Metal/Hardcore Bassists: How many "E" strings do you break a year?

Matt Till · #1 07-07-2006, 09:51 AM

I'm curious, because I break way more than I think I should. Also, do you play fingerstyle or with a pick?

I use to go to hardcore shows, and see the bassist break a string so often and think it was weird, but the more metal I play the more strings I break.

I use to use "proper" light technique, but then this whole metal thing came around, and now I bash the strings pretty hard and I'd say I go through about 3-5 "E" (In quotes because I downtune) strings a year. It isn't that many, but it's a pretty huge string to be breaking.

When I slapped and played funk stuff, the G would go, but can I buy E strings bulk? Just curious

vindy500 · #2 07-07-2006, 09:59 AM

well i dont play metal but after 2 years i have broken 8 strings, i think that was to do with my crappy samick bridge tho as ihavent broken any on my new bass, oh and i play with fingers

Der Bluten Kat · #3 07-07-2006, 10:04 AM

flatwounds = every few years

HELLonWheels187 · #4 07-07-2006, 10:11 AM

**** i voted for three but tats beofre i saw only E-string which ihaven't ever broken. I think that is because i break another string right before the E would normally break. I have been poping on the E-string recently so who knows?

markjazzbassist · #5 07-07-2006, 10:19 AM

i voted other. i have never broken a string. i play fingerstyle.

phxlbrmpf · #6 07-07-2006, 10:42 AM

I've never broken an E/B string, no matter how hard I played. One time, my band's guitar player gave me one of the new picks he decided to try out (they were pretty thick and made of hard plastic, I usually use nylon picks for the songs I pick in) and I used it for a song and gave my B string a good beating. After the song, my B string was more than one step flat!!! The strings were pretty new, though. This was probably the most damage I've ever done to one of my fat strings.

Out of curiosity, what bass model do you play in your band? Perhaps there's something wrong with the bridge so the strings break faster.

D Von · #7 07-07-2006, 11:41 AM

I broke my E once, when I was rockin out to some really good Hardcore in my bedroom lol.

fretless Bob · #8 07-07-2006, 11:51 AM

well im not a metal player but i do have drop tuner on my E so i can get down to a D if i need it, but in all the time ive been playing i have only broken 1 string, it was a C string and it was just because i was in a hurry changing strings before a gig.

if you drop tune a lot you could get a slightly larger gauge string, say if you only drop your "E" maybe you could get a 110 or 105 depending on what your ordinary use.

Dave

galaxieboi · #9 07-07-2006, 11:55 AM

Yeah, I used to break E's all the time. In my teens (10+ years ago) I played in hardcore bands here in Seattle and THRASHED on my Yamaha. It was just a 4-string P bass and beat the bejesus out of the E and A. I would swing my bass around and windmill though the strings. Lately I've been in slightly less heavy bands, but I still break strings every now and then. Of course now I have a brand new Fender American J bass, so less thrashing. =)

clockworkwar · #10 07-07-2006, 11:56 AM

i break none man!

v-12 · #11 07-07-2006, 01:20 PM

play with a pick- voted other because i've never broken a string.

infect · #12 07-07-2006, 01:27 PM

I dabble w/ guitar a bit in bands and have broken way more 'e' strings on guitar than I have on bass. I play pretty hard too.. I'm thinking that maybe your bridge is outta whack.

vindy500 · #13 07-07-2006, 01:30 PM

2 people have broken 365....

dustybottoms · #14 07-07-2006, 01:34 PM

I used to play in a metal band, and pretty hard, and i think i only broke 1 string if ever at all. I played with a pick and my fingers and dug really hard. I've lightened up a lot and i haven't brokend a string in a long time.

blast_tyrant · #15 07-07-2006, 01:45 PM

I've never broken a string and I've been playing for 31 years. Now watch me break one tonight..................

PinkTelephone · #16 07-07-2006, 02:14 PM

i played in a metal band and only broke one at practice. I played in C Standard tuning with my fingers. Now the hardcore band and indie band i'm in i play in E standard and i play finger style in the hardcore band and with a pick in the indie band, I've broken one e string in both bands

bassman1185 · #17 07-07-2006, 04:14 PM

I just joined my current hardcore band in December, and since then I have broken three, I believe. Only one live, though. THAT sucked. We play in drop C, and I use 50-110 guage strings. I broke one with my fingers and two with picks.

Hyde · #18 07-08-2006, 01:29 AM

Three in the last year. I think two of them had problems though, because they both also went dead really, really fast.

vic_6 · #19 07-08-2006, 02:33 AM

i've been playing in a hardcore band for about 3 years now. i can get real aggressive on the strings, banging it n everything but never broke any live. i've broken many G's from slapping and one A cuz of stupidity but never an E and never while doing my on stage antics. that's a pretty huge string to break.

Metal Mitch · #20 07-08-2006, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I'm curious, because I break way more than I think I should. Also, do you play fingerstyle or with a pick?

I use to go to hardcore shows, and see the bassist break a string so often and think it was weird, but the more metal I play the more strings I break.

I use to use "proper" light technique, but then this whole metal thing came around, and now I bash the strings pretty hard and I'd say I go through about 3-5 "E" (In quotes because I downtune) strings a year. It isn't that many, but it's a pretty huge string to be breaking.

When I slapped and played funk stuff, the G would go, but can I buy E strings bulk? Just curious

I used to break a LOT of Rotosound and D'addario strings, finger"style". Broke more strings playing with punk and blues bands than I ever did with metal. What strings are you using? I never broke a DR.