Can You Physically Wear Out An E String??

[Nightsblood]

Ive gotten myself into a mind trick and Im wondering why.

I'll give you my monthly regiment first. I play in a thrash band that practices 8 nights a month (2 a week) and plays 2 shows per month (45 min set, lotsa sweat) and thats it.

Now, I play Ken Smith Rock Masters religiously and love em but I have to order them and thats a pain. Ive been replacing my strings every month but the thing that gets me is, the strings dont sound dead. Im not really needing the brightness, I need the punch and Im still getting that. So, my question is...can you wear out a string in a month playing like this?

Thats the only reason I replace them, is because I dont want the E to break. Ive broklen a few Boomers in the past so now Im gun shy. Am I crazy to think I wearing the E out in a month? Be honest, cuz this is quite expensive, lol.

[barteroo2002]

I play fingerstyle, all types of different genres. I have quite light gauge strings (.45 .65 .80 .100) DR Sunbeams. I'm lucky enough to play in lots of different projects, most days a week, rehearsing and gigging.
I keep my sets on until they sound DEAD.

I change them about once or twice a year!

So I think that you could chill out and save some money.

And I seriously don't think you'll be breaking the E string every 30+ days.

Take it easy dude.

[dannster]

In all my 32 years of playing I've never broken a bass string. Ever.

[Mr. Mig]

Originally Posted by dannster

.....I've never broken a bass string. Ever.

Same here.

[jasper383]

I might say that I have never even come close to breaking a string, in many years of playing.

Bring an extra set of strings with you, and don't worry about it. Keep the strings on the bass.

[Jim Nazium]

Originally Posted by dannster

In all my 32 years of playing I've never broken a bass string. Ever.

20+ years here, and I can't remember ever breaking one. I only change them when I don't like the sound.

[PJSShearer]

Keep the last set you took off as spares (just in case) and don't worry!!

[Nightsblood]

Ok, if you say so. I have broken an E string before but, like I said, they were Boomers and I certainly dont use those anymore and that was a long time ago. Did I mention, I use a pick?

I just wanted some advice because I figured I was getting myself into this regiment of changing strings and didnt think it was necessary....turns out I was right. (maybe OCD )

Thanks guys for the advice. Next time I see ya, I'll buy you a drink with the money Im saving.

[Revmizery]

I pretty much beat my strings like a cheap hooker also, and tend to break the E string after about 4-5 months. The big thing is you need to check the bridge for any burrs or little sharp areas and grind them with an old string till they are smooth. I had a burr and it was making me break the strings much quicker and costing me good money.

[ehque]

I break my B string (thickest) about every year. No biggy, since I can play without it. End the set, and change it after that.

[DRafalske]

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

Keep the last set you took off as spares (just in case) and don't worry!!

That's what I do.
I keep mine on until they sound dead, 3-4 months. In 20 years I've broken one G string (why does that sound dirty?).

[Nightsblood]

I do keep my old strings and I always carry my back up bass to shows just in case. I havent broken a string in quite some time and I actually find myself picking easier nowadays due to cramps in my pick hand.

Now I will admit, I change my battery every two shows but thats much cheaper.

[amroach]

i broke 2 E strings in about 8 months playing finger style but they weren't even dead strings when they broke, but more to the point i change my strings like a few times a year like every couple of months but more so there bright then out of fear of breaking them.

[fuNKmaster83]

i have broken all the strings on my basses douring my bass playing adventours... the strings that i broke the most where E or G... then there is that A and D ... i have only broken the B string once but i stoped using 5 stingers after that...

in last 2 years i have not broken any strings... and i tend to change them from 4 to 6 months... it use to be changed every month

[Petethebassman]

Originally Posted by dannster

In all my 32 years of playing I've never broken a bass string. Ever.

Same here, been playing for 28 years.

[EBBassMan]

20 years of playing and I've never broken a string.

[fingerbun]

I reuse strings a lot....when doing funk gigs I boil them to make the sound fresher, and after boiling a couple of times I start to have problems with breaking them, but not before, and that is true regardless of brand.

You're playing maybe 25 hrs a month, which is not a heavy load. At my busiest I have played for maybe 80 hrs a month and strings would last a month without problems.

[PJSShearer]

I broke a few D strings many years ago and discovered it was caused by a tiny burr on my Badass bridge - I had one of the early ones where you had to file the string slots yourself - quick application of a nail file soon fixed the problem.

Before and after that time I never broke a Bass string. I played 5/6/7 nights a week for 3-4 hours and would change my strings every 8 weeks or so - I played roundwounds and they get a little "clacky" after a while :-) and for no other reason.

As I said above - keep the last set you took off as spares/insurance - I leave the packet on top of my amp (doubles as a beer mat) - but have never needed them and, chances are, you won't either.

[Wasted Bassist]

Playing for 8 years, broken 4 E strings, on 3 different basses.

[rhapbus]

lol, i broke a d'addario D string because it was my first string change and i put them on wrong :X