I broke a string tonight

[punkbassistfc]

I broke my low E string tonight, first time ever. I have a set of dr lo-riders on it 50-110. It's very weird but it broke up near the bridge. I play in a pop-punk band with a pick and tune to standard flat. Juast thought i would share that

[62bass]

Originally Posted by punkbassistfc

I broke my low E string tonight, first time ever. I have a set of dr lo-riders on it 50-110. It's very weird but it broke up near the bridge. I play in a pop-punk band with a pick and tune to standard flat. Juast thought i would share that

Thanks for sharing.

[Horny Toad]

Originally Posted by punkbassistfc

I broke my low E string tonight, first time ever. I have a set of dr lo-riders on it 50-110. It's very weird but it broke up near the bridge. I play in a pop-punk band with a pick and tune to standard flat. Juast thought i would share that

Just curious - how long have you been playing?

[MagicMan_841]

I used to break strings now and then... I used to play with 1mm thick picks. Now I use Tortex .73's (the yellow ones) and I haven't broken a string since. Actually, I've had the same string on my bass for months !

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by 62bass

Thanks for sharing.

[Rickett Customs]

Suck it up young buck.

[HappyCakeOven]

Originally Posted by punkbassistfc

I broke my low E string tonight, first time ever. I have a set of dr lo-riders on it 50-110. It's very weird but it broke up near the bridge. I play in a pop-punk band with a pick and tune to standard flat. Juast thought i would share that

Similar thing happened to me, though the low E was downtuned to C# and playing pretty aggressive, pretty fast and the string lost its stretch on the bridge. Thank god I was just practising and had those strings for quite a while.

[Double Agent]

I broke my E string last night at a gig while playing a song in drop-D. Had to finish without the low E because I had no spares (and I am the guy that ALWAYS has spares, I even carry extra guitar strings just in case). I was also using DR Lo-Riders, but I have been playing them exclusively for 2 years and this is the first one I've ever broken. I should have known better though, because I had lots of gigs lately (3 of the last 4 nights) and they were already a couple months old. Mine also broke near the bridge, but I play fingerstyle (and I have the blisters to prove it). I've broken plenty of D'addarios and EB Slinkys in the past though, but I had never broken a DR until last night. But, hey the show must go on. Thank goodness it was out last set though.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

They usually break at the bridge for me too. Well, saying that, when they brake (which is rare) its at the bridge!

I keep breaking G strings, if only the women were forgiving

[varunkapahi]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I keep breaking G strings, if only the women were forgiving

no! no more stupid G string jokes

[Ric5]

Always have a spare set of strings and a spare bass when you play ...

[punkbassistfc]

Originally Posted by Horny Toad

Just curious - how long have you been playing?

4 years, here is my band www.myspace.com/frontcounter

[werks]

check your bridge saddles for burrs of metal. A lot of times there are very minute burrs that can cause the strigs to break. I have seen this more on guitars but it is not unheard of on bass either.

[The Burrigible]

Originally Posted by werks

check your bridge saddles for burrs of metal. A lot of times there are very minute burrs that can cause the strigs to break. I have seen this more on guitars but it is not unheard of on bass either.

BURR!

[Bardley]

The ONLY string I've ever broken was a set of DR Lo-Riders. I've never broken any others.

[stflbn]

I've never broken a bass string. Not in 20+ years of playing.


But... I play about 99.5% fingerstyle and never hammer on the strings like I'm chopping firewood.

[JTE]

A burr on the saddle is not likely to be the cause of an E string breaking. That burr would have to cut through several layers of string windings to get to the core. My experinece breaking strings (D'Addario Xl series 85's on my P bass, and D'Addario, GHS, DR 45's of various alloys on my Hamer Cruise w/2-TEK bridge) is that it's the core that breaks, not the windings coming apart.

If you're hitting the string hard it's moving a lot at the bridge. The flexing will cause the core wire to break eventually. If you can reduce the break-over angle of the string that may alleviate the problem. Lower the saddle. You may need to check the neck for shims to get the action where you need it, and it may be too much effort for the solution. Another solution is to just change strings. The last two times I broke strings on stage, it was on days when I thought to myself "I really should change strings or play another bass tonight".

jte

[Horny Toad]

Originally Posted by punkbassistfc

4 years, here is my band www.myspace.com/frontcounter

Yeah, I was just wondering, as I've been playing 20+ years, owned around 20 basses, and I've never broken a string. I probably just play like a big sissy.


Good stuff there on myspace.

[Double Agent]

Its probably more of an issue for pick players than fingerstyle players. I play fingerstyle, but, when I'm not playing a ballad or something Motown-ish, I usually play down by the bridge with lots of right-hand attack. I bet Geddy would break strings all the time if he didn't change them before every show. In any case, my experience is like JTE's...I should have known to change the strings before last night's show or at least made 100% sure I had an extra set. Like I said earlier, I've been using Lo-Riders for 2 years of regular practices and gigs, and I've never broken one until last night, so it's not like it something that happens all the time.

[salcott]

Been playing electric and acoustic for 40+ years and have never broken a string on either. I figured out a long time ago that I don't have to thrash my bass guitar, even with a pick. It may look really cool'n'stuff, but it doesn't accomplish much of anything soundwise. Let the amp do the work and play lighter-you'll sound better and won't break strings or get blisters.