How many pros here never broke a string?

[magic8161]

I been playing Professionally for 45 years and never broke a string. Anyone else?

 

[Zooberwerx]

Installing / set-up: yes....playing: never.

Riis

 

[DWBass]

There's a small number of full-time pros here. Lots of semi pros though. No broken strings here.

 

[Spidey2112]

I'm pro... for not ever breaking a bass string.

Now, guitar strings are a totally different arena. I can break them all day long.

 

[JRA]

at least one (that i still remember), maybe a couple. IDK.

but in my defense: i was young...with 'indiscriminate' vitality --- and much vigor!

 

[Barton Lee]

I've never broken a string in 46 years of gigs, but I did watch Jeff Berlin break a string while playing with Bruford on the Gradually Going Tornado tour while standing at the front of the stage. Jeff pulled the string off and tossed it right to me, but the guy next to me evidently wanted it more and tore it from my hands.

That's my only exposure to a broken bass string. And Mr. Berlin.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

No broken strings. I only gig on weekends, there's a long ongoing debate about guys like me with dayjobs who are in paid professional bands.
I'm a paid Weekend Warrior.

 

[-Stingray]

Never playing....although the last pack of Cobalt Flats I purchased both the D and G strings broke during the stringing process. Needless to say, that's the last set of Cobalt Flats I will EVER purchase.

 

[bwildt]

52 years, one broken string. That one happened when I was trying to install a used set of strings on a different bass. Straightened out a kink on a G string and it broke as I started tightening. It was a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats.

 

[31HZ]

I broke strings regularly when I first started playing, and would have blood blisters on the tips of my plucking fingers before the first set was done.

Not fun, not recommended.

 

[hasbeen]

Pro for 40 years and have never broken a string. Full disclosure though- I change my strings about every 12 hours of playtime except on fretless. Fretless is about 36 to 48 hours of play. Round wounds on all.

PS- This includes back in the 80's when I did a TON of slapping. One band I was on the road with then had me slapping maybe 80% of the time.

 

[GotGroove]

I managed to break one string in 35 years of playing. An A string during a recording session in 2001. People used to call me a fool for bringing a spare bass (and strings) to sessions and gigs. "You're not a guitar player, are you? Nobody breaks a bass string, right?" Wrong! I still don't know why it broke as it was barely a day on the bass, but I was glad I came prepared. It may be rare, even if you don't replace your strings as often as @hasbeen does, but it happens.

A popular story is dat James Jamerson never replaced his strings unless they broke. I'm not sure how long it took him to replace an entire set or if he ever did, but I would never take that risk. Fresh strings on every show or recording session I'm at. Breaking a string can happen to us all. And yes, I still bring a spare bass and/or strings. Better safe than sorry. Am I a fool for still doing so? Then so be it.

 

[RattleSnack]

Pro for 25 years, never broken string live.
Once, a long long time ago, I was at home swapping string sets between two bass guitars. I was straightening and bending G string, overtuned it, and than it broke. But it took quite a lot abuse.
Unless you're total lumberjack, there's no chance to do this while playing.

 

[fishdude101101]

No broken strings. I only gig on weekends, there's a long ongoing debate about guys like me with dayjobs who are in paid professional bands.
I'm a paid Weekend Warrior.

Same here. I get paid but still have a day job. Also never broken a string, but I can deaden them in one show easily.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Weekend warriors of 40 years, never broke a string. But the one time it happened was when I loaned my bass to someone at the CT Blues challenge.

 

[Five or Six]

I've played for over 40 years. In the 3 years when I was Touring I broke 2 strings. Both times it was the "D" string. That was playing 3-5 nights a week, and no less than 2 hour sets. (1 hour If opening for someone) Some gigs were the standard 4 hours of rock. I carried 3 basses on the road. That was playing 4 strings. I've never broken a string on a 5 or 6.

 

[marchone]

Once while playing. Scared the bejesus out of me.

 

[Hawk256]

35+ years and never broke a bass string.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I been playing Professionally for 45 years and never broke a string. Anyone else?

once when I was 18. that was during the "boil your strings" era

 

[Admiral Akbar]

2 broken strings over past 2 years. One a J the other a P.

I don’t remember specifically before that.

I suppose I’m in the minority with my broken strings, but I’m also a semi-pro.