am i the only one?

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

started playing bass in the early 70's. in all that time I have never broken a string. most of that time playing standard A440, sometimes tuned down 1/2 step on everything from the cheapest basses imaginable to my current mike lull's, and pretty much everything in between. I see all these posts where people say they always take an extra set of strings on a gig and I certainly wouldn't discourage that practice, but again I ask how many times have you needed those extra strings?

In 20 years: never on an EB. Once on a DB, but it was only a rehearsal, and I knew up front that it was going to break soon.

 

[micgtr71]

I broke the g string on my Les Paul twice before learning that there was something rubbing against the string on the bridge. Never on the bass since 1987.

 

[interp]

In 51 years of playing I’ve broken one string.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

started playing bass in the early 70's. in all that time I have never broken a string. most of that time playing standard A440, sometimes tuned down 1/2 step on everything from the cheapest basses imaginable to my current mike lull's, and pretty much everything in between. I see all these posts where people say they always take an extra set of strings on a gig and I certainly wouldn't discourage that practice, but again I ask how many times have you needed those extra strings?

I've never broken a bass guitar string (probably I will now!). Once had an EUB G string break when I was fitting it, but that's all.

 

[HarveyRobertson]

The only time I’ve broken a string is when I trusted using the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds - broke 2 D strings consecutively, just trying to install them! 1st time on my first set and 2nd time on the replacement set.. never buy those again. Went back to my D’addario Chromes, have never broken one of those ever.

 

[sharkbait130]

Picked up my first bass in late 1965. Played for a couple of years and stopped playing. Never broke one and never carried any spares. Picked up an acoustic 12 string and a couple of electrics a few years later. Broke plenty of strings on them. Changed to lighter picks (like really flimsy) and haven't had any problems since. Went back to bass about 14 or 15 years ago. Haven't broken a bass string so far. Always carry a spare set these days. You never know when your luck will run out.

 

[armyadarkness]

started playing bass in the early 70's. in all that time I have never broken a string. most of that time playing standard A440, sometimes tuned down 1/2 step on everything from the cheapest basses imaginable to my current mike lull's, and pretty much everything in between. I see all these posts where people say they always take an extra set of strings on a gig and I certainly wouldn't discourage that practice, but again I ask how many times have you needed those extra strings?

No. 35 years playing punk and metal in the basements of NYC. Never broke a string that I didn't mean to.... Except for two NEW Dean Markley Blue Steels while tuning up.

Obviously I don't use Dean Markley anymore.

 

[armyadarkness]

it only takes one time.

Agreed... So yeah... I should add that; I never broke one, but I also bring 4 sets with me everywhere that my bass and amp go. Which now that I think about it... if I never broke a string but carry spares... I should probably start carrying a spare pair of underwear too based on my own logic.

Okay. My revised answer is, everyone who brings an extra set of strings with them "just in case" should also start bringing a spare pair of underpants.

 

[armyadarkness]

And I've no doubt that @Spidey2112 and @dedpool1052 and @metron will agree that these are a great choice!

 

[Spidey2112]

And I've no doubt that @Spidey2112 and @dedpool1052 and @metron will agree that these are a great choice!

One needs to look no further than my status line to know I have this covered... .

 

[bikeplate]

Nope never in 37 years

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

I used to break bass strings a lot. Every other gig. Including some low B’s. I played way too hard. Excitable young heavy metal fellow, I was.

 

[Kro]

The only time I ever broke a string was during installation. That's happened only once to me, it was recent, and I'm pretty sure the string was defective.

Still I carry a full, spare set in my case at all times, because I like to be prepared... and I don't take a backup bass to gigs (I like to be selectively prepared I guess)!

 

[delta7fred]

I've been playing 50 years and have broken 2 strings. Both times the same string (D IIRC, it was in the 70's), same brand, and within a few weeks of each other.

I was a much harder player then but still put it down to a bad batch of strings, I got the replacements from the same shop so they probably came out of the same batch.

Since breaking the first one I have always carried spare strings*, "better to have and not need than need and not have".

*And fuses, picks, ear plugs, leads, amp, soldering iron, strap, etc.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Never broke a string, but when I change them, I put the strings I take off and put them in the case/gig bag. Generally, I don't change types, and when I do, they are similar (same gauge, round wound hex core), so it would get me through the gig if needed.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

started playing bass in the early 70's. in all that time I have never broken a string. most of that time playing standard A440, sometimes tuned down 1/2 step on everything from the cheapest basses imaginable to my current mike lull's, and pretty much everything in between. I see all these posts where people say they always take an extra set of strings on a gig and I certainly wouldn't discourage that practice, but again I ask how many times have you needed those extra strings?

Isn't once enough worth having a set in your bag?

 

[TyBo]

I was an acoustic guitar player for 15 years in my younger days and now for the last 9 years as a bassist. Never once have I broken a string...ever.

If you've never broken a guitar string, you're just not trying!

Bass strings are very much harder to break. I broke one once, with old strings on a bass that hadn't been played in ages. That's the only time.

 

[mellowgerman]

Might be a fun exercise to remove a string and ‘make it work’. I know if I saw a bass player lose a string and finish the set by playing any missing notes elsewhere, I’d be impressed.

one great example of this happening at a pretty historic moment/concert... pretty sure they ended up finishing the set even with the rude interruption
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLWhRDkJSWE

 

[Bflat]

Might be a fun exercise to remove a string and ‘make it work’. I know if I saw a bass player lose a string and finish the set by playing any missing notes elsewhere, I’d be impressed.

I've broken quite a few bass strings over the years, but I play a bit aggressive.....once at a gig in Atlanta centennial park I broke an A string on my Upright on the second song ,first set and yes I had to work hard to transpose all those notes up to the D and G strings, so at the first break I tied the string back together ,luckily below the bridge and it was a gut string and played 2 more sets...... I had to retune the string often but on an upright there are no frets so the notes moved around a bit......not a real fun night

 

[Jborg]

I’ve broken a few. At least twice at a gig, and having a 5 string helped get to the notes I wanted. It’s happened several times at rehearsals as well.