Unusual For DB String to Break??

bassdblr · #1 03-20-2007, 11:57 PM

I went to my rehearsal tonight for jazz group, popped open my bass bag, and the A string had broken off about 8 inches up from the tail piece. These are Kolstein Heritage strings on a bass I have used about four hours a week for the last year, mostly for piz. Strings on a year, but still sounding good.

But, just curious, as in five years of DB playing, this had never happened. Am I to expect this event anytime, or could this have just been some kind of fluke? Maybe I hit the bass sometime in transport.

**Francois Blais** · #2 03-21-2007, 07:03 AM

The Heritage, like the Obligatos and Dominants, use a synthetic core, which is more prone to breaking than steel.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #3 03-21-2007, 07:48 AM

Over the past seven years, I have broken exactly one string, and it happened on a gig. I learned three lessons from the experience:

Lesson 1: Always carry spares, even if the chances are you'll never need them.

Lesson 2: make sure the spares are old broken-in strings so they'll have a chance to blend with the others even if they aren't the same make.

Lesson 3: Spirocores that are more than a year or two old make great spares. I've never broken one, they're tougher than cockroaches, and the old ones don't stretch much at all.

Michael Case · #4 03-21-2007, 08:40 AM

I've seen Patitucci break an A string on a students bass at the City University of New York Jazz Fest. That was pretty crazy. I broke an Obligato D once.

TroyK · #5 03-21-2007, 08:55 AM

Did the student get all up in his face with "Damnit, John! That's why I never let you play my bass! You're always doing stuff like that. Jerk."?

Michael Case · #6 03-21-2007, 09:14 AM

He was more the sit in a corner and brood type. Funny thing was the missing A didn't slow JP down at all.

Tim F · #7 03-21-2007, 09:26 AM

8" up from tailpiece---a little above bridge? I recently had a D'Addario Helicore "A" break @ the bridge. I also discovered it taking the bass out of the bag....thankfully, not pre-gig. I'd loaned it out, and found it on return. Figured something must of "inadvertently" contacted the string near the bridge during transit. Ah, well, needed a change anyway....now wearin' Spiro Weichs....I've never had a Spiro go.

Reuben · #8 03-21-2007, 10:00 AM

I have broken two double bass strings in 15 years. One of them was a couple months ago. A Spirocore mittel E string!

It happens. But not too often.

bassdblr · #9 03-21-2007, 10:19 AM

Thanks for the string info. Helps to know that the synthetic core types may be more prone to breaking, although unusual, and, of course, always carry spares. I've been carrying spares for a long time, seemed like just another thing to think of, but, now, there's a good reason based on experience, and maybe I will stuff those old spirocores in my bass bag too.

LOBass · #10 03-21-2007, 03:19 PM

Many years ago I had an Epiphone plywood bass that I played a lot for gigs and rehearsals. It was a great sounding bass (for an old plywood bass) but I broke strings once or twice a month, usually on a gig. I think there was a problem with the setup of the bass that put too much stress on the strings at the bridge. I eventually sold it before before that problem was fixed.
Tom

Lowend65 · #11 03-21-2007, 03:25 PM

I've probably broken about 6 over the years on my Cremona... I use the D'addarrio Ray Brown's. Of course I beat the thing when I play it so it's not too suprising

**Francois Blais** · #12 03-21-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowend65

I use the D'addarrio Ray Brown's.

Is this a new string?
Ray Brown was a Spirocore endorser, AFAIK.

Regards,
François

dmperry24 · #13 03-22-2007, 11:18 AM

I was in Upton Bass the other waiting to pick up my new bass. There were others in the store, so I had a bit of a wait, when I heard a "Pop" and the string broke on Gary's Bass. Nobody was playing it or anything. It just popped on its own. Unfortunately I was so focused on getting my bass that I didn't note which string it was or the brand of strings. Moral of the story: it can happen.

Marcus Johnson · #14 03-23-2007, 03:59 PM

I just threw a set of old Animas back on, the only string I ever broke. Fingers are crossed, which makes it hard to play. Geez, my bass is loud now. STILL can't bow the damn things.....

OT.... I think I might try the new Eurosonic orch strings next. Ken S. is pretty stoked about them. I'm starting to realize that I need to really stack the deck in my favor if I'm expecting to do any jazz arco. And as Chris suggests, the unbreakable warhorse Spiros will stay in the bass bag.

**Francois Blais** · #15 03-23-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

OT.... I think I might try the new Eurosonic orch strings next. Ken S. is pretty stoked about them.

Are you talking of the new Presto Balance orchestra string that's in beta test right now?
(steel on steel rope core)

Marcus Johnson · #16 03-23-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francois

Are you talking of the new Presto Balance orchestra string that's in beta test right now?
(steel on steel rope core)

Ken mentioned the string on his site, but he didn't mention the name. Sounds right, though. He said that he expects to get some sets for sale soon. Light gauge only at the moment, medium later.

AZNBassist · #17 03-24-2007, 01:28 AM

While its not that common for double bass strings to break, it CAN happen, and not just the high strings (such as "G" or "C" string). The low A and E break as well, and usually when you don't expect it.

I've only broken one string so far, it was during this one time my high school jazz band was playing in the school lobby, I was playing a school bass (thank god) and the bass amp was being repaired, so I had no amplification, just the bass and me. Well, my band teacher called a dixieland tune and he yelled at me to play louder, so I started really digging in and even tried slapping and popping the strings the way the dixieland/bluegrass guys do it. The next thing I know, I hear a "pop", I look down and the A string is broken

Needless to say, I'm very glad dixieland basslines only consist of root and fifths

Martin Sheridan · #18 03-24-2007, 10:40 AM

I have broken only one string in over thirty years as a bassist and that was when I was tuning up before a gigue. It was a spirocore weich G and it had been on my bass for over ten years!

As a luthier I would suggest that you have the notch on your bridge checked out. There could be a rough spot there that caused the string to break, and as long as you or your bass luthier is checking go ahead and check all of the grooves at the nut and the bridge. Loosen one string at a time and rub some pencil into it. That will do two things. It will lubricate the groove and you are more likely to feel a rough spot than just find it by looking. The string should sit on the groove about a third of the diameter of the string into the groove and not in it. If the string is further in the groove than half way, I'd have the bridge filed down so that you have the third of the way fit.

Richard_Ratner · #19 05-18-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francois

Are you talking of the new Presto Balance orchestra string that's in beta test right now?
(steel on steel rope core)

Somehow you are under the impression that the new Eurosonic Orchestra "Lights" that Ken Smith has are identical to the new Presto Balance string. Are you surmising or do you know this 100%? It's interesting that you seem to know this when I work for the importer of Eurosonic, have been the contact with Ken, have been until very recently actively modifying the string, and am unaware of this. No less than 7 iterations of the 2 tensions of the Orchestra Eurosonics have been tested within the last 3 months by Ken. Unless you are 100% sure of what you say, you should qualify your statements, otherwise some may be confused.

Marcus Johnson · #20 05-18-2007, 02:20 PM

Old posts, and Francois was merely asking me a question about what the strings were called, since I was the only one who seemed to have noticed them at the time, when Ken first posted enthusiastically about them on his bass site. Eurosonic information is pretty rare online in my experience. Since you're an inside guy, why don't you set us all straight? Maybe then we'll try some, whatever they're called.