Grrrrrr... Can NOT stop breaking strings on new JP15!

[wolfdogg]

So I just did it again while practicing for tomorrow night's gig and simply playing guitar in my living room. My new JP15 is a few months old now and I can't stop breaking strings for anything. I break 1 to 2 every week.. usually high E or B though I have also broken the low E (last week for the first time) and a G once. I absolutely love this guitar and besides this issue, it's been everything I could have ever hoped it would be... so have been trying to convince myself there's nothing wrong and so have been buying different brands, and even tried moving from 9s to 10s. I still break them at the same rate... usually right down at the bridge. Something has got to be wrong, but what?! My old Sub 1 would go 9 months without breaking a string. I've got 6 other electric guitars and I've never seen anything close to this. I've hesitated calling tech support but guess I will... been fearful they will want me to ship the guitar back to look at it and I hate the thought.

Anyway... guess I'm just looking for suggestions. Anything I should try first or just give support a call and see what they say?

 

[bhull]

EBMM Customer service is always your first best bet.

Aside from that, very hard to diagnose something like that with a forum post. Take it to a professional to have a look at it as a second choice to customer service.

Good luck with it.

 

[beej]

If you're breaking strings at the bridge, could be a small burr/groove in the saddle. If that's the case, smoothing out the saddle groove should take care of it.

But yes, call CS and get their advice.

 

[notshredding]

Just because I'm nosy, is it by any chance at the trem hole on the trem plate? The reason I ask is because if I break a string it's usually either at that point, or at the locking tuning key (which I solve by wrapping once)

 

[JamieCrain]

Twisted string?
This might happen if you are winding the string around the tuning post too many times before locking it (or if you unwind the string and then rewind it again). The bridge saddle places the most stress on the string so if you are a hard player, twisted strings will be under more stress.
Otherwise, try CS.

 

[Mick]

First question that comes to mind: What brand of strings do you use, I´ve seen bad steel quality the last years used in big name string brands. So change that first.

If you already use EBs - throw the guitar away and buy a second one

 

[ksandvik]

Just because I'm nosy, is it by any chance at the trem hole on the trem plate? The reason I ask is because if I break a string it's usually either at that point, or at the locking tuning key (which I solve by wrapping once)

With locking tuners, you don't need any wrap at all, just string through, make it tight and lock. Actually any stringing will just cause destabilization of string due to sudden tension changes. Anyway, it's for tuning, does not explain string breakage.

If this happens with multiple sets of same or different string brands, I would look for any small particles on the bridge to see if those cause string breakage to start with.

 

[tristan klein]

I succesfully fixed this problem on a Luke 2 by replacing saddles by graphtech ferraglide. ( basic graphtech put all the highs away )

I there's some compatible graphtech for your JP, just go ahead !!!

 

[wolfdogg]

I succesfully fixed this problem on a Luke 2 by replacing saddles by graphtech ferraglide. ( basic graphtech put all the highs away )

I there's some compatible graphtech for your JP, just go ahead !!!

Appreciate it, though it would be a bit depressing to have to do this to resolve the issue after dropping 3K on a brand new guitar. However, I'll give TS a call and see if they can figure something out and if the situation remains the same, I'll probably take your advice.

The fam and I are headed to Disney World this next week so I'll dig into this issue more after we get back.

Thanks to everyone for all the replies!

 

[wolfdogg]

OK.. so back from Disney World and right back to this problem. I was 10 minutes into playing this morning.. the first time in 8 days.. and the A string snapped yet again, right at the bridge. Super frustrating. That A string was replaced less than a month ago when it snapped then.

So.. I'm entertaining the idea of the graphtech. (I did contact Tech Support and they haven't offered much as a possible solution though we're still emailing back and forth). I wrote the company and the following was their response. In reviewing the saddles via Google searches, it seems many do report that they have resolved their string breaking issue. I'm tempted to pull the trigger and if EB support can't get it figured out, I guess that will be the next thing I try.

Anyone have a suggestion/opinion on what might work better for the recommended versions below? I've yet to measure my string spacing too, so if you know, give me a shout.

Thanks for getting in touch!
Short answer is yes, you will stop breaking strings once you switch over to our saddles.
I swapped the ones on my tele and on my les paul with our string saver saddles and I can not break strings now.
It's like night and day, I'm a really aggressive player and I just can't break them now.
So we've got two different types that should fit your guitar, the PS-8000-00
product-detail

And the PG-8000-0C
product-detail

The PS-8000 are the same material as our Black Tusq XL nuts and saddles, so they're impregnated with Teflon so string glide over them much easier.
They have a nice open frequency range and a slight cut around 2k
The PG-8000 are an alloy saddle with the string saver material material only over the area the string contacts the saddle, so you retain the tonal characteristics of a metal saddle.

Now, we have 2 different sizes in both, either a 2 1/16" string spacing or a 2 3/16"
So just measure your saddles string spacing to see which one it is.
Or just let me know and I can suggest the best set.

 

[tristan klein]

as both products are based on the same alliage, you know string breaking is gonna be an old story very soon.
take the one that preserves the high frequences.
for sizes I could not tell you. 10 years ago they had only one size fro strat replacement and it was perfect for my luke II.

 

[wolfdogg]

Thanks... appreciate the advice and at least turning me on to this option. EB wants me to send my guitar in and I can certainly understand that but I have a gig every weekend for the next couple months so I'd have to suffer for not sure how long... and no guarantee things will be different. Still may do it but dang, I hate the thought of sending a guitar through the mail and back.. and I guess I'd have to pay shipping so there's likely $60-$70. What to do.. sigh.

I did find out that I just measure from string to string for the size, so mine is exactly 2 1/16".

 

[tristan klein]

if I were you, I would send my guitar back to EB. their customer service in US is one of the best. I know it's difficult and makes anxious to send the guitar but I think it's the best way to check your problem...we know that graphtec solves the problem but the CS would analyse it, find where it comes from and just erase it forever...

 

[Dead-Eye]

Do the graphtech saddles work with the piezo?

 

[Mordimer]

Do the graphtech saddles work with the piezo?

No, piezoelectric element is built into the saddle:

 

[QuietSpike]

This may have already been addressed.... but didn't see anywhere you (Wolf) say what strings you used...



I use EB RPS strings, and don't have a problem with breaking strings. Those are the only strings I have ever used on my JP's (including a JP15).

 

[paranoid70]

I had that problem with my Silhouette Special, except I always broke D strings. I sent the guitar to EB and no fault was found and they just shipped it back. I added the graphtec saddles, but they really didn't help much. Also different string brands and sizes didn't help much either.

So here is what did help reduce string breakage. I started using Big Bends nut sauce on the saddle for string changes, that did seem to help. But believe it or not, I simply started using Medium gauge picks rather than Heavy picks. Not sure exactly why that helped, but it did. However, I still do break D strings from time to time. Luckily not much during gigs, but I always bring a backup guitar just in case.

Like everyone else here I love MM guitars, but the string breakage is one issue I personally seem to have. I think it must be something to do with the way we play that causes them to break as other folks don't seem to have that issue. However, I will say that with my other non-MM guitars, I have never once broken a string... although they often have their own issues. LOL.

Good luck

 

[wolfdogg]

Thanks guys. And yeah.. tried EB strings along with a several other brands. It's funny because I see the internet full of "you're playing too hard" advice but just not the case here. I do like my 80s rock and I do like to have a little fun with the whammy bar but really been laying off lately because of this issue and they still break... and my EB Sub 1 rarely ever broke strings and I played it hard, usually 2 gigs a week for a few years. I'd go months at a time and usually had to change for wear instead of breakage. It's definitely something up with the guitar... unless it is indeed the pick. I did switch from mediums to using Jazz III picks and they do have a sharper edge.. maybe I should try going back but I have really fell in love with these.. really great for arpeggios/speed picking.. though I could survive if that was the issue.

I didn't realize the piezo was built into the saddles so sounds like that won't work. Thanks for pointing that out. Sounds like sending it back my be my only option... and bummer to hear that paranoid tried that and they sent it back with no solution.

The search goes on!

 

[wolfdogg]

Mr Obvious here, but yea there is a sharp place you are just missing, and not found yet. Don't assume its not there, and try running your finger slowly down the string thats breaking, carefully going over every place (very slowly) where it touches other metal. I bet you will find it.

If so, it would have to be on every string... but no, I even got out a magnifying glass a couple weeks ago and looks hard. Smooth as a baby's butt. Appreciate it though!

 

[Fro]

If it's not the saddle, look in the hole in the tremolo plate under the saddle. Try running a qtip across and see if it snags.