Comments

• Buco NOVA, DCDeity Ivanovski maple/spruce

  December 2014 edited December 2014 Posts: 5,336

  I had it happen with LaBella strings. I went through several sets initially without any winding damage though and then it started happening. So I don't know what changed but I'm not totally convinced it has nothing to do with manufacturing quality control. I emailed the LaBella people and they replied it's common. Ok fine, I ordered a 10 pack through Michael and that was that.
  Had it happen with other brands too by the way.

  Every note wants to go somewhere-Kurt Rosenwinkel
• rgrice Pisgah Forest, NC✭✭✭✭ 1994 Dupont MD 30, 1965 Gretsch Double Anniversary, Eastman AR610, Martin D16GT, Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II Pro

  December 2014 Posts: 477

  Like @Jazzaferri suggests you may be pressing down to hard. I found myself doing just that and have intentionally worked on not doing so. Playing GJ is different. I never wore strings out like that before either and have been playing for over 40 years. What kind of guitar do you play? Set up on Asians, especially Gitanes like I started on, is usually necessary. My frets had never been sufficiently leveled and polished.
• Al Watsky New JerseyVirtuoso

  December 2014 Posts: 440

  The wrap is copper, softer than the fret material , so I suppose if you kept on repeating the same passage with a bend over and over again the wrap would wear.
  Guess its time to change your string ?
  
• AndrewUlle Cleveland, OH✭✭✭ Cigano GJ-15

  December 2014 edited December 2014 Posts: 542

  The silver plated copper must be comparatively soft next to standard roundwound acoustic strings; I know my flat wounds last for years on my electric guitars.
• Matteo Sweden✭✭✭✭ JWC Modele Jazz, Lottonen "Selmer-Maccaferri"

  December 2014 Posts: 393

  Do you remember the original Argentines? The G and D strings wore out in just a couple of days, or maybe just hours. And you even didn't have play the guitar; you could do it just by staring at them and thinking about half-note bends. The New Concept sets are extremely durable in comparison. We are so lucky today!
• AndrewUlle Cleveland, OH✭✭✭ Cigano GJ-15

  December 2014 Posts: 542

  @rgrice: I am playing an Asian Dell Arte DG-H1
• Jazzaferri Victoria B.C.Moderator Dunn Ultrafox, DuPont MDC20 Gretsch Chet Atkins CG

  December 2014 Posts: 3,707

  If you press down fairly hard and bend it will cut through a GJ string pretty fast

  The Magic really starts to happen when you can play it with your eyes closed
• scot Virtuoso

  December 2014 Posts: 694

  Matteo is exactly right, the old Argentines would wear out in a couple of hours. But they really did sound and play great.
  
  Re what jazzaferri suggested about pressure on the strings, I taught myself to press the strings as lightly as possible a long time ago when I played a steel-string guitar in dance bands. This was to keep my left hand from wearing out playing rhythm for 10 or 15 minutes during a long contradance. Today I have my guitars fretted with the widest frets possible, and I use a very light touch with my left hand. I wipe off the strings fairly often, too. I use .011 Argentines and my strings do not wear out - even my G doesn't unravel. I only change them when they won't play in tune any more.
• Buco NOVA, DCDeity Ivanovski maple/spruce

  December 2014 Posts: 5,336

  scot wrote: »

  Today I have my guitars fretted with the widest frets possible, and I use a very light touch with my left hand.

  
  Unrelated to the topic but I'd like to echo this. Wide frets are underestimated, at least on this type of guitar I'll never go back to skinny frets, jumbo only please.

  Every note wants to go somewhere-Kurt Rosenwinkel
• rgrice Pisgah Forest, NC✭✭✭✭ 1994 Dupont MD 30, 1965 Gretsch Double Anniversary, Eastman AR610, Martin D16GT, Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II Pro

  December 2014 Posts: 477

  Agree with all. I had developed a bad habit of choking the neck and pressing down very hard on strings. I still find myself doing it some but consciously work to avoid it. @Andrew Ulle were the frets dressed and leveled and polished well? If you got it right out of the box, it can be hit or miss.