Broke my first ever string

[Mattrill]

So about an hour ago it happend... I broke my first ever string. It was my E and it broke down by the saddle at the bridge, I guess because I strung thru body.

They are GHS precision flats and I had them strung up for about 6 months. Really digging that worn in tone - bang ! The E snaps. Erg 2 days before a gig....

I have never before broke one and really wasn't expecting it. It felt so strange feeling the flop in the string after it broke. Taking it off and trying to play after was even weirder. Really made a difference to where I thought a note was without that string.

Anyways, there's no time to buy a new set of GHS's so I've dug some chromes out. I haven't really played with chromes properly, just noodled about with them but I've heard good things about them

 

[Jeff K]

Check your saddle. You might have a burr under where the string sits. I've had GHS Precision Flats (as well as Chromes) on basses for many years, both top-loaded and through-body. I'll bet the Chromes on my '75 P are 15 years old or more.

So unless it broke while tuning (too tightly maybe?), I'm thinking there's probably a sharp burr under there...

 

[Mattrill]

Check your saddle. You might have a burr under where the string sits. I've had GHS Precision Flats (as well as Chromes) on basses for many years, both top-loaded and through-body. I'll bet the Chromes on my '75 P are 15 years old or more.

So unless it broke while tuning (too tightly maybe?), I'm thinking there's probably a sharp burr under there...

Thanks Jeff K. I will check that tomorrow. I wasn't when tuning, just in mid rehearsal, which sucked because we had to call it a night after that. Ruined the vibe of the jam and had no spare strings/ or another bass with me.

I have put some Chromes on and they are sounding good - a lot different to GHS P flats. This is un-amplified, so not live in the mix. They have a lot clearer and crisp top end. And they're definitely more alive than GHS P flats. Which is the thing I love most about P flats - their dead, thumpiness!


Think I might run the chromes for a while. And I recently watched a Bobby Vega vid of him on a Jazz with Chromes and they sounded pretty darn good!

Just gotta wait until payday comes around until a new set of P flats... I'm not finished with those strings yet!

 

[Jim Carr]

...I wasn't when tuning, just in mid rehearsal... ...we had to call it a night after that...had no spare strings/or another bass with me...

Sorry to hear this.
I am always certain to have at least one set of strings in my gig bag, or I have two instruments.

I wonder if you are playing with a pick near the bridge?

 

[kenneffdupriest]

I had an E string break on me during rehearsal once. I was like WTH? I guess the integrity was compromised somehow. It was a set on the bass when I bought it off CL so I don't know what brand they were.

 

[vdbass]

My band director in high school told me to cut a tiny leather square (about 0.25" x 0.25"), loosen the string and set the leather on the saddle, under the string. Pull the leather square back just a hair so as not to mute the string, then tune up.
I haven't popped a string in 32 years!

 

[wvbass]

My band director in high school told me to cut a tiny leather square (about 0.25" x 0.25"), loosen the string and set the leather on the saddle, under the string. Pull the leather square back just a hair so as not to mute the string, then tune up.
I haven't popped a string in 32 years!

That is honestly a new one to me. I can't help but thing that a piece of leather under the strings would affect tone and sustain, but it might be in a positive way. I've never heard of that, never done that, and never broken a string by playing in 35 years. (I have had strings break while winding them around the tuning pegs, and have broken strings with a whammy bar before.)

 

[Stranger Danger]

I've never broken a string except when first putting on strings (twice). However I do keep a spare set in my bag. I'm hoping I never need them.

 

[Jeff K]

Thanks Jeff K. I will check that tomorrow. I wasn't when tuning, just in mid rehearsal, which sucked because we had to call it a night after that. Ruined the vibe of the jam and had no spare strings/ or another bass with me.

I have put some Chromes on and they are sounding good - a lot different to GHS P flats. This is un-amplified, so not live in the mix. They have a lot clearer and crisp top end. And they're definitely more alive than GHS P flats. Which is the thing I love most about P flats - their dead, thumpiness!


Think I might run the chromes for a while. And I recently watched a Bobby Vega vid of him on a Jazz with Chromes and they sounded pretty darn good!

Just gotta wait until payday comes around until a new set of P flats... I'm not finished with those strings yet!

The Chromes will definitely be brighter when you plug up. I don't care for them when they're brand new, but once they break in for a month or so, they sound great and last forever. The GHS P-Flats sound warm and broken in right out of the package. You'll probably like both.

And like Jim said, it's always a good idea to keep an extra set of strings in your case or gig bag.

 

[VWbug]

Wow. I never broke a string. I always figured it was guys slapping and popping, not regular playing.

Guess I'll go back to carrying an extra set again.

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

Welcome to the majors Mr. Mattrill. That's why every hardshell case or gig bag has a pocket for spare strings. Like the Boy Scout motto says; Be prepared. Good luck.

 

[Mattrill]

Sorry to hear this.
I am always certain to have at least one set of strings in my gig bag, or I have two instruments.

I wonder if you are playing with a pick near the bridge?

Going to start carrying some spare strings, looks like the wisest thing to do!

95% I don't play with a pick but I can sometimes play aggressively down at the bridge.

I'm guilty of changing the strings that broke, swapping them to other basses that aren't string thru - my hunch is that from all the bending (Down where the strings go through the body) had caused the string to lose it's strength and give way. I will definitely check for those sharp burrs though as they probably didn't help the situation.

Thanks for the advice guys, will definitely, start carrying some spares - I must have 10 sets of strings under my bed!

Cheers

 

[Wallace320]

Infact whenever I broke a string (my brother too) I was slappin' and poppin' and, usually, it's been G string popped way too much in the enthusiasm of the moment. So never been a flat.

Chromes are good
Btw, as told elesewhere on the forum, I recently bought brand new Steve Harris West Ham Precision and experienced the Beast himself's Rotosound flats
They're 50-110 and dead to the bone

At present, my other set of flats are Made in Italy "Dogal" 40-125 on Ibanez Gary Willis (5 string) and they're much more resonant and sweet to the touch: unfortunately they're sort of boutique strings so the price is twice than Harris' Rotosound.

What my tech started to suggest me are Ernie Ball flatwounds (I really think in 50-105 gauge) 'cause he's beeen aware of me gettin' rid of nickel slinkies, and tryin' and find sumthin' new for me

Remember Pino Palladino's Thomastik 43-100, really wornout

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Mattrill]

Infact whenever I broke a string (my brother too) I was slappin' and poppin' and, usually, it's been G string popped way too much in the enthusiasm of the moment. So never been a flat.

Chromes are good
Btw, as told elesewhere on the forum, I recently bought brand new Steve Harris West Ham Precision and experienced the Beast himself's Rotosound flats
They're 50-110 and dead to the bone

At present, my other set of flats are Made in Italy "Dogal" 40-125 on Ibanez Gary Willis (5 string) and they're much more resonant and sweet to the touch: unfortunately they're sort of boutique strings so the price is twice than Harris' Rotosound.

What my tech started to suggest me are Ernie Ball flatwounds (I really think in 50-105 gauge) 'cause he's beeen aware of me gettin' rid of nickel slinkies, and tryin' and find sumthin' new for me

Remember Pino Palladino's Thomastik 43-100, really wornout

Cheers,
Wallace

Never tried Roto flats only their rounds. But I'm sure I will in the future - flats are my favourite type of strings!

I must ask Wallace, are you a Hammers fan? Or that fact Harris has that bass

 

[anavar]

i have broken strings with a whammy bar before.)

i am not even allowed to look at a guitar with a whammy bar.

they just explode the minute i touch them...

 

[Wallace320]

Mattrill, it's a somewhat collateral thing for me

I was born and raised - and currently live - in Milan
But my parents come from around Rome, so I support Lazio (as my former avatar displayed) and, as you might know, Mr. Paolo DiCanio played for both teams

Thereafter, an official friendship started between Hammers and Irriducibili (Lazio supporters) so, yes "I'm forever blowin' bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air"

Up the Irons

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Wallace320]

i am not even allowed to look at a guitar with a whammy bar.

they just explode the minute i touch them...

Oh yes, but John Gallagher used a Kahler back in the Raven heydays

Think that, when twenty years ago the all new britpop invasion exploded, I was spendin' time in England as every year as holiday pupils groupleader I eventually quarrelled with my rare vinyls dealer tellin' him: "how come you been the cradle of everythin' proficient hard rock/heavy metal, and now if I think about the Gallaghers (John & Mark from Newcastle finest Raven) all I get back are indication of Machester's Oasis brothers (Noel & Liam)?"

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[vdbass]

?...I can't help but thing that a piece of leather under the strings would affect tone and sustain, but it might be in a positive way.

Actually it doesn't effect the sound ( at least to my ear) at all. I position the leather just far back enough where I dont lose any twang.

I used to do A LOT of thumping and plucking back in the day. I popped the D and G strings fairly often. I was using Kaman Strings on my T-40 as Rotosounds were cost prohibitive. Back then, when our strings died we would boil them to get a little more mileage. Mr Nelson, our BD hypothosized that that is why they were breaking. Also, the round wounds had dug into the saddles and that is where the breakage would happen.

He suggested the leather squares, said he saw another bass player do it years earlier.

Now my son who plays fairly aggressive, now does it on his Strat because he was popping strings as young folks do....no more in at least 8 years.

 

[Mattrill]

Mattrill, it's a somewhat collateral thing for me

I was born and raised - and currently live - in Milan
But my parents come from around Rome, so I support Lazio (as my former avatar displayed) and, as you might know, Mr. Paolo DiCanio played for both teams

Thereafter, an official friendship started between Hammers and Irriducibili (Lazio supporters) so, yes "I'm forever blowin' bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air"

Up the Irons

Cheers,
Wallace

Awesome, DiCanio is a legend amongst us West Ham fans. And that Signature Harris bass is so damn fine.

Matt

 

[Wallace320]

I often came to England for a reason after all, or what?

As I don't go fishin', actually my very first "bass" experience at you's was, ehm, with "bass" beer

Ah ah cheers everybody!

Cheers,
Wallace