My e string got damaged when I was tuning and has begun to unwind. I have a spare 5th strong b lying around and I was wondering if that could be used as a replacement?
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B string instead of e?
- Thread starter Builda ba5s
- Start date
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Not really, it would be extremely tight and it wouldn't fit the nut slot or bridge slot quite right. It might snap and take your eye out at that tension.
DiabolusInMusic said:
So not worth trying then? I over tighten the e thats why it unwound but it didn't snap the machine head broke :/ so I have to buy more strings?
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I personally wouldn't do it. Your machine head broke or the machine head broke the string?
You just need a new E string, you should be able to singles from your local shop, but I am guessing your in Europe/Oceania as you referred to it as a machine head, so I don't know what life is like across the pond, or how far you might actually be from a guitar shop.
You just need a new E string, you should be able to singles from your local shop, but I am guessing your in Europe/Oceania as you referred to it as a machine head, so I don't know what life is like across the pond, or how far you might actually be from a guitar shop.
DiabolusInMusic said:
Yes I live in England I am quite far from a shop online a set of 5 is cheaper than a set of 4 so I bought it hoping to use it on case the e broke. And the gear inside the tuner lost its teeth so it wouldn't tighten so u think it's not worth the gamble? :/ surely it's just like using a thicker gauge? Or aren't there bass string gauges?
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
If you broke the tuning mechanism (I'll call it a tuner), a new string wont fix your problem. You'll need a new string AND a new tuner.
Also, the B-string tuned up to E will be way too heavy, and it will probably snap (or break your new tuner) right away.
Also, the B-string tuned up to E will be way too heavy, and it will probably snap (or break your new tuner) right away.
Yes, there are bass string gauges. Your E string is probably somewhere around .095 to .105. Your B string is probably around .120 to .135. It will require substanstially more tension to get the B string tuned up to E than your bass is set up for. You have apparently already damaged your tuning machine by overtightening a string. Why would you want to repeat that same mistake?
Get a new E string.
FunkMetalBass said:
I gotta new tuner and so the fifth is useless but anyway if I were to use it how can I tell if the string/tuner is close to breaking?
An E string has about 35 pounds of tension.
A B string tuned to E would have about 60 pounds of tension. That's a snapped neck waiting to happen!
A B string tuned to E would have about 60 pounds of tension. That's a snapped neck waiting to happen!
wait- are you already tuning your E string up past E? I'm not sure what you mean by adding more tension as mentioned in post #3.
In my experience bass strings don't break, unless you are doing something really crazy with them....
Ive tuned a .120 to E before... Its pretty darn solid... I wouldn't advise using a .120 for anything higher than D personally...
You'll be able to tell by just listening to the advise of TalkBass and not doing it. It could not only break the new tuning gear, but also if the string breaks, it very well may take your eye out in the process.
Question: how long have you been playing? You may want to get some help from a more knowledgeable local player or friend when restringing.
