I have a Lowden and a Guild, and I use them in DADFAD and 1 semitone below Concert, respectively.

I've had the Lowden since the late 70's, and the Guild 11 years, and both are amazing instruments; re-fretted from time to time, granted, but they have never caused me any undue worry.

The Washburn is a piece of work in itself; I use it solely in DADGAD, and then only with a plectrum; the old Takamines stand for most of the finger-picking in the various tunings.

Playing Trad sets, first in G, then in F, then in A, and back to D, for instance, requires some changing of capo positions. Plus the fact that I use 60, 50, 39, 28, 17, 17, as my strings, I think you can appreciate, perhaps, where I might get the shorter lifetime out of my fret-wire.

I may have to change plectrums (Dunlop .60mm),4-5 times per 45 minute set, as they heat up between the fingers, and get too flexible (they do cool down after a while, mind you, otherwise my expenses would soar).

What I'm trying to say is that I play the poor thing pretty hard, and I know that it isn't a usual set-up I have on the Wash, which may well lead to the 'problems' I'm having.

I change the strings every night, have my own guitar monitor volume almost too loud, but still (from time to time), the dreaded Ds and Gs go, normally when one is getting to the really exciting parts :-)

The way it is with me, now, is that I have heard the 'string breaking' problem from so many Irish musicians, both famous, and not so, that perhaps it is only an occupational hazard, after all.

But always on the lookout for the latest Titanium innovations (or whatever the latest craze is), I just wondered....

Take it easy.

B.