Why do I break Strings?

[Dan Cole]

I keep breaking the same D string at the bridge. Any ideas?

[grsnovi]

I assume that you have inspected the bridge for any sort of abnormality at that point? Burrs perhaps? How old is the mando? What sort of strings do you use? Has this always happened? How long have you been playing?

Everyone's technique is different and while I can't remember the last time I broke a string, your mileage (obviously) may vary.

Are you breaking them while playing in a group setting? Soloing? Trying to be loud enough?

Or are you just breaking them?

How long will a new string last for you?

[mikeomando]

Some bridges are just tight like that on one string. If you have checked for burrs or anything in the bridge notch, try taking a pencil and rubbing some graphite into the notch. Sometimes that will help. Some mandos have a severe angle the string has to make from the endpin to the bridge that make them more likely to break, but a D string usually isn't the problem, I don't think.

[GTison]

(at your own risk) take the broken string and use it like a "cable saw" pull it back and forth on the back side of the bridge a few times to get rid of any pinching places don't try to file into the bridge you could make it too deep and mess it up. the back side because that's where the angle is that may be cutting the string. rub it with pencil lead. Also check your pick. is it nicked or rough? I tend to break more when that happens. If you are playing hard that will do it. I used to break alot of strings. the bridge thing and keeping a smooth pick helped.