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Thread: the mysterious slipping string

  1. #1
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    Default the mysterious slipping string

    A guitarist friend complained that his .012" high E was occasionally and unpredictably dropping in pitch. I checked the tuner capstan and gears, and the ball-end tailpiece attachment - nothing there. I played it hard for awhile, and finally on re-tuning I caught it in the act. I viewed the tailpiece under magnification, and saw that the string had been unwrapping itself through all the twists and around the ball. First time for me!Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Orrig Onion HonketyHank's Avatar
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    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    I've had it happen a few times on loop-end mandolin E strings. It's funny that even though it has happened before, I still don't figure it out until much later.
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  3. #3
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    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    Caught in the act. Nicely done, John!
    - Ed

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  4. #4
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    Happened to me once before; the more I tightened the string the lower the tone went until it gracefully slipped off

  5. #5
    Registered User Dave Fultz's Avatar
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    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    Wow. I’ve never had them unwind like that but I have had the string break at the ball.

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  6. #6
    Registered User Jim DeSalvio's Avatar
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    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    This one is new to me, but thanks for posting. Might help solve a mystery some day!!
    Jim D

  7. #7
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    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    It’s a testament to the reliability and consistency of our string choices that failures like this can be tough to figure out and are considered interesting news when it happens. I’ve had this happen a couple of times, but on older strings that needed changing anyway. I can also only remember 2 or 3 times that I’ve ever had a new string break when tuning up. Never the high E string, and 2 of them were operator error; I was in a hurry and turning the wrong tuner ;(
    Chuck

  8. #8
    Registered User G7MOF's Avatar
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    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    This happened to me quite a while ago. I looked at it as you did and put it down to the fact that every turn of the tuner one way unwound the loop end the other.
    Cotton is the same when used on a sewing machine depending on which way the bobbin turns can unwind the twist on the cotton.
    I never fail at anything, I just succeed at doing things that never work....


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  9. #9

    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    It is common. So common, in fact, that touring techs will apply a bit of solder to the winding and clean each string with alcohol when changing strings before a show.
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  10. #10
    Registered User Bob Buckingham's Avatar
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    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    I've had that happen with D'Addario strings on mandolin, banjo, and fiddle. Equipment maintenance in the manufacturing process is essential to good quality strings. It is an occasional beef with that brand.

  11. #11

    Default Re: the mysterious slipping string

    ive experienced this as well as floyd rose setups where u do not use the ball ..if the string is not perfect it will slip out .. also when i restring the mandolin i gently close the loops a bit with small pliers .. this reduces the initial string stretch allot as most of it is the loops pulling tight ( i can usually stretch in fresh strings in 20-30 min )

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