Need help

[James Wishart]

Hello all,
I have a strange problem. All of a sudden, my Mullen sd 10 is breaking the third string whenever I use the B pedal. The string is breaking between the turning peg, and the roller! There is nothing there to cause the string to fracture. It makes no sense. As soon as I change a string, it will break the first time I use the B pedal.
The string is tuned correctly, and all the rollers are functioning as they should.
Any ideas?
I have a gig Sunday, and I sure would like to use this guitar. I love it. I have had it for several years, and this has never happened before.
Thank you for any assistance.
Jim

[Jim Pitman]

I have had this happen on a guitar I owned previously. I had mistakenly bought SIT 0.011 gauge string intended for regular guitar. I called them and they pointed out they have a special PSG 0.011 I should have bought and they sent me a dozen for nothing.
Now, I also wrap a lot of string length on the post such that the take off point is beyond the hole in the tuner post. That hole creates an edge that exacerbates the problem.

[Bill McCloskey]

Here is a how to video from Mullen's website on how to wind the 3rd string to prevent breakage: https://youtu.be/zkdbQOwvi8w?si=AS-SIDvmAT_hXR-X

[Donny Hinson]

You need a lot of wraps around the tuning key on that string! I normally use 7 to 9 wraps, and that reduces the risk of breaking, as well as preventing slipping.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Check the cross holes in key shaft for burrs.
Cut the string long enough, To put enough wraps on the key shaft to clear the cross shaft hole. And make final 2 wraps on solid smooth shaft.

If you happen to get a bad batch of strings, With bad metal in strings, Or bad heat treatment. Nothing much will help you. Except get some new strings, Maybe direct from the maker.

[Chris Brooks]

I hope you can sort this out, Jim. As Bobby D Jones says, maybe it was a bad batch of strings.

[James Wishart]

I want to thank everyone for their input. I also want to give a big shoutout to Tommy Cass. He was kind enough to fix me up today. Turns out there was a burr on the tuner, and it was cutting thru the strings.
So be aware, the string windings can sometimes damage the string holes on the tuners.
Of course, as long as I was there, Tommy went thru the guitar. Plus, he gave me some tips on how to maintain it, and all for a very reasonable fee.
Now if I could only get him to move closer to my neighborhood.

[Dave Grafe]

Tommy is a gem