| Author |
Subject |
Slim
Chance kid
Registered User
(4/13/01 12:50:22 am)
Reply |
Hungry
for Metal
My cello seems to rapidly go through
A strings. I don't think it is a nut or bridge thing, since the
strings break midway between the peg and nut. I'm already on my
third string, and I have only had the cello 3-4 months. My music
teacher even broke one! The strings usually break because they
tighten up, becoming hard to turn. Could this be caused by the
cello, or just the strings?
|
Christopher
Chan
Registered
User
(4/13/01 1:53:01 am)
Reply
 |
Re:
Hungry for Metal
A new string should not break like
that. Are you using good quality strings? Instruments can develop a
rough spot at the peg, the nut, or the fine tuner. It's good you
mentioned where the string broke. In your case it sounds like the
winding of the string is too close to the pegbox wall, which may
subject the string to sufficient stress to cause it to snap. Since
you bought your cello recently, you should take it back to where you
got it and tell them to fix it. It should be easy for a competent
luthier to fix.
|
Todd
French 
Moderator
(4/13/01 2:19:49 pm)
Reply
 |
Re:
Hungry for Metal
Well, I added a reply to this
earlier today, but it didn't remain on the board...
It seems
to me that you have a sharp surface on one of three possible
culprits:
1) the nut - this is often a sharp point where the
edge of the nut meets the string. An easy fix with rolled up
sandpaper or a tiny rattail file
2) the bridge - it can
either be a sharp point or be pinching the string
3) the fine
tuner - same as the bridge
Check these three possibilities as
it's really rare to have a cello go through strings just for the
sake of going through them - there should be something causing those
strings to break.
|
Slim
Chance kid
Registered User
(4/14/01 12:33:28 am)
Reply |
Well...
Todd, it is actually one of your
Stringworks cellos. Crescendo, though. I like it except for this
string problem.
One of the strings was a Jargar medium (this was
before I found out that they are weak  ) Right now
I have a super sensitive red label on it. It sounds horrible, but it
is the only string I could find in my local music store. Luckily, it
makes up in strength what it loses in sound. As for the cello, I
think I will take to luthier the next time I am in LA or Burbank.
All of the strings are straight in the pegbox, except for the G. The
G has a pretty bad slant towards the center. Maybe that is a factor.
All of the contact points (bridge, nut, tuner) seem smooth. Thanks
for the help.
|
Todd
French
Moderator
(4/14/01 12:43:16 am)
Reply
|
Re:
Well...
You can probably check and fix these
things yourself if you have the time, so you don't have to wait for
a trip to LA. You don't want to keep putting new A strings on it -
they may be the cheapest of the cello strings, but they are nowhere
near as cheap as violin or viola strings.
Another easy way to
find out which has a sharp edge or is pinching the string is to look
where the strings break. Wherever the strings are breaking, that is
your problem. If you have some very fine sandpaper, you can round
out the nut or bridge if that is the issue. If it is the fine tuner,
stick a standard screwdriver in between the prongs in the fine tuner
arm and spread it just a bit.
|
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