Guitar string crackling noise?

Breaking in strings doesn't cause them to not snap.

Now that's out of the way, you have to realize that strings take some time to stretch and the best way to do that really is to just play it like you would and keep tuning all the time until the string reaches its stable point. While playing the guitar in this state, you will hear the strings crackle and pop and thats just the string stretching and getting into shape. There will be times that a string would actually snap and break, but it only means that you got a bad string and is not your fault (unless you strung it incorrectly, then it's your fault).

You can force to break in your strings but only do them in a pinch as it isn't exactly good for your guitar or your strings. I would literally pull the strings away from the body and stretch it. Don't ask me by how much, you'd feel the right amount of pull. But again, this isn't how you should break in your strings. Only do this in case you need to restring in an emergency and would have to perform right away, which is right before or in the middle of a gig. If it's not an emergency, then play and tune.

You have some good answers about the noises you ask about.

Stretching strings is very important especially the plain strings or else the take ages to stay in tune.

If the strings haven't been stretched, it will take some time for them to stay in tune but strings don't need "breaking in" in any way. Players with plenty of money to afford their own guitar tech will often have new strings fitted before each gig. Some people prefer old strings but, for me (and lots ofother people) the newer the better.

There are several reasons for a string snapping: it may be just, "one of those things" - I've had new strings snap occasionally for no obvious reason; the string is at too high a tension (that usually happens when beginners tune thier guitar - I went through loads of high Es!); there is a sharp edge somewhere on the tailpiece, bridge, nut, tuner etc. which cuts through the string; the string is old. Strings certainly shouldn't "snap right away" and there is something wrong if they do.

There are several potential reasons your strings are "crackling." As Russell described, they may be settling in where they wind around the tuning post. They also may be binding in the slots where they pass over the "nut". This is more likely if you went to a heavier gauge of string. It could also be caused by cheap or broken tuning gears slipping.

To minimize sticking in the nut slots, you can use graphite....in the form of pencil lead...as a lubricant. Just loosen the strings and rub the slots with the tip of a pencil. If you've gone to heavier strings than the guitar came with, (like for drop tunings) you may need to widen the slots.

All new strings need a little stretching. This is partly due to them settling in place on the tuning post, and partly the molecular structure of the string. You can speed up the natural stretching by grasping the strings someplace near the base of the neck and gently pulling them up and down. The other thing you can do to reduce break-in time is to use fewer winds around the tuning post. If you aren't already using the "locking" method of attaching your strings, please try it out. This is where you bend the excess so that the string tightens on it. Using this method, you can get away with as few as 1.5 winds....and fewer winds means less settling in of the string. Also be sure to make the winds neat. If you have a dozen winds, all crossing each other, you're asking for trouble. The locking method is difficult to describe, so here's a video:

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/repair/acoustic...

what you are hearing is the sound of the strings tightening the wrap around the posts.

How you stretch the strings is to take each string and tug up around the sound hole or pickups, until you hit the tightness and then tug up just a tad more...then re-tune and repeat the process 3-4 times...until when you tug up, the tuning stays stable or just a tad flat...then play as normal...in a week or two, they will be broken in and reach ultimate stability.

I never changed strings unless I had a week between gigs when I was performing, cuz I only used one guitar for over 20 years...So I need that puppy dialed in.....

Someone or you have changed the slide that raises the strings. You can tighten or loosen the height of the slide with a screw if your guitar has two nails near the slide.

Yes. Play them.