is it weird to break a string?

[andrew_over]

how do you people never break strings, ever. that is so weird. people are always in disbelief when they see a broken bass string,,,,i break my e or a every other month, about the time the strings sound dull is about the time they break. weird

 

[veloce]

what kind of strings are you using? that could maybe explain it....

 

[veloce]

Also, I change strings about every other week, since I like a really bright tone.
So, that is why mine never break.

 

[andrew_over]

i usually play the D'Addario light bottom heavy tops, but lately just the med gauge. really doesn't make much of a difference between the two really

 

[veloce]

hmmm....well, it might be due to the style of music you play and the manner in which you play the strings. that's all I can think of, unless the strings are just on there to long.

 

[Thunder Pulse]

Been playing 20 years, never broke a string.

 

[Jeff Martinez]

My C-string breaks at the tuner from changing tunings frequently. Although, I just switched from a .32 to a .30, and it seems to hold up a little better when tuned up to D.

 

[Valerus]

Never broken a string before.

Hmm, you break the E string. I would have thought it would be one of the lighter gauges.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

I used to break my E string all the time. At first, I was embarrassed. None of the other kids had my problem. But eventually, I got used to it. After all, it's just who I am.

Now, when you start breaking G-strings, you can come back with a story or two...


No, really, I also used to break my E-string. The more I played, the less it happened. I used to really dig into it, and I suspect you might too.

 

[tdogg]

ive broke a few. i tune dow a whole step and play pretty agressively sometimes. it happens

 

[nastyn8c]

I never break mine. I used to play really hard, and I broke a couple. I adjusted my playing style to be more controlled, and now I don't break any.

 

[kyral210]

D'addario are the best strings bar none in my book; so its not that.

I play metal and really pummel my strings, and they don't break, so its not that.

The ONLY thing that can cause your strings to break is the saddle. Take your bass to a guitar tech and have them 'smooth out' your saddles. There is a very good chance that your saddle has some sharp edges causing the string to catch and break. Smoothing out is a simple procedure and will make playing more comfortable.

As a matter of precaution, I always run a pencil over the grooves of my saddles/ nuts on my instruments. The graphite acts as a lubricator and reduces friction and string breakage, but the shape of your saddles are a more important factor.

 

[colorblindbass]

do flatwounds break at all?

i break rounds, but have never broken a flat.

 

[Jumbotron]

John Wetton, back in the King Crimson days, was known for breaking more than one string simultaneously! So you're in good company. But as others have said, you might want to take a good look at your saddles.

 

[cathal]

ive broken my e and a

all that damn power strumming

 

[the_thriller]

I broke the D-string once. I was playing really hard and was doing a pop and all of a sudden "PLANG" the string broke. I just sort of stared at it in disbelief as I'd never broken a string before. It was during practice, though, so the lack of me playing didn't really affect anything.

 

[Pilgrim]

I've never broken a string in 20 years of playing. But I believe in letting the amp do the work, not my fingers. I'm learning how to use a pick to get more attack, but that still doesn't require playing hard enough to break strings. I never change strings either, I have one bass with flats more than 30 years old.

Of course, a saddle problem or defective string can occur, but so far, not to me. I'd say breaking a string isn't weird, but doing it often means your technique can be improved.

 

[RobTheSkanker]

I have never broken a string until about a month ago, it was an outside gig for friends at a party, the guitar player of another band asked to use my SX but it was like 40 degrees outside and the strings were old, real old. but then about 4 days ago, I broke my A string on my squier, bad luck i guess.

but check the saddles, that was the problem with my strat, I would break the E and A strings, until I took a little file and smoothed it out a little, haven't broke a string on that guitar since.

 

[treebranch13]

The people i know that have broken strings break their E. and it is always people who dig in really hard(or use a pick) near the bridge and it breaks the end loop (i forget what it is called right now)

 

[Incognitus]

Never broken a string. I had a set on for over 2 years and played them rather hard, and never broke. The only string problems I have had are when they come apart at the tuner head when I am changing strings or cleaning the fretboard.

Still have yet to break a string. I am keeping the first one I break though. Just to show that they do break. So I hear.