string tearing problems / petrucci pz.

[augustyn]

string breaking problems / petrucci pz.

i play with a new petrucci 6str. with piezos and have now the problem that the string tear often on the bridge. thats a new problem for me cause with my prs mc carty i havnt this prob. the strings tear exact on the piezo. please help me cause i play live much and thats not so funny. thanx a lot. der auge www.augustyn.at

 

[KungFu Grip]

Best thing you can do is contact Ernie Ball and specify which saddles are giving you issues. They will then be able to assist you. I doubt there is anything specific that anyone here can do, but it wouldn't hurt telling us which strings are breaking and what guages they are.

 

[augustyn]

the strings are..

..010 optima gold strings (i use them since years on my other guitars (PRS, steinberger...). yesterday the deep E string was broken exact on the piezo without playing on the guitar (it was in the original suitcase) that was a 046 string !! :-( i dont understand the problem and this is my first e-guitar with piezos (i have an ovation but thats another thing). we will see. i wrote an email to the musicman support. problem is i bought this guitar in us and here is no dealer nearby (in austria). thanx. see ya.

 

[LukasZ]

i have the same

i have the same problem with this guitar... i dont have a piezo saddles but they have the same shepe ... i dont know what to do about it ... ?

 

[augustyn]

i have the same problem with this guitar... i dont have a piezo saddles but they have the same shepe ... i dont know what to do about it ... ?

havent found a solution till now.
at the moment i change strings more often than before and use cheaper ones.
i try to fit piezos onto one of my TCMs (polaris pro) and if it sounds well i am going to sell the MMJP6. i am a working musician and need my guitar live.
my TCM glory has a trem too and no string broke at anytime.
of course! mr. petrucci has always new strings on his guitars but he hasnt to buy them and he hasnt to change them by himself
sorry lukas, no idea for your (and my) prob.

 

[edensdad]

Sorry to hear about your problem. I do not have this problem, but I play Ernie Ball Slinky's 10's - which I believe are the strings that the guitar is designed to use. Of course I also use the tremolo sparingly, and then just for subtle vibrato - no dives, pull ups, or other major movements.

I used to break the heavy strings a lot at the bridge saddle when I played more speed metal - the aggressive picking would put too much stress at that point.

Hope you can figure it out.

 

[SteveB]

I have a Petrucci 6-string with Piezo and have not had such a problem. I have only used Ernie Ball Slinkys on the guitar so far (gauge 10). I do get heavy-handed with the tremolo at times.

I have heard of a technique to help with string breakage on guitars that are strung thorugh the body. The idea is that there can be a sharp edge within the path of the string where it comes through the body. The remedy was to take an old string (a wound one, I believe) and sort of 'floss' it through the hole where the string passes through the body. So, feed the string through the body, then hold the guitar upright (use a stand of some sort) and pull either end of the string upward, thus making a 'U' shape. Pull upward enough to make contact with the string path, then rub the string back and forth a few times.

The idea is that it will burnish any rough edges in there which may cause string breakage.

 

[augustyn]

Sorry to hear about your problem. I do not have this problem, but I play Ernie Ball Slinky's 10's - which I believe are the strings that the guitar is designed to use. Of course I also use the tremolo sparingly, and then just for subtle vibrato - no dives, pull ups, or other major movements.

I used to break the heavy strings a lot at the bridge saddle when I played more speed metal - the aggressive picking would put too much stress at that point.

Hope you can figure it out.

have you ever tried the EB RPS strings (reinforced).
i'd love strings that last a bit longer even if they are more expensive. i hate broken strings while gigging cause of the trem. and its my only piezo fitted guitar. well. maybe you have further infos and tipps for me.

 

[augustyn]

I have a Petrucci 6-string with Piezo and have not had such a problem. I have only used Ernie Ball Slinkys on the guitar so far (gauge 10). I do get heavy-handed with the tremolo at times.

I have heard of a technique to help with string breakage on guitars that are strung thorugh the body. The idea is that there can be a sharp edge within the path of the string where it comes through the body. The remedy was to take an old string (a wound one, I believe) and sort of 'floss' it through the hole where the string passes through the body. So, feed the string through the body, then hold the guitar upright (use a stand of some sort) and pull either end of the string upward, thus making a 'U' shape. Pull upward enough to make contact with the string path, then rub the string back and forth a few times.

The idea is that it will burnish any rough edges in there which may cause string breakage.

sounds interesting.
my prob is that the strings always break exact on the piezo. and theres no edge or rough thing. thats impossible and the angle is not very sharp there. first i thought its the prob with the 90° angle in the bridge but there no string was ever broken. only really exactly onto the piezo. my luthier niearby doesnt have any idea too. of course i use hard picks (1,21) and play hard when i try do sound acoustic. but.....?

 

[Dr. Metal]

Hi,

I just wanted to let you know that I too have a horrible problem with string breakage on my Petrucci. And yes, they always break down where they cross the bridge (on the saddle). Typically it is the A or D string. I use Ernie Ball RPS 10s on this guitar. It used to be tuned in standard tuning and is now 1/2 step down in E-Flat tuning. I still have the problem.

My other main guitar is a 1985 USA Jackson Randy Rhoads and I have played the hell out of that thing for years without the same problem. I noticed a problem right away with my guitar. I even had a loaner JPMM and it did the same thing. The other guitarist in my band is also a JPMM player and has the same problem. Coincidence, I think not.

I love this guitar, it plays and sounds great! So I continue to put up with it for now. I always have my backup ready and waiting and I change the strings right before every show (even if we are playing for just 45 minutes). I have yet to decide on whether I will ever buy another JPMM because of this problem as well as the crappy case they ship with, but other than that, like I said, I love this guitar. Good luck!!

 

[augustyn]

Hi,

I just wanted to let you know that I too have a horrible problem with string breakage on my Petrucci. And yes, they always break down where they cross the bridge (on the saddle). Typically it is the A or D string. I use Ernie Ball RPS 10s on this guitar. It used to be tuned in standard tuning and is now 1/2 step down in E-Flat tuning. I still have the problem.

My other main guitar is a 1985 USA Jackson Randy Rhoads and I have played the hell out of that thing for years without the same problem. I noticed a problem right away with my guitar. I even had a loaner JPMM and it did the same thing. The other guitarist in my band is also a JPMM player and has the same problem. Coincidence, I think not.

I love this guitar, it plays and sounds great! So I continue to put up with it for now. I always have my backup ready and waiting and I change the strings right before every show (even if we are playing for just 45 minutes). I have yet to decide on whether I will ever buy another JPMM because of this problem as well as the crappy case they ship with, but other than that, like I said, I love this guitar. Good luck!!

metal,
ok
thats not what i wanted to hear but now i know its not my mistake. i also have always my TCM glory in backup bzut it has no piezos. i love the JP6 too. wonderfull shredder neck and very versatile.
but
i try to put piezos in the polaris pro i get in a few days. and if it sounds well and the strings last normal i am going to sell my MMJP6. sad sad world.
but i never will buy a MM anymore cause PRS, Steinberger, Ibanez, Terry McInturff, ... , no other guitar i own has this prob. but no other guitar has this piezo sound too ;-))

 

[Dr. Metal]

metal,
ok
thats not what i wanted to hear but now i know its not my mistake. i also have always my TCM glory in backup bzut it has no piezos. i love the JP6 too. wonderfull shredder neck and very versatile.
but
i try to put piezos in the polaris pro i get in a few days. and if it sounds well and the strings last normal i am going to sell my MMJP6. sad sad world.
but i never will buy a MM anymore cause PRS, Steinberger, Ibanez, Terry McInturff, ... , no other guitar i own has this prob. but no other guitar has this piezo sound too ;-))

augustyn,

Sorry that I didn't have better news for you. I wish it was something easier to control. I didn't do a full study or anything, but it does seem to behave much better when using the Ernie Ball strings. I used D'Addario for many years, but when I tried them when I first got the guitar, I found that they broke even faster. They are solid on my Jackson, so I know the strings are OK, but since the EBs hold up better on the JPMM, I use them for all my guitars now. So try that it might help. It also seems better now than when I first got it.

As far as other makes, I have seen this problem in other guitars but they usually sport Floyd Rose tremolos. For example, I played in a band back in 90-91 and the other guitarist had an Ibanez with a Floyd. He would change his strings every night we played and still broke strings. I would change mine every four shows and RARELY broke a string. We typically played out every Friday and Saturday for three hours each show. So the strings got plenty of exercise!

I hope it all works out for you in the end! Good luck!

 

[puppiesonacid]

i have noticed the same thing with mine as well. The way the trem is built the strings break across two different points in the trem. one in the block coming out to the saddle and the second point being right over the saddle. Its doesnt happen a ton but when it does its a bummer. i lowerd my bridge height and compensated a bit by making the treble strings a touch higher than the bass strings, but thats my setup preference. i like to be able to grip the higher notes and feel them under my fingers a bit more. just a design flaw... a pricey one at that over time. Still IMHO, the petrucci tremolo system is still the best one out there for me.

God bless,

Tony

 

[LukasZ]

**** happens

I am very disappointed reading that. I really like this guitar beacause of its sound and playing comfort. But It is a very bad new for me that there is no solution for this problem. I don't like to play a gig with some worries that I will screw it up because of my unrealible instrument. I think I would have to sell it ,,,, GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT - JOHN PETRUCCI MODEL

 

[Dr. Metal]

I am very disappointed reading that. I really like this guitar beacause of its sound and playing comfort. But It is a very bad new for me that there is no solution for this problem. I don't like to play a gig with some worries that I will screw it up because of my unrealible instrument. I think I would have to sell it ,,,, GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT - JOHN PETRUCCI MODEL

Well, before you go selling it I would contact EB Customer Service and see what they say. I'm not crazy about the string breakage issue either but I gig out with it all the time and have been OK. And I always have a backup either way. In fact, I'll be out with it tonight opening up for Sonata Arctica's first show ever in the US!!

 

[kbaim]

If the JP isn't working out, you may wanna give the LUKE a try.

5 way, emg's, trem, rosewood board, piezo option, 2 single coils + humbucker in bridge position, extremely comfortable, no pickguard.

Different neck feel though.

Haven't heard the string issue on the Luke.

 

[fsmith]

If the JP isn't working out, you may wanna give the LUKE a try.

Different neck feel though.

Keith,
How big a difference is the neck on the Luke's? Or should I say how does it compare to say a Silhouette? I was considering another Silhouette in the HSS configuration, but was also curious about a Luke in Vintage Sunburst.

I would love to have something that shows a crosscut view of the different neck geometry of the various EB guitars. I know that they are all different but would like to know which are suited to players with large hands. I have no problems with my Petrucci and the Silhouette is simply wonderful, but have heard stories about the Luke.

thanks,
fred

 

[JDouglee]

There's alot to be said for "breaking in" a guitar. Just playing it, & using the bar
tends to work out the sharp edges and string breakage decreases over time.
I've had my guitars awhile now & I seldom break strings.

I tend to stockpile individual single strings just in case. Sometimes if i don't want to change a whole set before a gig, I'll replace the top E & B for example.

 

[jongitarz]

I have been avoiding this thread because every time I have had to deal with this sort of problem, it usually boils down to technique, and not something wrong with the guitar. I am not saying that this is the case because I would need to see the guitars in question(and that is why I was staying away), but Jdouglee has a really good point. We sell SO many Jp's, that if there were a problem, trust me, I would be the 1st to know. If you guys can, live with it for a while and see what happens. If it continues, you can always send it in for me to check out.

 

[Mick]

Jon´s advice to buy used EBMMs