Breaking too many strings, quickly going broke.

[patrickj]

I've broken 5 strings in roughly the last 2-3 months on mostly different basses (~ $140 to restring 4 different basses - just broke a low B DR coated BB tonight so add another $40 to buy a 5 string set).

I do play a hell of a lot.. I probably put 20-30 hours on my main bass every week (and grime and moisture from venues probably don't help), but this is seeming excessive.

All of them have broken down at the saddle. I'm rarely a pick player, so am I fingering too hard (2-3-4 finger style) or a bit too aggressive? Or is this just par for the course playing 'balls out rock' 4-5 nights a week?

I went with the DR coateds because they do last quite a bit longer and always sound good, but they are becoming less and less worth the $$ as they are breaking a bit more than I would like.



On a side note.. can you get individual DR coated? Be a whole lot easier if I could just by a single or 2 low Bs...

[Peter McFerrin]

If they're breaking at the saddle, your saddles are probably full of burrs and other string-breaking nastiness. Get them filed down.

[patrickj]

I'll check tomorrow!

It's odd because I've never broken strings while playing (well over 15ish years) until relatively recently, and now I've been breaking left and right.

I broke one on my Ibanez BTB6 just a few weeks ago (the rest have been SX basses) which I've had for 5? years and have never broken a string on. I'd attribute the burrs to the SX basses, but the Ibanez? And never having happend yet?

Maybe my fingers are just seriously ripped


I just ordered 2 twin packs of the El Cheapo MusicFriend premiums. 4 sets of strings for the same price as my DRs I've been using.. give those a try and see what happens in addition to checking burrs.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ack?sku=103115

[maurilio]

juststrings.com sells sigles.... save some money!

+1 on checking for defect or similar at the bridge... dig in less

M

[markjazzbassist]

get some flatwounds. the higher tension will be better if you're pulling hard. plus they literally last forever.