Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds "B string snapped over the bridge while tuning up"?

[jaysbass2002]

I purchased for the first time a set of Ernie Ball Flatwound strings for my Carvin B-50 fretless bass. I string through the body. Used the 45-130 set. I have been playing for 30 years and not a noob to the string changing world. I started with the B string, ran it through the ferro, cut to length, inserted In the tuning post and started applying tension. With the aid of a tuner of course! As I was tensioning the string at about A# the string popped. I inspected the catastrophic noise and found the core had snapped over the bridge????? I don't remember this ever happening before. I have no past experience with these strings and was eager to find out if they lived up to the hype. Any thoughts? No where did I read that they could not be strung through the body?

 

[Gorn]

They're probably not meant to be strung through the body, especially the B string.

 

[jaysbass2002]

I have always strung the strings through the body. Last set were Black Beauties and had no trouble. Three sets in all I have used "The Black Beauties".

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Tensioning the string at C#? Do you mean you over tuned it to help "stretch" the string?

You should not do this... Tune it to its normal pitch and stretch them from there...

 

[jaysbass2002]

Oh sorry I meant A#!!! seriously. I never over tension. I tune and then as I play them in I retune as needed. Sorry for the confusing pitch posting. I was a little hot around the collar. This was very strange indeed. The bridge saddle is pretty far back on the B string making for a pretty sharp bend in the string over the saddle into the ferrule. As stated I never had a problem with any other strings with this instrument. I also run Low Beams on my XB75 Carvin and have never had a problem running thru body stringing. Thank you for being observant and correcting my post.

 

[Fishyfishfish]

La Bella. Just this second

 

[jaysbass2002]

La Bella. Just this secondView attachment 706060

So the same problem? Core broke at the saddle?

 

[jaysbass2002]

I wrote Ernie Ball customer service. I will await a response. I have used Ernie Ball strings extensively in the past. Never had this kind of problem. This set of strings are not cheap to buy.

 

[Gorn]

I have always strung the strings through the body. Last set were Black Beauties and had no trouble. Three sets in all I have used "The Black Beauties".

Black beauties are coated roundwound nickels on a round care....far more flexible than flats.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Through body with flats I believe is a no no with most if not all flats I believe. I had 2 cobalt flats break on me in one set. D string which EB replaced. It broke at the tuner and wasn't close to being in tune. Next was the A string broke on my jack Casady bass a couple days after installation near the bridge as I was playing it. The core broke and the outer wrap unwound. I called EB and they sent me a new set. Been a week or so after installation and they are fine. Won't be confident until I have a couple months on them. We're not alone it has happened to quite a few people.

 

[jaysbass2002]

Through body with flats I believe is a no no with most if not all flats I believe. I had 2 cobalt flats break on me in one set. D string which EB replaced. It broke at the tuner and wasn't close to being in tune. Next was the A string broke on my jack Casady bass a couple days after installation near the bridge as I was playing it. The core broke and the outer wrap unwound. I called EB and they sent me a new set. Been a week or so after installation and they are fine. Won't be confident until I have a couple months on them. We're not alone it has happened to quite a few people.

Same here the core broke. I will contact them and see about a replacement. I did not install the rest until I got more info about stringing through the body. I guess I will string through the bridge and avoid that Erie snap sound.

 

[Mattster]

I put a set on my Warmoth jazz a week ago (4 string not through body). When slowly, very slowly, tuning them up to pitch they made an alarming creaking sound (similar to the intro to Peter Gabriel's "Intruder") that I've never heard before. I turned my face away in anticipation of a snap. No breakage though.

 

[ixlramp]

The bridge saddle is pretty far back on the B string making for a pretty sharp bend in the string over the saddle into the ferrule.

Flats are very inflexible, combined with the above it's not surprising, non-taperwound also? You'll get better intonation and tone top-loading a thick stiff string, especially if it's non-taperwound.
This is probably not a string defect.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Flats are very inflexible, combined with the above it's not surprising, non-taperwound also? You'll get better intonation and tone top-loading a thick stiff string, especially if it's non-taperwound.
This is probably not a string defect.

Maybe his string broke from going through the body, however my experience as well as many others happened while top loading through the bridge only. Some of these strings are defective.

 

[jaysbass2002]

Maybe his string broke from going through the body, however my experience as well as many others happened while top loading through the bridge only. Some of these strings are defective.

I agree. I have never had this happen. I also agree that I probably should have top loaded them through the bridge. Just that I have always loaded through the body and never had a problem is all. Thanks for all the perspectives people. Great site!!

 

[Fishyfishfish]

So the same problem? Core broke at the saddle?

The e string broke about two inches bast the bridge