214ce issues

[S MS Picker]

Man!! That sux.
 Where is the core of that string broken?
Do you have a really heavy right hand?Heavy gauge pick?Play right on top of the saddle?
Are they breaking on strums or single string notes?
It appears its breaking right at the saddle.
Take some fine grit sandpaper(220 min), and very lightly sand the front and rear edges of your saddle. If you're still breaking them back off on that right hand some . It takes a heck of a lick to break a new D,A, or E string on a smooth saddle.
Good luck,
Steve

[Mr T]

Hi Steve,
I had returned the guitar to taylor and they recrowned the frets and recut the bridge and nut. I am a bit heavy handed but I use a 0.60mm nylon pick to offset that. I always break the strings whilst strumming. I do break strings occasionally on my other guitars but its usually after 2-3 gigs and a couple of practices. I think I'm going to have to go up to a set of 13's

[jerrytubes]

Have the bridge PINS been changed out?

[S MS Picker]

Hi Steve,
I had returned the guitar to taylor and they recrowned the frets and recut the bridge and nut. I am a bit heavy handed but I use a 0.60mm nylon pick to offset that. I always break the strings whilst strumming. I do break strings occasionally on my other guitars but its usually after 2-3 gigs and a couple of practices. I think I'm going to have to go up to a set of 13's

Frets won't cause a break there.Is the nail worn down on your picking hand index finger ? With a .60 nylon pick, I suspect you're hitting the strings w/your finger also when you're really into some kick butt strumming. I used to use my index nail for a really hard bluegrass percussive lick. I went to a thicker pick( min. 1.0), refined my technique and now I don't bleed on my strings anymore!!
Steve

[Mr T]

Well, after swapping brands I've found that the d'addario EXP Pb work a treat. I've had them on now for two gigs and 4 practices and they are still all in one piece. Having done some research into elixirs I've found that a lot of people have had the same problem as myself. In future I think I'll go up a gauge if I'm using coated strings and stick to standard 12's for uncoated. D'addario do 10 packs of strings for £45 so I might just get those and change them regularly.
Thanks a million for all your posts
Mr T

[fretted]

Before you give up, try this. Snip the little brass rings from the end of your old set of strings and slide them down the new set using the donut hole in them so that they sit on top of the new one's brass rings when you insert them. The rings will cover the twisted knot on the end a little and the added material will change the spot where the string bends out of the bridge pin hole. The geometry of your guitar maybe that that spot is exactly the wrong place relative to the twisted end knot on certain strings. Adding that 1/16" may make all the difference. It's an old trick. Good Luck.
 

[S MS Picker]

Good idea fretted.
I've a friend that has an old Martin that is so wallowed out(slotted pin holes), I drilled some ball bearings to pass the strings through. You have to string it from the inside, but he wanted no modifications done to the original bridge plate. Works and sounds great, and the top wood remains intact.
Steve

[Mr T]

Hi All,
Just wanted to keep everyone updated which the string breaking issues I've been having. I had a set of D'addario EXP 12's on the Taylor for an entire month, which equated to 4 gigs, 2 sessions and 4 practices without any issue! I was really pleased with the fact they lasted that long without snapping but as they had gone a bit dead, I threw on a set of DR rare earths I had kicking around and they lasted two gigs and the G snapped 20 minutes into band practice. So all in all I was left a little confused.
Now to test a theory a mate had mentioned I bought a set of the medium bronze elixirs and headed off to a local folk festival to play in a few different sessions. Over the day I was there many MANY beers were consumed, which increases the *ahem* vigour with which I play play the guitar, and bless them, the elixirs took a good 5 hours of punishment without any issue. This leaves me with the only conclusion that playing the guitar drunk stops me breaking strings.
Beer 1 - Guitar Issues - 0

Cheers
DT 

[jivauk]

This leaves me with the only conclusion that playing the guitar drunk stops me breaking strings.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Great thread. Keep the medium strings, keep drinking, and consider a .58mm pick. 

[Mr T]

Hi All,
I just wanted wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who commented on the thread. I'm pleased to say that the elixirs lasted 2 months which broken down means they lasted 12 hours gigging, 8 hours at band practice and 10 hours playing on my own. What is a major annoyance now is that Elixir are putting the prices up by 30 - 40% which sadly puts a set at about £20 here in the UK (f%$k that I hear you say!). So I think that even though they last a long time I'm going to go back to buying the player packs of d'addario where I can get 10 sets for £40.
Cheers everyone
DT

[stepchildusmc]

i really liked the "stay drunk" part.