leschirons Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Went to see a mate's band last night. Four piece that included two full time musicians. The guitarist (one of the two) breaks a top E. Finishes the number and announces a 5 min break as it's his only guitar. Second guitarist starts a number that he will sing to keep things going whilst the other searches his case, accessories bag, his jacket, other guitarist's case, bag of bits, his jacket, the bass player's case and bag only to find, there are no spare E strings. Finished the evening on a borrowed guitar. Nothing like being prepared is there?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyquipment Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I broke a G the other day. Just tuned a B up. Cos I’m ard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Personally I don't think there is any excuse for a guitarist not to have at least one spare set of strings. Likewise for a bassist but at least his chances of breaking one is a lot less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I've got spare double bass strings in my bag, I've never tried changing one myself so it would probably be more entertaining that my playing watching me try on stage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 What guitar was he playing? I watched a youtube vid last night where a guy claimed it was virtually impossible to break a string on a Telecaster. Maybe your guy saw the same vid and actually believed that nonsense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 (edited) You have to understand that guitarists are fickle, whimsical narcissists who live in a parallel universe in which nothing ever goes wrong and everyone loves them all the time and can't wait for the next 10-minute guitar solo. Whereas bass players are realistic, grounded, well-adjusted people who think ahead and make provision for gigs knowing that if something can go awry it probably will and know full well that it's best to be prepared. Some bass players carry two headstock tuners, for Christ's sake! Edited December 3, 2017 by discreet 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I always put the set of strings I've just taken off in the bag as spares to use in an emergency. In order to cover either bass, I'm currently carrying sets of rounds and flats. I have never broken a bass string in my life but I still do this. . . . just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 28 minutes ago, discreet said: Some bass players carry two headstock tuners, for Christ's sake! I could have done with one of those on my first recording session. The D string tuner broke. The button came off and we had to tune the bass up with a 12 inch long Stilson type pipe wrench the drummer had in the boot of his car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 1 minute ago, chris_b said: ...we had to tune the bass up with a 12 inch long Stilson type pipe wrench the drummer had in the boot of his car! Now that's commitment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mep Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I too carry my old set of strings in case of a breakage. If I have bought some new strings in bulk there will be a set in my gig bag too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 (edited) 11 minutes ago, chris_b said: I always put the set of strings I've just taken off in the bag as spares to use in an emergency. 3 minutes ago, mep said: I too carry my old set of strings in case of a breakage Me too, despite never breaking a string in 40 years of gigging. But it might happen one day! Edited December 3, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted December 3, 2017 Author Share Posted December 3, 2017 50 minutes ago, Cato said: What guitar was he playing? I watched a youtube vid last night where a guy claimed it was virtually impossible to break a string on a Telecaster. Maybe your guy saw the same vid and actually believed that nonsense. A Strat. 83 USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 4 minutes ago, leschirons said: A Strat. 83 USA. If it wasn't one of those magic teles he has no excuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I did my good deed for the decade a few years ago when I was play a venue with a couple of other bands. The headline act were on and the bass player broke an E string. Realising he hadn't a spare I lent him my bass and used one of my spares to re-string his so no real gap in procedings. He was most grateful and a top bloke as it turned out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 11 minutes ago, discreet said: Now that's commitment. He carried a spare tool kit in his car, just in case! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 3 hours ago, Cato said: What guitar was he playing? I watched a youtube vid last night where a guy claimed it was virtually impossible to break a string on a Telecaster. Maybe your guy saw the same vid and actually believed that nonsense. Holy snit, he should come to one of our gigs, usually one, sometimes two broken strings on my guitarists telecaster. He doesn't even play lead, no massive bends or anything, he's just a heavy handed rhythm player! I bought Graphtech saddles for him years ago, made not a jot of difference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 It's rare for me to do a guitar gig without a spare guitar, even though I have never broken an electric guitar string on a gig in nearly 40 years of playing. I also carry spare strings, so if one does ever go, I can swap guitars and then replace the broken string in the next break. Simples (meep). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petebassist Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 In answer to the question, I'd say an unprofessional one. I always carry spare double bass strings for my acoustic upright plus an electric bass as emergency backup. Strings do break, and you look a right prat if you don't have a spare. I've seen a bass player with brand new strings on a rickie 4005, and a string broke second song into the set. 5 mins later the spare was on & they continued the set. Bonza! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Guitards - pah ! Never be caught picking strings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Takes me back to see The Tubes when they were touring in the late 70s. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mastodon2 Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 You'd expect him to have been prepared, but in about 14 years or so of playing guitar I can only recall breaking maybe two or three strings in that time at a maximum. As long as your saddles are decent quality and free of burrs and the nut is cut correctly, how do you break a string? Bending too sharp on strings that are way, way past their best? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Mastodon2 said: ...how do you break a string? Bending too sharp on strings that are way, way past their best? Well yes, but it's not beyond the bounds of possibility to just be unlucky and have a duff string. Or two. Edited December 3, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 21 hours ago, ead said: Takes me back to see The Tubes when they were touring in the late 70s. Thanks! I caught them early 80's - fabulous gig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivansc Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Pro player = he probably couldnt afford to buy a set at the time. Been there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 I concur with ivansc Not joking either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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