If you broke a string.....

[beely]

….which one would annoy/inconvenience you the most?

 

The reason I ask is I went to see a band last night, in a barber’s shop of all places, and the bass player broke a string in the second-last song. (A string on a P-bass)

 

That’s actually two firsts in one evening. Never been to a gig in a barber’s shop and have never seen a bass player break a string.

 

The bass player decided to finish the set on the three remaining strings, which he accomplished very well indeed, mostly involving visiting parts of the fret-board he didn’t use very often.

 

Anyway, it got me thinking.

What string would you miss the most, assuming a four-string?

 

For me it would likely be the A or D string.

Something to do with the gap between strings I suppose.

 

Anyone have a string they would least like to lose?

 

Having actually seen a bass player break a string, I was expecting to see a Unicorn on the way home.

[gs_triumph]

I think the E is the most obvious inconvenience since it's probably the string I start most of my licks from but its probably the easiest (except the G)  to do without as I can quite easily transpose to the A string. 

Like you say, missing A or D would be hardest to compensate for.  I don't often go near the G string... On my bass ?

[Cato]

The A or D would probably mess up my technique the most, but losing the E would be detrimental to the whole band.

 I might just about be able transpose E-G# up an octave on the fly but it would cost the overall sound a lot of it's low end.

Edited December 3, 2017 by Cato

[discreet]

I'd really miss the E string, because I don't use the others.

 

 

[TheGreek]

It'd be interesting to see how many we've collectively broken in all our years of playing - me? never..

[Lozz196]

The A is the one I use most, but for obvious reasons the E would be the most awkward seeing as anything lower than an A would be, well just not possible. When recording our 2nd album I noticed that many of the songs were played on the A string only. But this topic is why I take a backup bass to all gigs. Don`t want the mind-altering hassle of havin to transpose fret positions etc, too difficult.

[discreet]

1 minute ago, TheGreek said:

It'd be interesting to see how many we've collectively broken in all our years of playing - me? never..

Me never, either. Doesn't mean it won't happen, though.

[Cato]

7 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

It'd be interesting to see how many we've collectively broken in all our years of playing - me? never..

I got through them when I first started, I reckon I'd be well in to double figures.

I had a very vigorous pick technique before I switched to fingerstyle.

 It must be close to 25 years since I broke the last one though

Edited December 3, 2017 by Cato

[gs_triumph]

Nil broken

[Paul S]

I broke a string at rehearsal once and once at home.  So twice.  I guess I'd miss the B string for the same reason as people have said E string - although I can't imagine breaking one of those.

[T-Bay]

Never broken one but the E would be the killer. I always take a spare bass ‘just in case’ , in case of what I am not sure.

[Cato]

1 minute ago, discreet said:

Me never, either. Doesn't mean it won't happen, though.

Youve missed one of the bass players coming of age rituals, the comedy 'flobbadobbadobba' sound you get after the core breaks and the windings unwind and rapidly lose tension.

[DJpullchord]

Surely your lowest string is the most obvious as you can’t find the notes elsewhere? Unless anyone goes super high up on the g.....

[discreet]

Just now, Cato said:

Youve missed one of the bass players coming of age rituals, the comedy 'flobbadobbadobba' sound you get after the core breaks and the windings unwind and rapidly lose tension.

'Coming of age'?? Bloody hell, if it doesn't happen very soon I'll be dead!

[stingrayPete1977]

Which string is which?

[stingrayPete1977]

I had a D string break where it goes over the bridge saddle years ago, I found a meccano nut and let out enough to tie it on and tune it up, it stayed on the bass for about 6 years like that no problem! 

[Cato]

11 hours ago, discreet said:

'Coming of age'?? Bloody hell, if it doesn't happen very soon I'll be dead!

You could try rehearsing through a 30 watt no brand transistor amp while the guitarist plays through a 50 watt Marshall and you attempt to make up the shortfall in volume by hitting the strings like you hate them.

That's what did for most of mine

Edited December 4, 2017 by Cato

[discreet]

11 minutes ago, Cato said:

You could try reharsing through a 30 watt no brand transistor amp while the guitarist plays through a 50 watt Marshall and you attempt to make up the shortfall in volume by hitting the strings like you hate them.

It's very tempting, but...no.

[Lozz196]

15 minutes ago, Cato said:

You could try reharsing through a 30 watt no brand transistor amp while the guitarist plays through a 50 watt Marshall and you attempt to make up the shortfall in volume by hitting the strings like you hate them.

That's what did for most of mine

That`s pretty much my introduction to playing live, though  different wattages on each amp - 150 watt solid state amp v Marshall 100 watt 2x12 combo. It`s a cert that that`s what`s shaped my playing, as I now have more than enough power with my amps, but still set them so that I have to hit hard to get the volume. Well, I play punk, it`s what`s expected

[rogerstodge]

I’ve broke loads of em, not so much recently as my amp has lots of power so I don’t need to dig in so hard,I broke the E string on my mm Stingray, moved over to the A string and broke that as well, had to quickly swap over to my spare mid song as I was totally lost.. beat that then, 2 strings same gig, same bass, same song..

[Kevin Dean]

I saw Chris Squire break a string & he sang the bass line .

[stingrayPete1977]

32 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

That`s pretty much my introduction to playing live, though  different wattages on each amp - 150 watt solid state amp v Marshall 100 watt 2x12 combo. It`s a cert that that`s what`s shaped my playing, as I now have more than enough power with my amps, but still set them so that I have to hit hard to get the volume. Well, I play punk, it`s what`s expected

I'm the same, I'd be much better if used the headroom of the amp but I'm a ham fisted thumper now after that introduction to jamming.

[ambient]

My F

[Woodinblack]

The A really. The E can be covered by the B easily enough

[bazzbass]

Only time I ever broke a string was years ago when D'Addario brought out copper strings. I think it was the G string. Made my fingertips turn green too.