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Breaking bass strings HELP!!!

#21
I've only been playing for forty years, but I've only broken a string once. That was when a drunk climbed up on stage during break and knocked over my bass stand. In your case, there is a sharp edge cutting into the string or you are being way to rough with your bass. Your strings need to be stroked and plucked tenderly. If you have to slap them or smack them, do it nice. If you treat your strings right they will last for months and in some cases, years. :eyebrow:
 
#22
HolyCrow, that's one of the best posts I've read in years!
And I had exactly the same problem with the strings unwinding at the bridge... People said I was playing too hard, or using strings too light, or the action was too high or too low or whatever, but actually it was a problem in the saddles. All 4 of them were munched up. So I replaced the bridge (£20 from eBay, from USA, including shipping) with one identical to it, a nice chunky brass one, and that fixed the problem entirely.
 
#23
I used to have the same problem. I think it was mostly my technique... I played WAAAY too hard. However, at the time I didnt realize that was my problem, so I e-mail someone at juststrings.com for some advice and they told me to try out labella slappers. Since I started using them (4 or 5 years ago) I havent broken a single string. Plus they sound fantastic! :)
 
#24
I've also had the same problem. (and trust me.... i was also throwing stuff around spending so much money on strings) i then went to guitar center for help(like any of them are good for info)and i was playing a bass when a guy sat there staring at me saying u play WAY to hard. He taught me the correct way to slap and pop and i showed him my chewed up saddle. he told me to buy a new saddle and lighten up on the pulling of the strings. that was a while ago and i havent broken any strings since i got a new saddle(i use extra light strings). so i hope that helps.

CamboSoup
 
#25
I had a similar problem with strings breaking near the saddle. On my bass, the saddles are wedge shaped, as opposed to roller style. The problem for me was fixed by simply tightening the set screw that holds the saddle in place. What was happening was: When I would pull up on the G string, the saddle would move, and when I released the string, the saddle would come in contact with the string at a slightly different location. This caused a relatively large area of wear on the string. In essence, my bridge saddle was sawing through my G string. I went through about four sets of strings before I found the cause.
 
#27
holycrow said:
Hey Munch,

I have played electric bass for over forty years... funk, soul, hard rock, etc. and I think I've only broken about three strings in all that time. I tend to agree with these other guys. There can only be two explanations... either something faulty with your bass... usually a bridge or nut problem, or you're pulling the strings too hard. Most of the slap players I know don't hit or pull the strings very hard at all. It just sounds like it. A lot of them even use light guage strings. One guy I know sets them way low to the fret board. Guys like Victor Wooten like to do that because they do a lot of hammer-on techniques and it seems to work better that way. He plays light and turns the amp way up! I use a medium guage string myself (D'Addario half rounds) because, unless I'm slapping, I play quite often with a pick. But I'm in the minority on that one! (McCartney, Carol Kaye, Sting, being a few others) I actually play harder than a lot of slappers, but the only time my technique has broken a string is when I was bending (stretching) a string. I don't think snapping or pulling it has ever broken one. You might check out Abraham Laboriel's video on right hand techniques. He shows just about all of them. And, of course, the guy who started it all, Larry Graham, has some good videos too.

Hope I said something of help to you.

Holy Crow
Senior Soul Slapper and general fool
Click to expand...


Hey Holy crow i have a question about a statement u made....

u said that one of the guys you know plays way too low to the fret board......... i wanna know do think thats a bad thing becuase i have mine so low that it buzzes sometimes, buuuuuttt it still sounds good. And thats how im usta playing.
Ive seen some other dudes bass and all the ones at sam ash and guitar center and they are way high off compared to mine. And i am not all that great with them.

btw im only 16 and i get alot of practice playing in 3 bands 3 times a week + practice at home and with my own band.
Help plz respond. :bassist:
 
#28
Munch, was that you that asked about string height? Anyway, I don't know if I'd call myself an expert on this, but I'll give you my two cents worth in case it's of any help to you. I think a lot of it depends on your playing style. If you're into a lot of hammer on and double handed techniques, it seems like using a fairly light string and setting the strings fairly low is a good way to go. Atleast, the players I know, that use that style, seem to go that way. I'd love to know how Victor Wooten sets up his bass to get his style. I noticed, however, that he seems to play fairly light and turns the amp up in order to compensate. That works great for his style, but the only complaint I might have with that is that if you are walking or playing a traditional bass line, there isn't as much drive or punch to it. Normally, you want to pluck the string with enough attack to get a nice punch. I'd say I play "medium" or slightly on the "hard" side. I use medium gauge strings, and I set them at a fairly standard height off the fret board. I can't tell you the actual guage height, because I'm not that technical. If you set them too high, it can be harder to play, and sometimes even affect the intonation. Unless you really play hard, I'd avoid setting the strings too high. However, if your strings are buzzing, I'd guess they are probably set too low... or you should check the truss rod adjustment. The neck should have just a very slight bow to it, but I mean slight! Sometimes people don't mind the buzz. You might not notice it too much in a "live" playing situation, so if it doesn't bother you I'd say go for it. However, it may become a problem if you are recording. You tend to hear all the glitches when you commit it to tape or computer. So, I wouldn't set them too low unless you are mostly doing two handed stuff. Any competent guitar shop should be able to set the bass up for you for a nominal fee. Then, of course, after you get the string height where you want it, make sure your bridge adjustments are correct so that you play in tune. The best way is to use a tuner and just make sure your high octave is in tune with the open string. If you play the "harmonic" on the twelfth fret, it should be in tune with the actual note on the twelfth fret. If it isn't, adjust the bridge length until they match. You might already know all of this, so I hope I'm not boring you! That's about all I can think of at the moment. If you have any other questions, let me know. Have fun!

Holycrow ;)
 
#30
[ My advice would be not to get too caught up in the competitions. Play because you love it! Everything else is just a fleeting moment. Here today... Gone tomorrow. Best wishes to you!

Holy Crow[/QUOTE]

ABSOLUTELY! One of the hardest things to combat is the feeling that you're in competition with every other bass player you meet. I try to keep the mind-set that it's not that I'm better or worse than other players I hear and meet in my vocation, (although there's some really great players out there!); we're all just different! As long as you feel confident and play to the best of your abilities, don't worry that you're better or worse than other players. You just have a different interpretation and sound! I'm in a Jazz group now that really likes my sound and interpretation, even though there's some really good jazz bassists around that could do the part just as well, and I play electric, instead of an upright. It's not the notes you play; it's how you play them! That's what will appeal to who you're playing with. Get away from worrying about the other guy and just play on! :bassist:
 
#31
I used to break them all the time, only on 1 bass tho. I'd be betting on burrs on the bridge saddles, or too severe a bend over the saddles maybe? Burr is more likely. Look at where the string bends over the saddle, if necessary, smooth it off next time you restring.

Randy
 
#32
Oh, yeah...back to the issue at hand. I agree it sounds like a "burr in your saddle". And as far as "gay repair" goes, sounds like you've got a "burr UNDER your saddle" as well. There's nothing wrong with finding a really good guitar tech you trust to help in situations that call for the
"professional" touch. First thing my dad used to do when moving to a new town was to find a good mechanic for his car and get to know him. They're a wealth of "troubleshoot" information, even if you decide to do the "easy" work yourself, and tend to cut you a break if you stay with them consistantly! They also get to know your "car" and can offer solutions quicker because of that. Saves a lot of time and aggrevation. Good luck with your problem.
 

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