Yes, this is why I make sure I have at least 3 full wraps around the tuning peg, if I can get it. Maybe it takes a little more time to change strings this way, but it's worth it.
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breaking a string live
- Thread starter pabloramone
- Start date
If worry about breaking a string is going to keep you from being you best gig time, having a second bass might be a good idea.
AS for my experience, I haven’t broken a bass string in over 40 years when I stopped plucking like an animal. Further I’m not in mortal fear of changing out bass strings and replace them when I get between 75 and 100 hours of play. And that gives me ample spares on hand if a string fails.
I wouldn’t suggest swapping out strings as this point as you may have intonation issue.
You’ll be fine. Relax and have a good time.
I've never broken a string in 25 years of playing bass -- but I keep a set of used strings in the gig bag, just in case.
I'm curious, do you swap out flats and tapes after that period, or just rounds?
This is the easiest.
I also have an old car, 1991. I carry a spare fuel injection computer in the trunk.
It is quite unlikely I will need it but carrying one foils the probability that it will ever be needed at all.
I used to break strings sometimes ages ago. Finish the song with what’s left. We had a great frontman and band and they would just improv for 90 seconds till I was ready to play again.
I watched Watt break a string, grab a spare, put it on and tune, while rapping with the audience and start the song again at the same spot.
15 seconds, tops. Pit crew style!
I watched Watt break a string, grab a spare, put it on and tune, while rapping with the audience and start the song again at the same spot.
15 seconds, tops. Pit crew style!
D
I once broke an E string at a gig on the first note of a set opening song (Balls to the Wall, Accept). My spare Bass was a lifesaver.
Good question. I’ve primarily used rounds for that last almost 50 years now. Back I the 1970’s when I played like an animal, on my EB3 I got about two gigs on flats and or rounds rounds. Going beyond beyond that I was going to break a string. When I sold of my EB3s and bought a Rick 4001, I got 4 gigs on their house brand of flats. When I couldn’t get those I switched to GHS Bass Boomer and haven broken a string since.
A more useful recent update, is a year and a half ago I bought an AM Pro JB that came with a new set of flats and decided to do a long term test. I did some sessions work and 3 gigs in the first year. Maybe all told I’m guessing I was at the 100 hour mark and upon inspection there was significant wear marks where the strings vibrate on the frets plus they were becoming very much dead as a door nail, so in the trash they went and replaced with my usual DR Lo-Riders.
I’m my 50 years of playing rounds, nobody, no band mates, sound engineers, sound men or producers ever said a word about my choice of strings or suggest using flats. Got a lot of compliments on my tone however. The upshot is I’ve primarily covered songs that originally had bassists that used dead flats. Go figure.
Back to flats for a moments. If I used flats, I would not be adverse to swapping them out whenever I didn’t like the sound. To me, strings are fungible. That’s why basses were designed so it’s easy to replace them.
Hope this answers you question.
I always carried extra strings when I was playing electric more, but never needed one. (With upright it'd be game over for the night if that catastrophe were to come, so I don't bother.)
Bad cords, dead batteries or anything else in the signal path going janky is far more likely than broken strings, so having backups and plans B for all that stuff is far more important. Still, a pack of used strings is free and takes very little space in your case.
Bad cords, dead batteries or anything else in the signal path going janky is far more likely than broken strings, so having backups and plans B for all that stuff is far more important. Still, a pack of used strings is free and takes very little space in your case.
Thank you. Interesting. When I restarted playing 2 years ago I put in 2 months, 2 hours per day 7 days per week on bronze rounds on my Ovations elite ABG. They were dead as a doornail by end of that period. Put that bass away, hasn't been out of its case since, moved on to the electrics. I've put in 2 hours per day but only 5 days per week on Chrome XL flats on my newest bass, fretless SR370EF and they still sound the same 4.5 months later. I don't play my fretted basses enough to wear out their LTFs (Sire P5R), Pressurewounds (Jazz Plus) or tapes (Ibanez SR1350B). They only come out on the weekend and I cycle between the 3 basses, one per day.
I play with a really light touch, since I'm a bedroom bassist, in an apartment, with a Rumble100 turned down low. Perhaps that makes a big difference in string wear? I played the ABG acoustic only, and really dug in, so not the same there.
Just this past July, I was doing a Township concert. Broke my G string (insert joke here). Had the last set of strings I had taken off the bass in the gig bag. Fortunately, I had my German streamer, which requires no through holes to string through. Pulled the broken string. Loaded the pre-cut pre-installed G string on the bass which was right near me on the side of the stage in under two minutes. Muted, tuned, and was back to catch the end of the song. All you need is another set of prior strings, cut to length and ready to load. If you have the benefit of a quick release configuration, it can only help.
spare cables ....spare batteries....spare bass.....spare amp head
I used to break em quite regularly back in my 'punk' days
hammering it out, but haven't for a long time now.
I STILL take a back up to 90% of my gigs tho. And "always" have a spare set in my case
Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever broken a flat wound.
I have had em break at initial installation. THAT can be a downer!
Tis indeed a strong argument for TWO spare sets
hammering it out, but haven't for a long time now.I STILL take a back up to 90% of my gigs tho. And "always" have a spare set in my case
Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever broken a flat wound.
I have had em break at initial installation. THAT can be a downer!
Tis indeed a strong argument for TWO spare sets
I'm only about 4 years in, but the only time I have broken a bass string was once when I was putting a set of strings back on a bass that had been installed and removed several times before. It was the B string on a 5-string roundwound set, and it broke as I was tuning it to pitch.
It seems much more likely that you'd have an output jack or a cable or something else give out than a string break, on a bass.
It seems much more likely that you'd have an output jack or a cable or something else give out than a string break, on a bass.
100% on light touch and preserving strings. I could be mistaken but I’m of the opinion that string wear not only externally but internally as well is not often considered. I’ve heard many a stories of sound engineers that have dealt with bassists with their well loved broken in flats with gouges where they rub on the frets. A certain air or reverence from them occurs when I show up strung with fresh strings. Then, they have to hear me play unfortunately…..
