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How many times has your bass failed you?

I wonder what gauge do people use to break strings so easily, I dig the plectrum hard and deep like a spade , haven't changed my strings in one year, and yet I still haven't had the satisfaction to break anything :smug:
And I use the G string a lot too.
 
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I wonder what gauge do people use to break strings so easily, I dig the plectrum hard and deep like a spade , haven't changed my strings in one year, and yet I still haven't had the satisfaction to break anything :smug:
And I use the G string a lot too.

Sometimes strings have defects or they're pinched/crimped weird when they're put on. Either could cause a string to break when they might not otherwise.
 
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I never had a bass failure but one time I had a piano wire string, mid 70's, break on me, on stage, and go flying into someone's drink. Then I finished the song and replaced it. But I never thought it was my fault and have only brought two basses to a gig I was doubling upright and electric. ... I've had a few issues with batteries on stage with preamps but that was beyond my control so I didn't think that was a real problem.
 
1 time in 40 years. It was a New Years gig in 1985 and I took my 1965 Fender Precision and my Fretless Fender Precision. Put on my brakes too hard at a train crossing and my 1965 Precision case hit against the back captains chairs in in 1979 Ford Van. Got to the gig and it would not work. Used the fretless the whole night.
Lesson learned:
Bring soldering gun, solder, extra 250k pot, switchcraft 1/4" output Jack, and an extra set of strings. Always keep an extra strap in the gig bag, and a small tool kit like Allen wrenches for truss rod and saddles and a screw driver and pliers. Now if something craps out, you can fix it.
I had a conversation with a student today about being a pro and always being prepared for anything that can happen.
 
My first bass went home with a light-fingered hood. I wouldn't call that a failure — just a parting of the ways. I'm not mad about it. Some things just weren't meant to be. And, the power went down once. Again, not a total failure, per se, just grossly indecent. Lucky the lights were out.

If possible, have a backup: two of everything — three of some things — refreshments, handy-wipes, friends — impractical as this may seem. Not necessary necessarily but it's always nice to have options. Sometimes, all you need is security, sometimes eyes in the back of your head.
 
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Everyday! The beautiful sound in my head gets all jammed up when I try to reproduce it!
And it's clearly the Bass. (Abigaile) ( yes her name is Abigaile, rhymes with Abba-whale? What am I talking about, what thread am I on? I , oh. Yes my bass always fails, because I fail. And no need to take 2 basses- they will equally fail, because I don't practice , Good?
 
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