G string keeps breaking

[Torkk]

The bass 93 G&L L2000 the strings Ernie Balls Slinky Flatwounds 50 105. My first G snapped and brand new out of package while tuning to pitch. I called EB, and they supplied me with a new set. Today I strung up the G and guess what, she snapped again just before getting to pitch.

I checked where the break occurred and it was at the nut side of the tree.

Has anyone had this issue?
No other string that I used had this happen to them.

 

[Doner Designs]

I had this problem with flats on a Stingray with Schaller tuners. Never figured it out. Switched to different strings.

One thing that helped was to crimp the very end of the string. Not referring to the L we all make before inserting into the tuning post. Talking about making a 180 degree crimp at the very tip that goes into the post (bend the end over on itself).


Also helps to go reaallly slow. Nickel strings are not as strong as steel so you have to be really careful with those (Pyramids for example).

 

[Killed_by_Death]

There's probably a burr in/on the tuning machine hole.

 

[Doner Designs]

There's probably a burr in/on the tuning machine hole.

In my case that wasn't the issue. EBMM sent me a new tuning machine for my Stingray but it didn't help.

 

[1stnamebassist]

It's probably the strings. I broke a couple Cobalt flats when they first came out and EB sent me new strings with no issues. I would call them again and tell them the string they sent broke also. Explain your frustration and they should help you out again. I know it sucks but when you have a working set they are an incredible string IMHO. I told them if they didn't resolve the issue for me I would never use the strings again and I would probably not say many good things on forums about the strings either, which is the truth. But they came through and I give accolades about them as well as the customer service they supplied.

 

[catcauphonic]

It's probably the strings. I broke a couple Cobalt flats when they first came out and EB sent me new strings with no issues. I would call them again and tell them the string they sent broke also. Explain your frustration and they should help you out again. I know it sucks but when you have a working set they are an incredible string IMHO. I told them if they didn't resolve the issue for me I would never use the strings again and I would probably not say many good things on forums about the strings either, which is the truth. But they came through and I give accolades about them as well as the customer service they supplied.

You go right for the jugular, eh?

 

[Turnaround]

It could be that the G string is binding in the nut slot. The slot may have been cut for standard gauge which would be .045" on the G, whereas you have put on a .050 gauge. Before you bring the string up to tension, test to see that it is sitting in the bottom of the slot and can slide back and forth freely without binding. If necessary widen the slot a bit.

 

[1stnamebassist]

You go right for the jugular, eh?

Yeah, but 2 strings in less than 2 weeks kinda pissed me off! Never broke a string before and I've been playing since the 70's. Look at the picture to the left. That as taken right after I broke the string and I was getting ready to call them. But now I'm the poster boy for their Cobalt flats.

 

[JTE]

Breaking between the nut and the string tree ("nut side of the tree") doesn't seem to be able to be caused by the tuning machine. I'd suspect a kink in the stringing process, binding in the nut, or a batch of defective strings. If you got both G's from the same source they could be from a similarly defective batch. But after breaking two of them, I'd be extra careful to make sure the nut is cut correctly for those strings (as Turnaround says), and that I'm not in any way bending, twisting, or damaging the string as I install it.

John

 

[Torkk]

I guess it's the nut, I didn't think there would much of a difference from 45 to 50.