Ever break a string?

[kyral210]

Ok, simple question. Do you ever break bass strings? Should I have a spare bass ready when I play live just in case?

[RobertPaulson]

I used to every now and then was I was playing in a hardcore band, it's probably been 6 years since i've broken one now though.

Yes, plenty. And yes.

[nightcityburn]

depends on how sloppy you play. I played extremely sloppy when I started on my bass and I would break E strings. If you are a clean player, you should be fine.

[Exospaciac]

I just broke a .020 string on my 7 string.
I break bass strings all the time, but that's cuz I play really hard and really fast with fingers and extra light gauge strings.
I haven't broken a B string in about a year, but every few months a string breaks on me.

[bassteban]

Relative poverty/weak equipment+ louder bandmates=banging the strings harder in an effort to get more volume, leading to many broken strings. Bad habits die hard; I have broken strings in church. It's been a couple of years.

[hasbeen]

very simple answer to this question- if you break strings or not, you should have a spare when playing live.

You may have never broken a string ever before and unannounced to you, a burr can be developing on one of your saddles.

[Phalex]

I have broken strings (I busted a B string once! ???) I haven't broken one in years, but I wouldn't consider going onstage without a fresh pack of strings in my bag. You never know, you know?

[bertbassplayer]

Only strings I've ever broken was a short time when I was using Dean Markley Blue Steels and they seemed to have a bad run of strings (both myself and my guitarist were busting strings pretty regularly).... but that was a long time ago and I haven't busted a string since I've switched brands.

[Bardley]

I've only broken one in 14 years. The G on a brand new set of DR Low Riders the first time I popped it.

[megadan]

Never ever when playing. I have broken one E string during tuning and retuning (setting intonation), and broke a few D and G's back in the days of cheap strings and a cheap bass.

[Idiotpod]

I've broken a .105 string that was tuned in C at the time, oh hardcore playing. <3

Also snapped a G once.

[Clank]

No and Yes.

[~Ethan~]

I broke my G string about two months ago. (No jokes about g strings! lol)

I was surprized when it happened because I was tuning DOWN from a whole step up down to standard e-a-d-g. Don't know how or why it popped then. I think it was a .40 gauge.

[dj150888]

Yes, very rarely though (twice in total) and most definitely have a spare set. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[ThunderLizard]

I haven't broken a string in 30 years. I have a very light touch.
However, if I was playing a big venue, I'd have a spare bass & cable ready. But on my circuit, we don't have to worry too much about that!
In my experience, an internal wire or solder joint in the bass is more likely to fail than for a string to break.

[allexcosta]

I used to play in the beach every week and would always break strings. Hasn't happened lately...

[Ozzman]

I've broken strings a couple of times. Only got a clean break once when I first tried to restring my first bass seven or so years ago. Didn't realize the tuner I was using was busted and couldn't display the G, got confused, kept tuning up....snapped the string. Broke a few cores and had the strings unwind on me on stage. Gotta transpose an entire song and then do a quick string change. Not easy in a thrash band. >.<

[bassistgook]

I haven't had a problem since I stopped using Earnie Ball strings.

[Bassman822]

Havent broken a string in years, but each bass has spare strings with it, either new or old but usable strings (they will do in a pinch)