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String broke on my headless again.

Tommygunn

Tommygunn

Nov 8, 2008
7,079
37
Houston, Tx
soundcloud.com
#1
This is the second string thats broke on adapter on my steinberger. First it was a tape wound and the nylon came off but now its a round wound and I think the winding just slipped off the core. The round wound broke while I was bending but it wasn't crazy bending. Is this common? Cause I don't want to buy some TI flats or rotosounds and have em break on me like this. Thanks
 
#2
I have a headless adapter for my Steinberger spirit, so not entirely the same but similar.

you may be over tightening it. I broke a string that way before (D). When I tighten mine now, i turn until it stops and is firm (outer winding and inner wire are compressed together, if that makes sense), then I just turn it a little more.

Good Luck!
 
#3
Its a steiny spirit as well, prolly same adapter. Just tested it out on the other strings and same thing. Is it just bending? (It did take a bit more force to break the others but not much)

No worries, they were a set of EB super slinkies from 08 but they weren't used a whole bunch until I put em on this bass. I'll try looser tightening but if I break another string this way (unless I'm just abusing it) I'm switching to double ball end.
 
#6
Tommygunn said:
We'll see, it makes a bit on sense tho cause the last time I broke a string (other than the tapes) was when I has SS on my sterling way back when.
Click to expand...

The other thing you may check is the allen screws and the holes in the adapter to make sure there aren't any burrs or anything that could be causing the break.

Good Luck!
 
#9
Tommygunn said:
This is the second string thats broke on adapter on my steinberger. First it was a tape wound and the nylon came off but now its a round wound and I think the winding just slipped off the core. The round wound broke while I was bending but it wasn't crazy bending. Is this common? Cause I don't want to buy some TI flats or rotosounds and have em break on me like this. Thanks
Click to expand...
It takes a little experimenting. You need to find how little to turn the set screws in order to lock the string into the adapter. If you clamp down too tight, the tension at pitch will cause a break right at the weak point created by the set screw. It sounds to me like you're applying too much torque to the set screw.

You can learn about how the screw scars the string by testing pieces of broken string. Clamp them in, then remove them & look for damage to the string. Start with the the way you clamped the broken string(s). When you put on new strings go way lighter & start to tune. When the string slips, back off the tuner, back off the screw, reposition the string & try again. Pay attention to how much the screw rotates after you feel contact with the string. After a few tries, you will know how hard to clamp the string so it doesn't slip or break. You might want to write that down where you can find it next time. 8-)

Let us know if you learn how to mount tape wounds with an adapter. I doubt it can be done.
 

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