Breaking lots of A strings...Ideas?

[tzadik]

All this rocking-out is getting pricey... I am using DR Lo-Riders and going through them, especially A strings, WAY too fast. Every few weeks one of them snaps at the bridge.

I mean, how many bass-string-necklaces can a gal really use?!

Are stronger strings out there? It's a P-Bass. No sharp bridge or anything. I am using a pick and apparently I am finally doing it right since I am now destroying things...

[James Hart]

Are you sure there is no sharp spot? Did you take a needle file to it? I had a sharp spot on my old Ric bridge I couldn't feel... a couple easy passes with a needle file and I stopped breaking strings.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

It's not the string. It's your bridge saddle that has a sharp edge that is breaking your string. The best solution would be try to look for a replacement. I had that problem with my Washburn XS-5 but since replacement parts weren't available, what I had to do was put a piece of cable jacket between the string and the saddle and readjust string height. Your string will last forever and the best part is that the tone is unaffected (I didn't notice any changes, at least).

Hope this helps.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Are you sure there is no sharp spot? Did you take a needle file to it? I had a sharp spot on my old Ric bridge I couldn't feel... a couple easy passes with a needle file and I stopped breaking strings.

Didn't know about that method. Thank you for the info!

[Trevorus]

I had this problem a lot with I played guitar. Needle files are your friend in this circumstance.