GT40Graham Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I was playing a gig on Tuesday night and, never having broken a string in 35 years of bass playing - you know what's coming - I managed to break the E string on my main bass. No problem, I always take 2 basses so no hassle. Guess what? I then managed to break the E string on that bass as well and to make matters worse, this was the first gig where I hadn't taken any spare strings! I finished the gig on a 3 string bass but what a nightmare. Bet I don't forget to pack spare strings ever again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I've never broken a string though a friend of mine would often break strings - he did use a plectrum though and he did "dig in" to it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Nightmare! What strings do you use? I used to have lots of breakages with one manufacturer, when I gave up with them I've never had a breakage in 20+ years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 [quote name='GT40Graham' timestamp='1345890290' post='1782764'] I was playing a gig on Tuesday night and, never having broken a string in 35 years of bass playing - you know what's coming - I managed to break the E string on my main bass. [/quote] I guess thats a real bummer , but my advice would be to change your strings before they to 35 years old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 My advice would be to turn up your backline. I used to break strings all the time, always down to my amp being too quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT40Graham Posted August 25, 2012 Author Share Posted August 25, 2012 Both different brands of strings, Rotosounds and Ernie Ball I think and they weren't 35 years old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 [quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1345890855' post='1782772'] I guess thats a real bummer , but my advice would be to change your strings before they to 35 years old [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 [quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1345890855' post='1782772'] I guess thats a real bummer , but my advice would be to change your strings before they to 35 years old [/quote] Brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 E strings break? That is amazing! Perhaps I should carry spares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 [quote name='GT40Graham' timestamp='1345892617' post='1782797'] Both different brands of strings, Rotosounds and Ernie Ball I think and they weren't 35 years old! [/quote] Not surprised, never had a problem with Ernie Ball but it was Rotosounds that caused me all the trouble. Shame because they sound great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gub Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Used to regularly break roto g strings but never an E ! I use drs these days and always carry 2 spare sets of old strings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I used to break E strings regularly and it was always Rotosounds. No trouble when I changed to Elites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 If I don't change strings within 3 months of putting them on, I will break one. E, had them break. A, them as well. D, not so often but still break. G, snap like a good'n. Give me any make and I'll break them for you. Mind you, I do use a pick and I'm quite heavy handed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyhook Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 I broke a string because i had to uses a plectrum for one song. I was playing close to the bridge with the song having continuous eighth notes.After about 10 gigs, the constant friction/movement on the saddle.......boing! went the string. I still don't know how to use a plectrum correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 When I used to break them a lot it was from finger picking close to the bridge. Similar story I suppose. Sucks when they go, too, because usually just the core breaks and then the floppy string gets stuck to the pickup and interferes with the other strings. Once I had to grab an A string and rip it off the bass in the middle of a tune and got lots of tiny fragments of winding embedded in my fingers. Blood everywhere by the end of the tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 [quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1345910969' post='1783056'] I used to break E strings regularly and it was always Rotosounds. No trouble when I changed to Elites. [/quote] Plus one re: the Rotos. I was always breaking the Es when I played with a plectrum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanbrook Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Mad ! I did the same last weekend, 22 years of playing it was a first time for me too, they where Dingwall and no weren't 22years old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT40Graham Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) I've used Rotosounds ever since I started playing and this was the first one that has broken so I've no issues with them at all. I nearly always use a plectrum so perhaps I was giving it to much welly! Anyway, 3 gigs since then and no further problems, probably because I have a case full of spare strings with me now Edited August 27, 2012 by GT40Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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