2 questions about guitar

[MMcC]

Question the first: I know this is a bass forum, but I also know there's a lot of love for guitar here. Since this is such a respectful and knowledgeable community, I'm wondering if there's a way we can add a guitar sub-forum. Any interest in getting those wheels rolling?

Question two: I just converted one of my acoustic guitars to a lap-steel. I added a piece over the nut to raise the action and have been trying out different tunings using a steel. I've broken the G string twice in the past month I've been doing this. What gives? Is it the tension, or that I keep switching tunings? I usually keep it in DADDAD, since I'm still just learning. But if I want to toss in a little variation... SNAP. I'm not tuning it much higher. Any thoughts?

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by MMcC

Question two: I just converted one of my acoustic guitars to a lap-steel. I added a piece over the nut to raise the action and have been trying out different tunings using a steel. I've broken the G string twice in the past month I've been doing this. What gives? Is it the tension, or that I keep switching tunings? I usually keep it in DADDAD, since I'm still just learning. But if I want to toss in a little variation... SNAP. I'm not tuning it much higher. Any thoughts?

Where's it breaking? There could be a sharp spot on the nut that doesn't combine well with tning changes.

[baalroo]

are you tuning Up to D or Down to D?

[MMcC]

It's breaking at the tuning machine. I'm tuning the G down to a D.

[jim777]

That's a bit odd, are you using an unwound G? Maybe there's a burr or something in the hole in the tuning peg, that you're only seeing the affects of now because of the angle change?

[MMcC]

It happened once before I added the new nut addition. So it's not the angle change. I'll keep putting new strings on there and we'll see if it keeps happening. I'll keep you posted. So does anyone know if I should stick to lighter acoustic string guages for any reason when doing this?

[The Golden Boy]

It's breaking at the tuning peg?

Are you wrapping your strings correctly at the post?

You should be going from the bottom of the peg towards the top, and the string should not wrap over itself- the pressure from that will break a string. Most people say not to have more than 2 full winds on a tuning peg- I shoot for about 3.