Daft things you have done with instruments .

[Speedy1995]

Since Xmas I have gone through 4 new sets of guitar strings. Some snapped and some were fitted shockingly by me and snapped. I'd love to hear what you piano boffins have done wrong in the past.

[g3org3y]

This one time, at band camp...

[singlecoil]

Speedy1995 said:

Since Xmas I have gone through 4 new sets of guitar strings. Some snapped and some were fitted shockingly by me and snapped. I'd love to hear what you piano boffins have done wrong in the past.

Do they always snap in the same place?

[Steffan]

I always tend to use Martin Lights of Diadario's by choice and very rarely have breaks. Usually change the lot because they do dull over time IME. Bit like the owner! Occasionally replace my classical nylon strings and Uke strings but again rarely get a break. There are various things I have done over time with various instruments and various others but not suitable for general appreciation IMO.

[bga]

Daft #1 - strung a classical guitar with steel strings
Daft #2 - strung a vintage parlour guitar with nylon strings for a couple of years before finding out that it was designed for steelies.
Daft #3 - cracked the headstock on a borrowed LP by whacking it into a low ceiling beam during a pub gig
Daft #4 - attempting a rewire if a squire strat an afternoon before a gig. De-soldered everything before realising I didn't have any solder left.
Daft #5 - leaving the clasps on a guitar case undone and then "enthusiastically" picking it up. Guitar went flying and I got a huge dent in the middle of the flame top. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't less than a week old.
Daft #6 - playing cricket with an acoustic and a tennis ball and wondering why all the bracing was shot...

I'm sure there are many more. The moral of the story was to never let me near an instrument when I was a teenager.

[singlecoil]

bga said:

Daft #5 - leaving the clasps on a guitar case undone and then "enthusiastically" picking it up. Guitar went flying and I got a huge dent in the middle of the flame top. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't less than a week old.

I did that with a customer's left hand 12 string Ovation early in my career. It fell about a foot onto carpet, but the headstock was under such tension that was all it took to snap it.

And it turned out that the insurance didn't cover it (despite the broker telling me when I took it out that it would)

[Steffan]

singlecoil said:

bga said:

Daft #5 - leaving the clasps on a guitar case undone and then "enthusiastically" picking it up. Guitar went flying and I got a huge dent in the middle of the flame top. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't less than a week old.

I did that with a customer's left hand 12 string Ovation early in my career. It fell about a foot onto carpet, but the headstock was under such tension that was all it took to snap it.

And it turned out that the insurance didn't cover it (despite the broker telling me when I took it out that it would)

Had a number of expensive headstocks give up under concussion over the years notably many 12 strings where the tension is just so high. Three Armstrongs did the same thing. You could have had a go at the broker but doubtless life was too short.

[bga]

singlecoil said:

I did that with a customer's left hand 12 string Ovation early in my career. It fell about a foot onto carpet, but the headstock was under such tension that was all it took to snap it.

And it turned out that the insurance didn't cover it (despite the broker telling me when I took it out that it would)

Ouch! It's so much worse when it's someone else's instrument.

[Madrabbit]

Many years ago, when I was at school, I bought a cheap electric LP copy off a catalogue (it was the only way I could afford one) with the intention of learning and being in a band, just like every school boy. Anyway, I decided to paint it Kingfisher blue. Stripped it down and painted it put it back together to find that it no longer worked!
I never got it working, never learned to play and was never in a band!

My 5 year old son is now doing guitar lessons at school and I realise now I have a yearning to start again!

[Steffan]

Madrabbit said:

Many years ago, when I was at school, I bought a cheap electric LP copy off a catalogue (it was the only way I could afford one) with the intention of learning and being in a band, just like every school boy. Anyway, I decided to paint it Kingfisher blue. Stripped it down and painted it put it back together to find that it no longer worked!
I never got it working, never learned to play and was never in a band!

My 5 year old son is now doing guitar lessons at school and I realise now I have a yearning to start again!

Go for it is my advice: there is huge entertainment and companionship in making music in any group at any level. Do not miss out follow your son's example and get playing an instrument. You could learn the basics together although He will undoubtedly find playing easier as you both progress. Good luck to you.

[Speedy1995]

1ST Strings- stty late 70's originals that came with guitar. Wish I hadn't of thrown them even though they were fked
2nd Strings- Some new ones I got for xmas, I had only been playing for a couple of months and restrung the guitar with the strings back to front. I couldn't re fit these. I still feel like a tt.
3rd Strings- Ernie Ball super Slinkys, fitted perfectly and lasted six months before one snapped not bad.
4th Strings- Ernie Ball regular Slinkys, though id upgrade to a thicker set of strings so they would last longer, Cut the end of to short then when I was playing three of them came off.
5th Strings- back to super slinks all went on ok. although one of them I over tightened way to much and it snapped.

Im of to the shop tomorrow to see if they sell single strings or ill hit my six set. DUM DUM DUUM

[Fantuzzi]

This dosnt count but is daft.

We found a kettle in the barn we jammed in, it was metal. We hit it. Sounded...like a cow bell!

So we tapped it to the kit, and it sounded awesome, just like a cowbell.

Looked fking weird though. (read - awesome...)

[Justin Cyder]

Strung my acoustic with electric strings & vice versa loads of times when doing it on autopilot.

I once had a Parker with very complex electrics & managed to burn two Fishman piezo control units (£80 a time) by using an industrial strength soldering iron before throwing in the towel & giving it to the local tech. Final bill = £80 + £80 + £80 + £50 for the tech.

[Fantuzzi]

Speedy1995 said:

1ST Strings- stty late 70's originals that came with guitar. Wish I hadn't of thrown them even though they were fked
2nd Strings- Some new ones I got for xmas, I had only been playing for a couple of months and restrung the guitar with the strings back to front. I couldn't re fit these. I still feel like a tt.
3rd Strings- Ernie Ball super Slinkys, fitted perfectly and lasted six months before one snapped not bad.
4th Strings- Ernie Ball regular Slinkys, though id upgrade to a thicker set of strings so they would last longer, Cut the end of to short then when I was playing three of them came off.
5th Strings- back to super slinks all went on ok. although one of them I over tightened way to much and it snapped.

Im of to the shop tomorrow to see if they sell single strings or ill hit my six set. DUM DUM DUUM

Maybe you could get some one to string it for you mate...

[singlecoil]

Speedy1995 said:

1ST Strings- stty late 70's originals that came with guitar. Wish I hadn't of thrown them even though they were fked
2nd Strings- Some new ones I got for xmas, I had only been playing for a couple of months and restrung the guitar with the strings back to front. I couldn't re fit these. I still feel like a tt.
3rd Strings- Ernie Ball super Slinkys, fitted perfectly and lasted six months before one snapped not bad.
4th Strings- Ernie Ball regular Slinkys, though id upgrade to a thicker set of strings so they would last longer, Cut the end of to short then when I was playing three of them came off.
5th Strings- back to super slinks all went on ok. although one of them I over tightened way to much and it snapped.

Im of to the shop tomorrow to see if they sell single strings or ill hit my six set. DUM DUM DUUM

Most music shops will sell single strings but it's not the most economical way of buying them.

Thicker strings require higher tension to come up to pitch, so aren't any more resistant to string breakage. If you break a string when you don't expect to, always look to see where it broke, it might tell you something. Too sharp an angle across the bridge is a common one, bridge pieces in poor condition is another.

[davepoth]

After checking for any sharp bits, it's always worth running a pencil over the bridge and nut where the strings touch - graphite is a lubricant, and this helps a bit. The easiest thing is to learn not to break strings though - I think it's been about 6 years since I've had one snap.

Which probably means one will go tonight.

[gjf764]

Left a tuba on a bus if that counts?

[br d]

I played guitar for a couple of years as a teenager (then took 25 years off!) and saved for my dream electric which was a gleaming, gloss black ibanez LP copy.

I got it home, took it out of the case and marvelled at this sleek, shiny thing of beauty reflecting my spotty countanance. Then I went and got a hammer and chisel and hacked about a hundred lumps out of the body exposing the ugly, splintered wood in deep open wounds.
I thought this made it look fantastic and was very happy with the result.

Being heavily into punk and Oi music I had some odd tastes and naturally thought I knew everything.
How my mother ever put up with me I'll never know.

[Steffan]

br d said:

I played guitar for a couple of years as a teenager (then took 25 years off!) and saved for my dream electric which was a gleaming, gloss black ibanez LP copy.

I got it home, took it out of the case and marvelled at this sleek, shiny thing of beauty reflecting my spotty countanance. Then I went and got a hammer and chisel and hacked about a hundred lumps out of the body exposing the ugly, splintered wood in deep open wounds.
I thought this made it look fantastic and was very happy with the result.

Being heavily into punk and Oi music I had some odd tastes and naturally thought I knew everything.
How my mother ever put up with me I'll never know.

She was your mother. It is what mothers do, fortunately for their progeny. Irreplaceable and beyond price. Sadly we only get one.

[Justin Cyder]

Also, it was only an Ibanez.