When Strings Go Bad:

[WavMixer]

If you like Ernie Balls, look into their new Paradigms. Expensive at about $15 a set. But the construction at the ball ends is over the top. They're suppose to be the most durable strings on the market. Ernie Ball Strings has a series of demo ads for their Paradigms that are amusing. My favorite is with Paul Gilbert:

I've had this happen twice recently... breakage at the post. But this was due to setting up a couple guitars. A lot of tuning to pitch and then releasing tension for nut work and intonation adjustments. Otherwise, it has been many years since I broke a string by bending. And when it did break, it was usually at the bridge saddles.

Gotta love those F hole stickers!

 

[Tony M.]

Paul Gilbert makes the best faces ever.

 

[smitty_p]

"When Strings Go Bad" sounds like a cool title for good thriller short film

I'm thinking an old-school, black and white, film-noir sort of thing.

I think a Bela Lugosi sort of character would be a good leading role.

 

[Session 5]

I been killing strings lately, but I am playing longer and more aggressively too..

Rob I don't understand why you have so many strings breaking? I am an aggressive player, and I have no problems so far. I haven't had a string break yet going on four years. I practice 2 hrs every day and the odd time 3 plus do the occasional gig. Now I will probably jinx myself lol. I change my strings every 3 months which is when I notice they start getting dull. I use D'Addarios 10-46s and I do lots of bends. No breaks.

 

[Inspector #20]

Rob I don't understand why you have so many strings breaking? I am an aggressive player, and I have no problems so far. I haven't had a string break yet going on four years. I practice 2 hrs every day and the odd time 3 plus do the occasional gig. Now I will probably jinx myself lol. I change my strings every 3 months which is when I notice they start getting dull. I use D'Addarios 10-46s and I do lots of bends. No breaks.

Step and a half bends in some songs

 

[jtcnj]

I rarely break them, and do a lot of bends.
I really cant hear the difference over time or the dullness you guys describe.
Maybe i just dont notice the slow change, or notice the new set sounding brighter, beats me.

I roll the knobs a lot, so maybe I just EQ toward what I am after and dont notice what has changed.
From day to day sometimes the same rig sounds better or not as good to me as well.

A few years back, before I started playing, I started having an issue with ear wax build up; just a factor of getting older for some folks, so the Dr. told me.
I regularly use either an ear wax solution or hydrogen peroxide and then warm water rinse with a bulb syringe to clear it.
It helps my tinnitus some, maybe its just my hearing.

Apologies if TMI.
It bugs me I cant identify what you guys so clearly and commonly do.