String problems with high action & heavy gauges

[TonVanBergeijk]

I play rhythm guitar (Allan Reuss/McDonough-style) in big bands and combo's. This means high action & heavy gauges. After having a new (extra high) bridge made for my 1935 Epi Super Deluxe I found, that my D- & G-string didn’t last longer than one 60 min. set. Going up in gauge makes the string snap before reaching pitch as the core (usually half size I believe) can’t carry the tension, so I had to go down in gauge. I am now on a .024W for the G and a .032W for the D which just feels too thin in relation to the other strings and therefore doesn’t play comfortably. What is the theory behind string-construction laws, that the core should be half the gauge size (.018 core with .009 winding to a .036W)? Would it be better for rhythm guitar, say for a .038W D-string, to have an .022 core and .008 winding? What are the reasons/pro’s/con’s behind core/winding ratio?
Another problem occurred again after having been in the tropics with a big band during monsoon time. Hot & humid conditions plus accidic sweat makes those strings deteriorate under your fingers. We’ve been playing inside as well as outside (usually unser a covered stage, but twice uncovered with hilarious results). Despite of wiping strings dry vigarously after every set, strings I never break in my home climate (Amsterdam) would snap frequently. Any treble on new strings would disappear completely after 5 minutes (!!) of playing. Or is it just my aggressive sweat? Anyone out there with experience, advice, solutions?

[Steve Hoffman]

I can't help you with your problem (someone here will) but I love Allan Reuss & Dick McDonough style playing. Not many Forum threads with those names mentioned.

Any audio or video examples of your rhythm work? Playing guitar like that is becoming a lost art..

[TonVanBergeijk]

On Youtube there's:
Dutch Swing College Band: YouTube - Dutch Swing College Band - Swing That Music! (solo at 2:14)
Biggles Big Band: YouTube - Floortje Smehuijzen and Biggles BigBand Amsterdam: Quintessence
Ding Dong Daddies: YouTube - Sweet Sue
Probably more. I just love the simple but true art of rhythm guitar.
Enjoy,
Ton

[Steve Hoffman]

Beautiful playing, thanks for the links.

Very nice non-cutaway Deluxe. Great to hear one in action.

Happy you're keeping the tradition alive!

Just thought of something. You could always ask Uli Hoffmeier for his opinion. He is an amazing rhythm player and probably has many thoughts on the matter..

Uli Hoffmeier -Startseite


Steve

[TonVanBergeijk]

Thanks for the kind words. The guitar you see b.t.w. with the DSC and D-D-Daddies is an'43 Emperor. The one you hear with Biggles is the '35 Deluxe. Thanks for pointing out Uli's site; we've met years ago when the paths of the Palast- and the Beau Hunks-boys crossed. I will defintely contact him. In the meantime I've measured several strings of even more brands, and the assumption that the core is half the gauge is a fallacy: some strings in the .030-ies have even got a .014 core, as do almost all strings of the .020-ies! It's the G- & D-strings that are most affected with the problem. We'll be needing a string-manifacturor with some scientific knowledge to get us out of this mess. Thanks for your concern,
TvB

[Steve Hoffman]

Ton,

Who was it years ago who decided to make his own string sets from various brands? Can't remember. An acoustic archtop player. Name escapes me now...

Do you think that vintage strings had this same problem or is it that the newer manufactured strings are just inferior?

I remember that the great Los Angeles Wrecking Crew session guitar player Glen Campbell once told me that he never changed the strings on his archtop. He liked the sound of the dead strings, as did his buddy, bass player Joe Osborn. Of course these guys were dealing with microphone recording quality and not concerned about the sound of playing live.

At any rate, I realize that I have your ragtime CD in my collection and I'm just putting it all together. Forgive my bad memory.

You are one of the best in the World!

[billkath]

Hey Ton-I've got one of your albums-Makin' Whoopee! I Listen to it all the time. I just love it when bands sing as well-it adds so much.

Back to your problem-have you tried stainless steel strings? I ask as they've all but cured my string-snapping (I also changed the nut for a graphtech). Also-I have the same problem You have regarding skin-my strings would go "off" after just a few minutes playing. The Stainless flatwounds have cured that completely ()I also use Stainless on my electric guitars for other types of music-I only have to change those ones every three gigs.

[cosmic gumbo]

If the neck scale is not extra long, I don't see why the strings would break unless the new bridge changes the scale and you need to move it closer to the neck. Is the string angle from the bridge to tailpiece severe? It doesn't make much sense.