I did a gig way back in the early 90's that was live on air and packed house. my "I never change strings " days. Read the old guys never changed theirs so I didn't either. So bam 1st note first song my favorite old E string died right there, just snapped. I was in a tight spot… so yeah anyway I do not have a fear because Im always prepared. It might happen.
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Do you have a fear of breaking strings
- Thread starter GC34
- Start date
Weirdly yes. Havnet broken a string in years then back in September I popped an E string on a gig. Luckily I had a spare set. Threw spare sets in all my bags
Not strings, no...those suckers are on their tight. Picks though, yea...I went through alot of breaking the thin ones when I started, but worked up my speed & technique to being able to use fatter/sharper ones.
Never broke an electric bass string in 20+ years. Upright though---my bridge broke(original 1970's) and it sounded like a gun going off!
Never broke an electric bass string in 20+ years. Upright though---my bridge broke(original 1970's) and it sounded like a gun going off!
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I don't fear a string breaking while putting on new strings. I worry that I'm going to screw something up! I'm not going to go into it, since it could just cause fear in someone else when it's not needed! As long as you pay attention and do it with care, changing strings should go fine. But I have screwed things up in the past...
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Not at all. For starters I don't play that hard and I'm not much for slap style. Sometimes I'll play aggressive with a pick or my fingers but breaking a string doesn't cross my mind.
The only bass string I ever broke was a G string when I was in a hurry tuning up a brand new set of strings I just installed. My amp was muted and I was using a headstock tuner. These were my first two mistakes. My third was rushing things. Anyway, I almost had the G string tuned to pitch according to my cheap headstock tuner when suddenly I felt a sting on my face and heard a pop. I was mad at myself and laughed at myself. I knew right away that I'd screwed up and went an octave above where I should've been.
I believe that when you learn the hard way the lesson is reinforced. Some people call it experience.
The only bass string I ever broke was a G string when I was in a hurry tuning up a brand new set of strings I just installed. My amp was muted and I was using a headstock tuner. These were my first two mistakes. My third was rushing things. Anyway, I almost had the G string tuned to pitch according to my cheap headstock tuner when suddenly I felt a sting on my face and heard a pop. I was mad at myself and laughed at myself. I knew right away that I'd screwed up and went an octave above where I should've been.
I believe that when you learn the hard way the lesson is reinforced. Some people call it experience.
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I've broken two strings in my 55 years of playing. One was a new string that was obviously a factory problem, and the other was an upright gut string that just self-destructed in the middle of the night at home. So I'm not too worried. I do keep spare strings in my bag or case when I play, but that's just so I never have to need them.
I used to do a lot of palm muting and outdoor gigs with a swing/blues bands. Sweat from my hands would get into the string over the bridge and crawl it away. So I would say I probably broke a string per year in about 9 years of playing.
The only time I fear breaking a string is when changing the thinnest string on my piccolo bass. It's a 20 gauge, which is tuned to F3 (I play in D Standard) and thinner than all my other strings. Even then, the fear is mild.
Otherwise, no. I've been playing bass for 15 years and I've never broken a string.
Otherwise, no. I've been playing bass for 15 years and I've never broken a string.
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