Just snapped my G string!

[Fender32]

I know what you're thinking; is guy a bassist or a transvestite gymnast ? Well, rest easy brothers - it's the former!

How annoying is that though? You've just spent $40 or so on a set of strings that are only available in sets (LaBella flats, in this case) and before you even get to play a note, you go and shoot yourself in the foot by breaking one .

I was trying to identify a problem with the new tuners that I'd fitted to a newly-assembled bass and was tuning up and down to see how much slop was present in the gear. Doing that was enough to introduce metal fatigue to the part of the string just off the string post and even though the string wasn't under full tension ... it snapped .

Total 'user error', no doubt. Nobody to blame but me, myself and I. Still, it's really frustrating and worth letting off steam here about (for me anyway).

Anyone else ever do anything like this? Come one, make me feel less of an idiot, please .

[stflbn]

Just tuning a string up and down shouldn't snap it. Call the people you bought the string set from and get it replaced.

I've had sets of strings on and off basses as I work on them countless times and have never had what you describe happen.

[s_mcsleazy]

were you fingering a minor?

[PJMiDi]

Originally Posted by s_mcsleazy

were you fingering a minor?

That with your username is a big +1

[PJMiDi]

oh and I've snapped a string while putting it on a bass before, but maybe we're both idiots

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by stflbn

Just tuning a string up and down shouldn't snap it. Call the people you bought the string set from and get it replaced.

I've had sets of strings on and off basses as I work on them countless times and have never had what you describe happen.

Well, I could try that I suppose, but I don't know if they'd go for it. I bought them from a UK supplier and the law on 'faulty items' doesn't generally cover incidents like this.

Ironically, it was the tuners which had a problem (that's what I was investigating) and they are going back to be replaced.

Originally Posted by s_mcsleazy

were you fingering a minor?

Brilliant! Not much that I can say to that (apart fron, "No", of course).

[s_mcsleazy]

Originally Posted by PJMiDi

That with your username is a big +1

thanks mate

honistly ive broken a low e befor.

[Bozendoka]

I busted the E trying to install a set of Roto 99's. Not hard to do with those; they replaced it gratis, so that was cool.

[Metaldood19]

+1 to Stflbn, although I've actually had this happen to me, I'd contact the store you bought it from and get it replaced. This happened to me with a pair of Hi-beams and luckily I decided to string my bass the same day I bought them so convincing them it was a faulty pair was easy. They gladly replaced them with a new pack. Contact them ASAP!

[Fender32]

Thanks for all of the support and suggestions .

Actually, I had another idea, which I've now put into practise. I'd always been curious to see how these LaBella flats would sound on my StingRay - now that I have a shorter G string, it matches the length required for the fourth tuner on the StingRay . So, I installed the whole set on my 'Ray and I now have a whole new tone to experiment with .

I have a second set of the LaBellas anyway, so I will install them on the Jazz Bass as well and just be more careful this time .

[Jay2U]

I once wasted a D-string of a D'addario set of flatwounds in quite a similar way. I had those strings replaced by rounds temporarily. When I put them back on my bass the D-string just snapped as if it were under huge tension, which it wasn't.

Keep on playing subsonically!

[retrorod77]

in 2 labella sets that i had the D string snapped of though i'll admit 1 time was my fault overtuned it, anyways just made the switch to Pyramids and im in love

[FretlessMainly]

Originally Posted by Fender32

How annoying is that though? You've just spent $40 or so on a set of strings that are only available in sets (LaBella flats, in this case...

LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass

[ubnomnar]

It's really annoying to ruin a sweet set of strings. I snapped the G-string on my TI Jazz Flats a few months ago. I must have tried this set on at least 10 different basses and it finally let go on the single rap wire that retains the ball. I'll eventually order a replacement string... but it gave me a good reason to try something new... Circle K balanced tensioned nickel rounds.

[allexcosta]

This happens with NOS strings...

Reason why I prefer D'Addario these days. Good strings and air tight packaging...

[VitalSigns]

Did it smack your nut?

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass

Thanks for the link. I did actually get in touch with the seller (Stringbusters, in the UK) and despite the fact that they don't carry a full range of single strings, they did manage to find me a 0.043 gauge LaBella flatwound and offered it to me at a very reasonable price, so I ordered it. Now, I can swap that set between my Musicman and Fender basses as I please, having two G strings of different lengths .

I wouldn't normally worry so much about swapping strings over between basses (preferring to just buy a new set), but these LaBella flats sound at their best (for me) when they are totally played in and will just go on for years and years if you let them .

Originally Posted by VitalSigns

Did it smack your nut?

Fortunately nut .

[bass rocks]

my strings slap my nut

[thatbasskid597]

I was tuning up a set of year-old Chromes to pitch and the D snapped at the tuner. That set had been on three different basses, going from a Fender headstock to a 2 + 2 style though.

[Papa Dangerous]

I hate when my action gets raised, and I end up busting a nut from stroking up and down the neck too hard.