Third String Blues

[fibrebundle]

Hi,
Does anyone here have their third string suddenly going dead? I am experiencing this problem
on my tricone suddenly. I put a new set of John Pearse Phosphor Bronze strings on my tricone (0.03-0.056), they sounded great for a while (including the third string), and this lasted for a couple of days, and then suddenly the third string started losing its tone quite quickly. I thought it must be an isolated bad third string. I replaced it with a spare GHS third string (brand new, same gauge, different compant), it sounded great for a day, then started losing tone quickly once again. Has anyone experienced this? The other strings retain their brilliance.
This did not happen earlier with John Pearse and Newtones, but did happen with D'addarios. That is why I had shifted from D'Addarios to using Newtones and John Pearse. I do not have Newtones in stock, and will not have them in stock for quite a while, so I cannot compare with them. But John Pearse have behaved quite well before, on this very instrument. Could it be a bad replacement third string as well, and do I try more replacements, or could there be some problem with the instrument, say at the nut or the saddle?
Thanks.

[Deleted]

Hi
HI

You could try buying strings from another retailer, in case you have got a duff batch. But it seems to me that it might well be the guitar. Does the string look damaged when you remove it?

I'd be inclined to take it to a guitar person who knows about these strange machines and get them to have a look at it.

Best of luck with it.

[fibrebundle]

Thanks, Barry. I hope its not the guitar! I did not have this problem with the previous set which was on the tricone, which was also John Pearse. I DID have a problem with d'addarios before that.

[blueshome]

Have you tried loosening the string and bringing it back up to pitch? It doesn't sound like the string or the guitar, it's likely to be related to the nut or saddle, I'd start by checking these out - does a slightly lighter or heavier string go dead?

[fibrebundle]

Jul 8, 2009 8:26:40 GMT blueshome said:

Have you tried loosening the string and bringing it back up to pitch? It doesn't sound like the string or the guitar, it's likely to be related to the nut or saddle, I'd start by checking these out - does a slightly lighter or heavier string go dead?

Well, the other strings in the set do not go dead. I haven't checked to see if a lighter or heavier third string goes dead, because I only work with 0.013-0.056 sets. I did try something else, though. I took a 'dead' third string, and used it to 'floss' the saddle and nut slots for the third string, to clean things up a little. Then, I have put on a third string belonging to an old set, which I had recently replaced with new strings. Fortunately, I had kept the old strings for some future saddle and nut work (to assist in filing a new saddle and nut). This old third string had not gone dead after a month, and it is ringing quite clear right now. If it does go dead after a day or so, I WILL suspect some problem with the saddle or nut slots, or maybe even the tuners.

[robn]

I have a suspicion that this is very straightforward and it is not a problem with your guitar.

Do you use metal fingerpicks?

I have often seen players tempering the third string when using metal fingerpicks. When you take the dead third string off your guitar have a look at it. If the section where you pick is stiff, then this is your problem. Switch to plastic picks.

I had this issue in the past myself and switched to plastic picks which solved the problem. I don't know why some of us have this problem and other players don't It is a real pain as metal picks are just easier to use.

I bought a set of propik nickel fingerpicks at a music festival last weekend as I fancied trying metal picks again after years of just using plastic. I put them on, tried them for 10 mins (very comfortable and fast!) and immediately was then on stage in the marquee to play a short 4 number set on dobro with my band. When I came off stage I noticed that my third string was dead With plastic picks I get months of playing out of a string set. With metal picks I get 4 songs !!!!!!!! So it's back to plastic picks for me

Robin

[fibrebundle]

Jul 8, 2009 9:07:16 GMT robn said:

I have a suspicion that this is very straightforward and it is not a problem with your guitar.

Do you use metal fingerpicks?

I have often seen players tempering the third string when using metal fingerpicks. When you take the dead third string off your guitar have a look at it. If the section where you pick is stiff, then this is your problem. Switch to plastic picks.

I had this issue in the past myself and switched to plastic picks which solved the problem. I don't know why some of us have this problem and other players don't It is a real pain as metal picks are just easier to use.

I bought a set of propik nickel fingerpicks at a music festival last weekend as I fancied trying metal picks again after years of just using plastic. I put them on, tried them for 10 mins (very comfortable and fast!) and immediately was then on stage in the marquee to play a short 4 number set on dobro with my band. When I came off stage I noticed that my third string was dead With plastic picks I get months of playing out of a string set. With metal picks I get 4 songs !!!!!!!! So it's back to plastic picks for me

Robin

Thanks, Robin. As a matter of fact, I DO use metal fingerpicks , but not the heavy ones. I instead use 'Propik Fingertones' (the ones with a scooped out section, which allows the flesh of the fingers to touch the strings). Also, I have been recently trying to work out 'CrossRoads Blues', which can sometimes involve hard, percussive playing. So, maybe I am hitting the strings too hard, that too with metal picks. But, why just the THIRD string?

[robn]

I had the same problem with fingertones as with other metal finger picks.

Why just the third string? Well, your finger picks do not effect the two plain strings and rarely venture above the 3rd. So it is the windings on the 3rd that take the hammering. And certain songs use the thrid string more than others.

I tried a couple of solutions before switching to metal picks (using a nickel wound third and using a plain 3rd) both of which changed the tone of the guitar too much to be acceptable.

Plastic picks are harder to get the hang of playing but the tone is excellent (particularly the large size white Dunlop). I'd like to use metal picks on my dobro simply because getting the speed needed is a little easier - but I suppose I'll just have to accelerate my playing with plastic picks

Robin

[Gerry C]

I'm with Robin on this. I often had a dead 3rd in the days when I used metal fingerpicks. I gave plastic picks a try after attending one of Michael's Pocklington workshops and found them tricky to get used to but I persisted and found (a) the tone and general overall sound improves - no more of that annoying 'ping' on the B and E which you don't notice until you stop using metals; and (b) no more dead 3rds! These days I'm tending to use plastic picks all the time and have largely ditched my acrylic nails: picks are a darn sight cheaper, but then I don't get to drink coffee and have my hands fondled by attractive young ladies any more...

Cheerily,

Gerry C

[fibrebundle]

Thanks a lot, Robin and Jerry.
Robin, if I use Nickel wound strings (such as the nickel MM Newtones, or Martin Bluesgrass, which I have recently started using on the single cone), will the third string last longer, even if I use metal fingerpicks?

[Deleted]

I use metal picks on the dobro and the third is always the first to go, although I’ve never had one drop off as quick as you have. For the third to last longer your picking accuracy needs to be flawless. I'm not there yet, but i look at some of the US pros using metal and their picking is so smooth and perfect it's hard to tell what they've got on. Plastic being softer won't have much effect either way so the string will last longer. Personally i like plastic on tricones, but prefer metal on dobro.

One thing I will mention is that I’ve been using the Bob Perry cobalt plated picks recently and they do reduce string noise and are incredibly smooth

[fibrebundle]

I think I have been whacking the third fairly hard recently. Trying to generate percussive, loud sounds. Maybe getting carried away.... Anyway, I cannot go for plastic picks. I have to import strings, picks,.. just about everything related to guitars, and importing can be quite a strain, on your pocket (after duty, shipping, currency exchange) and on your mind (harassing custom officials!). So, I try and keep perishables to a minimum. That rules out plastic fingerpicks. I will need to keep replenishing too many things! So, I try to stick to metal fingerpicks. They are not indestructible, but last very, very long. Also, the 'scooped out' Propiks produce very little noise.

[Deleted]

Where are you based out of interest?

Ben

[steverino]

Problems with wound third strings were recently discussed on this thread:

michaelmesser.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talkingblues&action=display&thread=2285&page=3

The windings on a third string are very delicate and easily damaged, especially with metal fingerpicks. Problem is, many of us like metal fingerpicks! As discussed on the other thread, a plain wire third string can be a nice solution.

[fibrebundle]

Jul 8, 2009 17:39:54 GMT @benspinks said:

Where are you based out of interest?

Ben

Hi, Ben. I am based in India.