How many tones can you bend up or down to without breaking a string? :guitar
Good question. I never bend on acoustic. Just doesn't fit what I play.
On electric can get into some deep bends. Especially if the guitar has a Floyd Rose. Breaks seem to depend on the strings. When I used daddario I basically bought an extra couple E strings for every set. With DR or Everly B52 they rarely ever break,even on those step and a half bends.
Quote from: B0WIE on December 03, 2023, 01:08:57 AMGood question. I never bend on acoustic. Just doesn't fit what I play.
On electric can get into some deep bends. Especially if the guitar has a Floyd Rose. Breaks seem to depend on the strings. When I used daddario I basically bought an extra couple E strings for every set. With DR or Everly B52 they rarely ever break,even on those step and a half bends.
I can't remember the last time I broke a string but I think was while using a string winder on my electric12 string. I have been playing out with a trio and using my LT-1 a lot. That little beast begs to be bent.
I do monster bends on acoustic (with medium strings). I play it like it's an electric. And I never break strings.
Only time I broke a string in many, many years was when someone was teaching me a bunch of songs in different tunings, and after all the tuning changes I finally blew out the e string. It was annoying yet also a bit exciting! POW!!! :bgrin:
I bend acoustic strings too. Either way, I think it is generally the pick angle of attack that causes the breakage and not the bending per se.
Sometimes a bad nut will also contribute, so I've heard.
Quote from: StringPicker6 on December 03, 2023, 06:17:47 PMSometimes a bad nut will also contribute, so I've heard.
Especially, if the bad nut is holding the pick! :laughin:
I had a friend, unfortunately departed, who would purposely break strings and then make changing the string on the fly part of his act. He was really good at it.
My strings only break at the nut or saddle. Which makes sense as those are the sharpest points of pressure. I always make extra sure that my E and B contact points are super smooth as the tiniest imperfections can cause repeated breakage.
Quote from: B0WIE on December 03, 2023, 06:45:33 PMMy strings only break at the nut or saddle. Which makes sense as those are the sharpest points of pressure. I always make extra sure that my E and B contact points are super smooth as the tiniest imperfections can cause repeated breakage.
Unless they are really old and worn, I doubt they ever break anywhere else. My friend would do a big bend and then come down on the string with the edge of his pick and the string would snap at the saddle, I believe. Could be wrong. He was a bear of a man (his nickname in fact) and could do it at will. Strings were cheap back then, I suppose.
I bend bass strings,12 string,acoustic and electric guitar string banjo and mando strings now and again.
keep smilin and keep dancin :nanadance
Quote from: unclrob on December 03, 2023, 09:40:37 PMI bend bass strings,12 string,acoustic and electric guitar string banjo and mando strings now and again.
keep smilin and keep dancin :nanadance
:thumb
I bend acoustics but not violently or to extreme. Generally no more that 2 half tones. I don't break strings in the process either, but I don't use picks.
Old blues tunes require some bends and not only on the 1st string.
Bending adds a little spice to the mix.
Quote from: Queequeg on December 04, 2023, 05:15:59 AMI bend acoustics but not violently or to extreme. Generally no more that 2 half tones. I don't break strings in the process either, but I don't use picks.
Old blues tunes require some bends and not only on the 1st string.
Bending adds a little spice to the mix.
If you're not bending, you're not trying! :guitar
I don't see how anyone could play guitar and NOT bend? Man, it's at the heart of how I play guitar. That and harmonics, which I admittedly overuse.
Quote from: Silence Dogood on December 04, 2023, 11:40:50 AMI don't see how anyone could play guitar and NOT bend? Man, it's at the heart of how I play guitar. That and harmonics, which I admittedly overuse.
Although bending and not quite getting the right pitch can be a problem, I couldn't agree more! :cheers
It seems to me that it would be a very limited repertoire that didn't call for at least an occasional bending of a string or two once and a while. On the other hand, I haven't been ON a bender in many, many years. :beer
Quote from: Riverbend on December 04, 2023, 03:22:03 PMIt seems to me that it would be a very limited repertoire that didn't call for at least an occasional bending of a string or two once and a while. On the other hand, I haven't been ON a bender in many, many years. :beer
I play a wide variety of things from classical to folk to rock and I can't think of a song I've play on acoustic in the last few years that used bends. I'm actually curious what songs people are playing that use all these bends on acoustic. Blues makes complete sense, as do solos.
I play lots of rock and roll, and that means bends.
Quote from: B0WIE on December 04, 2023, 04:49:29 PMI play a wide variety of things from classical to folk to rock and I can't think of a song I've play on acoustic in the last few years that used bends. I'm actually curious what songs people are playing that use all these bends on acoustic. Blues makes complete sense, as do solos.
Mind you I said
occasional. One that comes immediately to mind is the intro to The Weight. And it is mostly solos, be those acoustic or electric. I haven't played my electrics in about as long as I haven't been on a bender. And as you mentioned, the blues are ripe for the bends.
When I think of bends I mostly think the blues (which I'm addicted to!)
Quote from: StringPicker6 on December 04, 2023, 06:24:40 PMWhen I think of bends I mostly think the blues (which I'm addicted to!)
The blues had a baby and they named it rock'n'roll! :nana_guitar
Quote from: Silence Dogood on December 04, 2023, 11:40:50 AMI don't see how anyone could play guitar and NOT bend? Man, it's at the heart of how I play guitar. That and harmonics, which I admittedly overuse.
Me too. I use lots of harmonics and wonder if I'm dong too much of a good thing.
Quote from: B0WIE on December 04, 2023, 04:49:29 PMI play a wide variety of things from classical to folk to rock and I can't think of a song I've play on acoustic in the last few years that used bends. I'm actually curious what songs people are playing that use all these bends on acoustic. Blues makes complete sense, as do solos.
I play an instrumental version of
Desperado. (Don't judge me, Eagles haters!)
Forgive this Monday night slap/dash recording. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I4Moqe2lz4c91z5IE71JTHcYKLYhp_JI/view?usp=sharing)
I bend the D at the 3rd fret on the 2nd string a half step to a D# throughout the tune.
To me it just sounds better than simply going directly to the D#.
Quote from: Queequeg on December 04, 2023, 08:15:37 PMMe too. I use lots of harmonics and wonder if I'm dong too much of a good thing.
I play an instrumental version of Desperado. (Don't judge me, Eagles haters!)
Forgive this Monday night slap/dash recording. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I4Moqe2lz4c91z5IE71JTHcYKLYhp_JI/view?usp=sharing)
I bend the D at the 3rd fret on the 2nd string a half step to a D# throughout the tune.
To me it just sounds better than simply going directly to the D#.
We'd love to hear it!
Quote from: Queequeg on December 04, 2023, 08:15:37 PMI play an instrumental version of Desperado.
I bend the D at the 3rd fret on the 2nd string a half step to a D# throughout the tune.
To me it just sounds better than simply going directly to the D#.
It is good. I like it.
Well decorated Larrivee. is it an -05 or -09?
Mike
Quote from: Queequeg on December 04, 2023, 09:14:54 PMIt's linked in the post above.
Doh. :doh
Very nice. Slides, hammers, pulls and bends! When I found out about that stuff, I was hooked.
Quote from: Queequeg on December 04, 2023, 08:15:37 PMMe too. I use lots of harmonics and wonder if I'm dong too much of a good thing.
I play an instrumental version of Desperado. (Don't judge me, Eagles haters!)
Forgive this Monday night slap/dash recording. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I4Moqe2lz4c91z5IE71JTHcYKLYhp_JI/view?usp=sharing)
I bend the D at the 3rd fret on the 2nd string a half step to a D# throughout the tune.
To me it just sounds better than simply going directly to the D#.
Some fine playing there! (You don't look anything like how I pictured you though.) I'd also love to hear about (and see in detail) the interesting graphics on your guitar.
Quote from: Silence Dogood on December 04, 2023, 11:31:00 PMSome fine playing there! (You don't look anything like how I pictured you though.) I'd also love to hear about (and see in detail) the interesting graphics on your guitar.
I'm shocked at how young we all look! :laughin:
Quote from: mike in lytle on December 04, 2023, 09:26:30 PMIt is good. I like it.
Well decorated Larrivee. is it an -05 or -09?
Mike
This is an L-09 I bought new in 2009. Has a lovely quilted sapele back.
(http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/91835661ce1910953ef3a4285c56f8a400e884e.JPG)
Quote from: ducktrapper on December 04, 2023, 11:47:44 PMI'm shocked at how young we all look! :laughin:
haha
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/p9MAAOSweHhkGsHu/s-l1200.webp)
Quote from: Silence Dogood on December 04, 2023, 11:31:00 PMSome fine playing there! (You don't look anything like how I pictured you though.) I'd also love to hear about (and see in detail) the interesting graphics on your guitar.
I shipped it to Peter Cree in Philadelphia who specializes in painting guitars. Peter used to post here fairly regularly and he documented the process here on the forum.
Anyway, I told him that I wanted a Celtic theme on it and left the rest up to him. These images are from the ancient
Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript and Celtic Gospel book in Latin at Trinity College in Dublin, founded in 1592.
Here's the link with images he posted detailing the work through the winter of 2012.
http://www.larriveeforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=39233.0
Thanks guys.
Nice playing and nice guitar! :nice guitar: Desperado is a great song, and one I play on my Larrivee mandolins, upon which I do not bend!
Wow, that's a really cool design.
Great playing, and I am STUNNED by how the artwork turned out on your Larrivee! I found Peter Cree's website and his artwork on guitars is amazing. That must have taken a lot of courage to decide to add that artwork to your guitar, but it is beautiful! I'm very impressed.