lil nod... That's not a guilt expression! The plan is to grab a morphine drip (hook my self up to it) jump in a wheel chair and roll out the front door!
Reckon you can say I am an EB guy... still have three or four sets laying around.... On sale a GC! MMmmm Need to restock!
By then...they may have self-stringing guitars.
They already have self-tuning. :roll:
I bought a groce back in the last century.... I have more than just one guitar, so I go thru them go pretty quick! :P
Seriously though, there are things you can do with old strings, rather than just cut them up and toss them.
How about making some personal jewelry?
There are hundreds of ideas for rings, tie tac's, bracelets, necklaces, cuff links, belt buckles, etc.
This second string project distributes the used strings to S. America.
http://www.secondstringsproject.org/
I collect G-Stings...it's just a fetish. :oops:
...but that is not the worst of it. :shock:
I've heard that for bass guitar strings, which are much more expensive than guitar string sets. I think the cheese cutter idea is great for old guitar strings.
I read an article in GW about a player who never changes his strings until they break. He claimed that he can't hear any difference in the strings and just doesn't replace them until they break. He sold millions of records, so I guess it works for him. Sometimes I wonder if we \"hear\" things that we don't actually hear.... Like the 16 bit v. 24 bit recording wars going on around the net.
On the other hand, my brother-in-law, who plays lead guitar, restrings after hours of play. He says it makes a difference. Too bad there is not more good uses for used guitar strings. I'm not into wearing rings.
One thing I am good at, it's cutting cheese. :oops:
I think for pro's, changing to new strings is much more important, and wise. I mainly change my strings often, to spoil myself. I have no need to change them sometimes, but I really do like the feel and sound of new strings.
Some people can sell records and it make no sense to me as to ...why?
I even regrettably saw Tom Delay \"Dancing With The Stars\"...and I wanted to dig my eyes out with an ice pick after that. :?
I notice a big difference in new strings.
I think they sound brighter, and more vibrant. If you do allot of bending and vibrato, you will see flat spots worn in pretty quickly too. New strings for me at least, bend and vibrato smoother. Rhythm guitarists who play mainly chords, will get more mileage out of their set.
You know...come to think of it, I once used a guitar string to make a windshield removal tool. My \"horse hauler\" '66 Chevy Elkie 396 SS had a cracked windshield. These were glued-in windshields. I took a G-String from my precious G-String collection ...
So eveythings going according to plan. Standing by the O.R supply door when a O.R tech. came out, slid a businees card that I got from the nurse station into the door latch. Waited a few... went in got the tubing!...
Found a morph. drip in ICU, the old lady I nabbed it from started moaning in pain and pleading with me not to take it..But I had to over ride my conscious, I was on a mission! ....
Found a wheel chair in the rest room, while some cripple was in the handicap stall.. Attached the the drip to the chair (and me!) and headed for the exit!.....
Ten more feet and I would be clear of hostile territory, in a stolen ambulance I had waiting outside... There's security.. I give her the nod! Dang! ... I didn't adjust the drip rate, couldn't lift my head back up! rolled the chair right into the big plate glass window!
Glass shards everywhere!. In the short moment of shock an aw, I stumbled my way to an escape into some near by woods, mission aborted......
I hid in a hollow log while law enforcement circled above me.......... I awoke around 04:30 soaken wet, must have rained... But it was probably the raccoon pissing in my ear that woke me, I was in it's home!
Oh well, in my frantic stumble to escape I left the tubing in the wheel chair...
Guess I will have to just spend the five bucks and buy the precut tubing from the GC... :roll:
Hey Tou.. Nice ride... Does the horse surf? Or just boogie board?
......................Shredd 'n 'tou
Shredd 'n 'tou search for Rawbbie, and find him mostly dead from his overdose of saline solution drip in a hollowed out log
...he smells like a porta potty. They go to Miricle Max-guitar3456 who is the only one who can help them now.
..............Miricle Max-guitar3456
'tou asks...are you the Miricle Max-guitar3456 who use to be a mod of DT?
Max replies...thank you very much for bringing up such a painful subject...
why don't you just give me a paper cut, and pour lemon juice on it?
Shredd asks politely...can you make us a paste of goo that will save our mostly dead friend?
Max replies...well did you bring me a MLT? ...mutton, lettace, and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean? mmmmmmm-m-u-t-t-o-n
'tou reaches into his shirt and says, yes I have one right here, hope you like Subway.
Max retorts...I don't think I can help you...but thanks for the sandwich.
Shredd pleads...Max you must...you are our only hope.
'tou exclaims...I'll let you have one of my precious G-Strings, from my G-String collection. (he pulls a ball of G-Strings out of his shirt)
Max says...hmmmmm a G-String would be nice for my......... (he blushes and stops himself in mid-sentence)
...okay...I will help you...but you must promise to not bother me ever again.
Shredd...agreed.
'tou...I knew it...I knew I bothered you.
Shredd...not now 'tou...just say you agree.
'tou...agree.
They get the ball of goo and head back to where they left Robbie. He's still mostly dead.
They revive Robbie...then plot to go back into the hospital and steal the surgical tubing. [see video]
...................illiace...(with two l's)
'tou is lost.
Shredd ate some of the meatloaf, off a cart next to the elevator, and he's now in the ER.
Robbie has to wear a disguise, because Security has an APB on him.
He needs to go smuggle Shredd out, then try to find 'tou.
Maybe if they regroup, they can figure out another plan.
Shoulda used the wheelbarrow. Too late now. :?