string snapping aaarrgh

Niff · #1 05-29-2007, 11:51 PM

i seem to have a nasty habit of string snapping. i do have a very aggressive style with a (2mm) pick but i shouldn't be snapping them this frequently! i've snapped 2 Ds and 1 G in less than 2 months. i can't buy new DRs at this rate.. i have a weird frankenstein set on there right now! is the hardware on my Ibanez GSR200FM (beginner bass, yes i know) hindering the string's life at all? should i increase or decrease the amount of winds i do on the tuners? i do it around 3 times now.

any advice apart from switching to cheaper strings?

codyAllen191 · #2 05-30-2007, 12:07 AM

I have the same bass and have never snapped a string (i thought it was a terrible myth!)......umm, using less windings on the pegs and a thinner pick will definatly help you out dude.....thats all I got

Niff · #3 05-30-2007, 12:36 AM

2mm is my preference cause of the tone and control, but i guess it does have a factor on it. i'll try winding around twice (or one and a half) times next time i change strings and see how it goes.

JimmyM · #4 05-30-2007, 02:37 AM

3 times is fine. And so are 2 mm picks. My guess is that your bridge probably has burrs on the saddles. Take it to a luthier and let him see what he thinks.

73jbass · #5 05-30-2007, 02:57 AM

Knowing exactly where the string is breaking will tell a lot about whats going on. You could just back off on you picking technique a bit.I have never heard of anybody breaking bass strings with a pick.

Niff · #6 05-30-2007, 03:20 AM

the string breaks/unravels slightly behind or directly on the saddle every single time. i live in a small town so i can't take it to a luthier conveniently, so is there anything i should look for? are burrs like little bumps or uneven bits of metal?

it's not just aggressive picking but i play aggressive fingerstyle as well, i like the tone when i have the treble boosted a bit. i'll try cut down a wee bit, but i'd rather not sacrifice the tone i get.

PilbaraBass · #7 05-30-2007, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niff

the string breaks/unravels slightly behind or directly on the saddle every single time. i live in a small town so i can't take it to a luthier conveniently, so is there anything i should look for? are burrs like little bumps or uneven bits of metal?

it's not just aggressive picking but i play aggressive fingerstyle as well, i like the tone when i have the treble boosted a bit. i'll try cut down a wee bit, but i'd rather not sacrifice the tone i get.

with the strings off...can you see and/or feel burrs on the saddles?

yes, burrs are sharp little bits of metal that stand up on either side of a scratch or groove...

the groove isn't a problem, but burrs can cut your strings...

if you have them, you can try taking a bit of automotive grade sandpaper and taking the edge off...take the offending saddles off, one at a time, and sand them, put it back, and go to the next...

remember the number of turns on your intonation screw...that way you don't have to redo intonation.

Niff · #8 05-30-2007, 10:38 PM

hmm interesting. i'll check this out next time i snap a string (likely the D or G). thanks for the help.

BillytheBassist · #9 05-30-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

3 times is fine. And so are 2 mm picks. My guess is that your bridge probably has burrs on the saddles. Take it to a luthier and let him see what he thinks.

+1, check the saddles for sharp edges... would be my first guess.

Luke73 · #10 05-30-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

using less windings on the pegs and a thinner pick will definatly help you out dude

Question:

Why would the amount of string windings on your tuning pegs affect how often you snap strings?

PilbaraBass · #11 05-30-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke73

Question:

Why would the amount of string windings on your tuning pegs affect how often you snap strings?

SIMPLE...

by altering the amount of sub-atomic cross-polarisation that is exerted in a tangential direction to the break angle over the nut, less the number of turns used to make the little girl dizzy before she hit the piniata.

HighwayOneJazz · #12 05-31-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

SIMPLE...

by altering the amount of sub-atomic cross-polarisation that is exerted in a tangential direction to the break angle over the nut, less the number of turns used to make the little girl dizzy before she hit the piniata.

genius!

clean up them saddles.

HighwayOneJazz · #13 05-31-2007, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke73

Question:

Why would the amount of string windings on your tuning pegs affect how often you snap strings?

it doesn't.

PilbaraBass · #14 05-31-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighwayOneJazz

genius!

clean up them saddles.

yeah...that might actually work better

73jbass · #15 05-31-2007, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

SIMPLE...

by altering the amount of sub-atomic cross-polarisation that is exerted in a tangential direction to the break angle over the nut, less the number of turns used to make the little girl dizzy before she hit the piniata.

LMAO!

Luke73 · #16 05-31-2007, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighwayOneJazz

it doesn't.

...that's my point.

Baleen · #17 05-31-2007, 07:06 AM

Or it still might just be that you play very hard. I used to break strings all the time. Playing 8 shows a week I'd break a string every 1 to 2 weeks.

I've lightened up for the health of my hands/arms, and because I found more dynamic range. Lighter strings actually seemed to cue my hands to lighten up.

Good luck either way.

jtc_hunter · #18 05-31-2007, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

SIMPLE...

by altering the amount of sub-atomic cross-polarisation that is exerted in a tangential direction to the break angle over the nut, less the number of turns used to make the little girl dizzy before she hit the piniata.

Brilliant!!! now where is the cheese?

4stringdude · #19 05-31-2007, 12:39 PM

I second all of the suggestions that you have a burr or sharp edge on your bridge saddles. I would suggest that you use a strip of leather and run it across the groove of the bridge saddle repeatedly until smooth. Using sand paper could make the issue worse by causing more sharp edges. The leather strip will only smooth the offending burr.

================================

I really have nothing clever to say at this time.

CrashClint · #20 05-31-2007, 12:45 PM

A friend of mine had a issue about a year ago with some DR strings during installation. It appears that when they were manufactured the machine nicked the inner wire where it goes around the brass ring. When he put the new strings on and was bringing it up to tension he pulled on the string to stretch it a little then brought it back up to tune and the string would break. This happened to the "D" in two seperate packs. He took it back to Guitar Center and they didn't believe him. So their tech put a set on and it did the same thing after playing a little slap for a few minutes. There were no rough spots on his bridge at all, it was just some defective strings made it out the door at DR. DR. ended up sending him a couple packs of strings for the inconvience.