Do you feel butterfly when tuning up the E strings to tune?

**kkmm** · Jan-23-2012, 2:36pm

Each time I have to tune the E strings (new strings) I always feel uneasy and am afraid that the E string will break. I never had this with guitars.
Does anyone have the same feeling ?

**Gene Korte** · Jan-23-2012, 2:45pm

Only every time.

Strung up last week. After putting on proper eye protection, just let 'er rip (no breaks BTW).

**JeffD** · Jan-23-2012, 2:48pm

Yes, every time, both the e and the a.

But regarding real safety concerns, I never change my strings without wearing glasses. Now the actual risk of a string breaking and hitting you in the eye is small (non zero but small), but the bigger risk is being poked by the uncut end of the string, because when pointing right at you, it is virtually invisible. OUCH!

**terzinator** · Jan-23-2012, 3:04pm

ok, i've never thought about any of this before but now you guys have me totally freaked out

**RRTT** · Jan-23-2012, 3:04pm

Yes, but not quite as bad as when tuning the high G string on a 12-string guitar

**KennyE** · Jan-23-2012, 3:09pm

Yeah .... this one made me cringe.

**OldSausage** · Jan-23-2012, 3:13pm

Yes. But I don't wear eye protection, because when it breaks, it doesn't go in your eye. I know, I know, but really it doesn't. Now someone with only one eye will tell me I'm wrong.

**Markus** · Jan-23-2012, 3:27pm

To disagree with this thread seems like tempting fate, else I might.

Instead, I'll just knock on wood and move on.

**Ed Goist** · Jan-23-2012, 3:27pm

I think one thing that effectively ameliorates 'the dread of the pending e-string break' as one tunes a new string is to bring that string to pitch very slowly.

That characteristic rapid increase in pitch as one tightens an e-string really makes it sound like it's about to snap IMO.

**Brent Hutto** · Jan-23-2012, 3:31pm

Yeah, I go ahead and snap off the first three or four right quick-like. Then I can relax a little as I sneak up on one about 3 cents at a time so it doesn't break. I usually buy three sets of strings at a time along with a dozen spare E-strings.

**timv** · Jan-23-2012, 3:39pm

I don't sweat it too badly anymore when putting on new strings. It's when I've slacked the strings to wiggle the bridge over a little bit or whatever and have to bring them up to pitch a 2nd or 3rd time that I start feeling bad vibes. But I also come up in steps starting around FCGD when time permits, which is usually.

And I didn't used to wear eye protection when I was younger, but I have my reading glasses on now. Otherwise I can't see the little hole in the tuner shaft well enough to put the string through it.

**Kip Carter** · Jan-23-2012, 3:49pm

Originally Posted by OldSausage

Yes. But I don't wear eye protection, because when it breaks, it doesn't go in your eye. I know, I know, but really it doesn't. Now someone with only one eye will tell me I'm wrong.

Let me introduce you to Wankle the one eye'd mandolin maestro.

I wear safety glass anyhow so... got it covered for the e string or the wrath of .... okay lets not go there!
Kip...

**Treblemaker** · Jan-23-2012, 3:55pm

Never do I ever worry over this.
I have changed the strings on my mandolin literally hundreds of times.
I always use the lock tie to keep my instrument in tune and it has kept me from breaking strings for years:
http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician...dostring3.html

I have Waverly Tuners and a carbon fiber insert in my non-truss rod Lawrence Smart Mandolin.

Definitely learn the lock tie - it's the Key thing to avoid any anxiety.

Treblemaker

**kkmm** · Jan-23-2012, 4:00pm

I am not alone on this E string breaks. Had to buy a set of 10 or 11 gauges strings as spare on top of 2 or 3 mandolin string sets.
Last week, I had both E string broken just a few min apart on my Ovation. Lucky me that the set of spare strings have ball-end.
I have to wear eye glasses because I am near sighted, and always hold the mandolin as if I am playing it when tuning the strings.

**kkmm** · Jan-23-2012, 4:03pm

I always use the lock tie to keep my instrument in tune

What is exactly the lock tie about ?
The link provided (FRETS.com) shows how to change strings, but does not tell anything about lock tie.
It would be nice to have some small clip on device that keep the mandolin always in tune (I heard there is something for guitar already).

**Kip Carter** · Jan-23-2012, 4:07pm

The 'lock tie' is the ... around the pole.... under the feed to the nut... over the feed to the nut... so that the string locks reducing the need for massive winds on the tuner pole.
Kip...

**Clement Barrera-Ng** · Jan-23-2012, 4:10pm

It is particularly nerve-wrecking for me when using EXP75 or J75, with that extra heavy high E. On one of my old mando, it broke almost every single time, to the point where I had to step down to a 0.11 just to be able to bring it up to tune.

**Treblemaker** · Jan-23-2012, 4:11pm

You can see the lock tie in the link I provided (from Frank Ford's Frets.com).
If you do exactly what it shows here you should have no fears, unless your tuners suck.

http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician...dostring3.html

**Justus True Waldron** · Jan-23-2012, 4:14pm

2 years ago or so I snapped an e tuning up a brand new elixer set... hadn't even reached the pitch yet. Freaked me out (and yes I still cringe a bit) but I haven't ever had that since. Actually, Haven't broken a string in probably just as long... used to break one a month or so

**kkmm** · Jan-23-2012, 4:19pm

I see, "lock tie" is the method to put the string on the post. I have followed this FRETS.COM technique since I start mandolins 1.5 years ago. I never knew about it playing guitars for decades and therefore my stringing look terrible at the posts. Now they look as good as the photos shown at that site.

**Ed Goist** · Jan-23-2012, 4:21pm

Oh, one thing to add...
I haven't broken any strings while re-stringing since I started drawing a line of pencil graphite in the nut slots before installing the new strings. (sound of Ed knocking on wood)

**Paul Kotapish** · Jan-23-2012, 4:29pm

I'm always very conscious about changing the unwound strings on both mandolin and guitar.

And I hate to mention it, but the fear of injury during a string change is not without foundation.

Pat Enright of Nashville Bluegrass Band fame lost his eye when a string popped:

http://www.nashvillebluegrassband.net/patenright.html

I have used Frank's method for decades, too, but I still wear glasses or keep my face away from the strings when bringing them up to tension for the first time. Never had one hit me in the face, but did have one dig itself into the back of my hand about a half inch or so. More creepy than painful, but painful nonetheless.

Be careful out there!

**Mike Snyder** · Jan-23-2012, 4:46pm

Honestly, I thought string breakage was only an issue on instuments of lesser quality or poorly set up. I must be mistaken. I haven't had a string break for probably 15 years. EXP 75s sometimes and Elixer med most times. A correctly slotted nut (I believe)
is the one most critical and most overlooked item that causes problems. I just crank 'em up, don't worry. Lucky, I guess.

**Keith Witty** · Jan-23-2012, 4:49pm

Yes. I've broken two in my life. Most frustrating feeling in the world.

**Randi Gormley** · Jan-23-2012, 4:54pm

I had an A string pop when I was tuning it during a workshop, but I haven't had an E string break in years. That being said, I hold my hand over the string about eye height when I'm tuning new E AND A strings up to pitch, just for peace of mind.

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