- Jan 11, 2008
- 1,373
- 155
- 45
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar, D'Addario
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Broke an E string last night, first time in 13 years.
- Thread starter JohnDavisNYC
- Start date
That's why i always carry a (crappy) backup bass.
I never broke a bass string in my life, but i know for sure that the day i'll forgot my backup bass i'll break a string
I never broke a bass string in my life, but i know for sure that the day i'll forgot my backup bass i'll break a string
- Jan 11, 2008
- 1,373
- 155
- 45
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar, D'Addario
As expensive as TIs are, I would have cringed bigtime. I have played for 32 years and only broke two, both D strings.
Scary - I carry b/u strings, but not a b/u bass . . . always made me nervous.
Fortunately, in my band, the singer/acoustic guitar player has no problem banging out a few solo tunes to buy time for me to change, should the event arise
Fortunately, in my band, the singer/acoustic guitar player has no problem banging out a few solo tunes to buy time for me to change, should the event arise
I have broken at least 4-5 e strings in the last 7 years of playing bass, I have only ever broken the e string, luckily it was never during a show, once just before a show but the owner of the pub was a bassist and I borrowed his, another bad timing break was during a band photo shoot, tried to angle the my bass so you couldn't tell I only had three strings. I used a really think gauge of pick so I'm guessing that's why I break so many
I carry a spare set but have never broken a string. Guess I play too lightly. 
OTOH, my daughter used to break an E string every few months in her band. But then, she played really hard; I have numerous pictures showing the E string being pulled completely off the neck either by plucking or bending.
She got a really interesting sound out of her Magnum by doing that, though...
OTOH, my daughter used to break an E string every few months in her band. But then, she played really hard; I have numerous pictures showing the E string being pulled completely off the neck either by plucking or bending.
She got a really interesting sound out of her Magnum by doing that, though...
I never carry a spare bass i've broken a string twice, both E's on the same bass i think there was a sharp bit on the bridge or something that was causing the breakage, once was during practice so i just restrung, the second time was during the gig just played the rest of the set with 3 strings.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
I guess I must be weird. I carry a spare bass and spare strings for both instruments. I have broken about a dozen strings in the last 40 years. However, strings are not the only thing that breaks, and once when changing out a broken string on stage, I broke the nut. That is a whole 'nother story...
Only broken one E string ever. It was also a flatwound, Dean Markleys. After having them on for 2 weeks it broke while tuning up, crap string. Stopped playing flats after that.
Broken a G string from popping. Playing too aggressively. Ignoring my form by hooking the strings too much so they couldn't snap out. Pulled the string right outta the bridge.
Broken a G string from popping. Playing too aggressively. Ignoring my form by hooking the strings too much so they couldn't snap out. Pulled the string right outta the bridge.
I broke the E on the last note of my favorite song when I got the chance to play with a couple local legends called Kreamy 'Lectric Santa. It was epic.
i've only broken a G string (pyramid flats), and it was cause i was really bending hard on the high Eb, and apparently pyramids don't bend well.
back to labellas for me, never had a problem with them.
back to labellas for me, never had a problem with them.
- Jan 11, 2008
- 1,373
- 155
- 45
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar, D'Addario
it was pretty odd for me. definitely made me realize i should always carry spares.... with nerve i could lay out for 5 minutes and change a string and it would be totally fine...
gonna go back to d'addario, i think... try out the 1/2 rounds.... was thinking i wanted a bit more of a legato roundwound thing sometimes, too. nickel XL's never let me down in the past.
john
gonna go back to d'addario, i think... try out the 1/2 rounds.... was thinking i wanted a bit more of a legato roundwound thing sometimes, too. nickel XL's never let me down in the past.
john
you might like half rounds if you like the ti's. i'm not a fan 
but i do love the xl's and chromes. cheap, plentiful, sound great...what else do you need?
but i do love the xl's and chromes. cheap, plentiful, sound great...what else do you need?
John -
i reviewed your set (and threw in a crappy cameraphone pic at no extra fee!) over in this thread you have over in misc. forum: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=647643 my friends and i (maybe 7 of us total) had a great time, thanks again for throwing down the way you guys do.
- GoP
i reviewed your set (and threw in a crappy cameraphone pic at no extra fee!) over in this thread you have over in misc. forum: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=647643 my friends and i (maybe 7 of us total) had a great time, thanks again for throwing down the way you guys do.
- GoP
did it whip you?
i saw a guy, had a little too much tension on his strings,
have it whip across his hand.
i saw a guy, had a little too much tension on his strings,
have it whip across his hand.
I would have asked if it were a 5er but I guess since you only played with 3, I already know the answer.
