Breaking D Strings!

[tty1]

Help!

I have a habit of breaking D strings and I don't know why! I'm fed up- it happened on the fourth-to-last song of our set at a show last night. The worst part is that it has happened on several different basses.

Does this seem like a problem with how I string a bass, or a problem with how I'm playing for starters?

[Poop-Loops]

If it's happened on different basses, has it happened with different types (brands) of strings?

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Id agree, try different strings maybe?

Never know, maybe all your basses have a nub of metal on the D string saddle of the bridge?

[-Acid-]

this happened to me constantly when i first started playing

it was always so odd that the d would break and the g never would

[ibnzneksrul]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

has it happened with different types (brands) of strings?

+1, what kind of strings?

[PilbaraBass]

I've been playing for 16 years...I broke ONE...that's right...1 string...it was a G-string on a Peavey B-ninety bass, the original strings (which sounded great, btw...) had a hex-core...don't know if it had anything to do with it, though....the next set of strings on it were GHS boomers...those stayed on the bass until I sold it some 9 years later.

[vtwo]

If it's on multiple basses, then I'd say it might be technique. Do you do a lot of slap?

+1 on brand.

[scottic2]

Originally Posted by vtwo

If it's on multiple basses, then I'd say it might be technique. Do you do a lot of slap?

+1 on brand.

+1 to the above.
When I first started slapping (after I got my Stingray 4), I found that I was constantly breaking D strings, regardless of the brand (Blue Steels, DR Low Riders, etc.). Never the G, always the D. I figured that it was mostly from popping the string.
After I became aware of the fact that my technique must not have been correct when slapping/popping since I was constantly breaking the D string, I changed the strength that I used to pop the string, and my string breaking did dwindle a little bit.
I do remember, however, threads detailing the D and G string on the 4 string Stingray having a lower volume (relative to the E and A strings), this may explain why I was really attcking the D string.

[Shoewreck]

I was breaking D (and sometimes G) strings for first couple years of bass playing, until I developed somewhat lighter touch. Now I can do some nasty things to my strings such as reinstalling them from one bass to another and they never break. Could this be because I always have a spare set?

[ibnzneksrul]

Originally Posted by Shoewreck

Could this be because I always have a spare set?

I believe that's a sub-clause of Murphy's Law.