questions about stainless steel frets

[Santuzzo]

Hi,

I have had two Music ManJP7s, both equipped with stainless steel frets, and the 2nd one I got I've had major problems with the high e-string breaking (in the end I returned the guitar for a partial refund, but that's a different story altogether).

The string would always break after several 3 fret bends at the same spot (in the middle of the string that is), and I also noticed after a few of those bends that the string got a u 'bump' ONE fret BELOW the fret where the bend was at.
I had the guitar looked at by two guitar techs, they could not find anything, they polished the fret, but the problem still re-occurred.
I tried different brands of strings, but no success...
There was no problem as long as I did not do more than 2-fret bends on the high e-string. On the b-string I could do even 4 fret bends without any issues at all...
Now onto my question to those of you who also have been using stainless steel-fret equipped guitars:

1. Do you do lots of 3fret bends on the high e-string?
2. if yes: have you had any problems with the high e-string breaking?
3. do you have a very low action?

I am starting to think that maybe it's my bending technique? The action of said guitar was pretty low, so, in order to do a 3fret bend on the high e-string I had to put quite some pressure on the string against the fret so that the string would not slip under my finger tip. Could that maybe be the source of the problem?
I guess a higher action would make the bends easier so I would not have tp push the string too hard against the fret.
Does that make any sense?

 

[Lou]

Interesting. What string gauge do you use and what fret are you bending at? And what tuning?

 

[AJS]

The string would actually break right near where the string was bent?

 

[Santuzzo]

Thanks guys.
I played the stock string gauge (010s), standard tuning, and the string always broke RIGHT at the 13th fret, ONE fret BELOW where the bend was at....
I am starting to think it may be that I may push the string onto the fret too hard?

 

[AJS]

Seems like there might have been some kind of micro burr on one of the frets, I don't think I've ever had a string break in the middle, it's almost always at the bridge or tuning peg.

 

[Santuzzo]

Seems like there might have been some kind of micro burr on one of the frets, I don't think I've ever had a string break in the middle, it's almost always at the bridge or tuning peg.

Thanks.
Do you play lots of 3 fret bends?
This problem only came up when doing 3 fret bends.
I had the frets checked and polished...still string kept breaking...
Right now I'm thinking, either it's just not very common to use 3 fret bends (which I have a hard time believing) OR it's the way I end the string, I may push the string too hard against the fret?

 

[AJS]

Do you play lots of 3 fret bends?

Occasionally, most of time just messing around with huge bends.

 

[ksandvik]

No strings should break with big bends unless the strings are not good or there's something with the guitar. If the technicians could not find anything causing friction, yes maybe there's unnecessary force involved so you might need to adjust your playing style (or get beefier strings.). In general, even with bends, the less energy are used, the better it sounds.

 

[Santuzzo]

No strings should break with big bends unless the strings are not good or there's something with the guitar. If the technicians could not find anything causing friction, yes maybe there's unnecessary force involved so you might need to adjust your playing style (or get beefier strings.). In general, even with bends, the less energy are used, the better it sounds.

Thanks,
yes, it looks like I may have to experiment with using less force in my fingers when doing these bends.
This may include raising the action a bit, since the low action makes the bending hard to do and I have to press the string pretty hard against the fret so it wont slip under my fingertip.

 

[mtrejo]

Hey Lars, was just listening to your Sonic Sketches. Cool stuff man!

 

[Santuzzo]

Hey Lars, was just listening to your Sonic Sketches. Cool stuff man!

Thanks!
If you like I can send you a free download link. (just PM me your e-mail address in that case)

 

[mtrejo]

PM sent

 

[stealthtastic]

I have ultra low action and have had zero problems with my ss fret JPs.

 

[Santuzzo]

I have ultra low action and have had zero problems with my ss fret JPs.

Thanks.
Do you do a lot of min 3rd bends?
In my experience the bigger bends are much more difficult with a low action, so I'm trying to find a good balance of a somewhat lower action but still high enough so I can bend the strings easily...

 

[bvdrummer]

I remember from that other thread that the break was always in the same spot. Did you try the same bend on other frets?

 

[Santuzzo]

I remember from that other thread that the break was always in the same spot. Did you try the same bend on other frets?

No, I have not, but that is actually a very good idea I have not thought of....

 

[sanderhermans]

Dont know if too much pressure causes strings to break. But i have seen alot of guitars that have been used by people using too much presure on the strings. This causes frets to wear faster and sometimes people even press the strings so hard they lave impressions in the fretboard itself... you should never use more presure then needed. Practice this. It will improve your sound, the lifespan of your guitars and playing is way easier.