Is the D string the easiest to break

[Snarf]

I'm constantly busting out of my G strings.

 

[MrAB4003]

Never broke a string, bass or guitar.
I must be doing it wrong.

Same here! I've been playing bass for 15 years and I've never broken a string.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Bought my first bass 45 years ago, and have precisely zero broken strings to report since.

 

[ardgedee]

So a thicker string can handle being closer to their breaking point than a thinner one?

Let's use a reference and some math.

According to Stringjoy's string tension calculator...

In their Signature bass string set, a .045" G string is at 44.9 lbs. If this is 60% of its breaking point*, its breaking point is (44.9/60%) = 74.8 lbs. So you would have to apply an additional (74.8 - 44.9) = 29.9 lbs to the string to break it.

In their Signature guitar string set, a .010" E string is at 17.8 lbs. If this is 60% of its breaking point*, its breaking point is (17.8/60%) = 29.7 lbs. So you would have to apply an additional (29.7 - 17.8) = 11.9 lbs to the string to break it.

It's a lot easier to apply 12 lbs to a string than 30 lbs.

This is also relevant to why the difference between at 59% or 62% of breaking doesn't matter a whole lot: For a bass string, that would mean a range of 72.4 to 76.1 lbs of breaking tension. You'll be challenged to break a bass string to begin with; moderating your strength by less than 4 pounds when you're applying several dozen pounds of force is just not going to happen.

*(We don't actually know, Stringjoy does not publish that figure. For the purpose of this particular exercise it doesn't matter a whole lot.)

 

[JRA]

The important thing to know is if you could hold the D string between your teeth, with a Renault twizy attached at the other end, whilst leaning out of a hot air ballon, the string might just hold

You and your obsession with the string's breaking point! It's almost pathological.

talk to us @GC34 --- you've stated that you have a strange obsession with the topic (3/4 of your 19 threads reference the idea). are you breaking strings? do you fear breaking strings? would you like to break some strings? do you need some strings to break? what gives?

just curious, help a brother out.... TIA

 

[gln1955]

talk to us @GC34 --- you've stated that you have a strange obsession with the topic (3/4 of your 19 threads reference the idea). are you breaking strings? do you fear breaking strings? would you like to break some strings? do you need some strings to break? what gives?

just curious, help a brother out.... TIA

I wouldn't be surprised if he had a collection of photos of broken strings on his computer.

 

[GC34]

talk to us @GC34 --- you've stated that you have a strange obsession with the topic (3/4 of your 19 threads reference the idea). are you breaking strings? do you fear breaking strings? would you like to break some strings? do you need some strings to break? what gives?

just curious, help a brother out.... TIA

I mostly want to know how much past standard I can tune a string before it breaks. I do fear breaking strings.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I wouldn't be surprised if he had a collection of photos of broken strings on his computer.

No Kink shaming! You should see my Purple Bass Folder (password protected).

 

[GwenOnBass]

I mostly want to know how much past standard I can tune a string before it breaks. I do fear breaking strings.

Why are you playing bass if you tune that high?
/serious

 

[ardgedee]

I mostly want to know how much past standard I can tune a string before it breaks. I do fear breaking strings.

Going back to the Stringjoy tension calculator:
Assume a .045" G(2) string is at 44.9 lbs. You could tune it up four half-steps to B(2) (71.2 lbs) before reaching its hypothetical breaking tension of 74.8 lbs.

To save some time, I'll extrapolate for the other strings. Basically, with light gauge strings four strings at standard tuning would apply a total tension of around 180 lbs. Bringing all four strings up four half-steps increases that to 285 lbs.

My offhand guess is you'll damage the neck or trussrod before you break a whole set of strings. Incidentally, replacing a neck costs a lot more than a set of strings.

If you really want to uptune your bass that much, look up piccolo bass strings. They exist for this reason.

 

[JRA]

I mostly want to know how much past standard I can tune a string before it breaks. I do fear breaking strings.

sounds like you need some strings to break so that you don't break your own! i'd be happy to donate. a few months ago we moved and i tossed out a bazillion used strings, but i'm slowly building up a pile of used strings again --- let me know if you want them.

 

[gln1955]

I mostly want to know how much past standard I can tune a string before it breaks. I do fear breaking strings.

Then just use a gauge string appropriate for the note you're tuning to. Why are you making this so difficult?

 

[GC34]

Link Removed Found this morning. So far nothing on bass.

 

[Doug P]

E string yes, playing. E & A when my bass dropped off my shoulder when strap lock failed after 1/2 hr warm up…… and the bass hit the floor. Yea poop happens. Be prepared.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

I mostly want to know how much past standard I can tune a string before it breaks. I do fear breaking strings.

You should fear breaking wind more imho

 

[Prodigus Filius]

@GC34 What pitches are you attempting to tune to that spark these fears?

 

[GC34]

@GC34 What pitches are you attempting to tune to that spark these fears?

Low E up to C A up to E D up to G G up to B. I know I can get the low E and A up a fourth no problem.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

So you are wanting to tune a 4 string bass with C2 E2 G2 B2. So an open C maj 7th chord or open Emin/C. And in ranges more akin to a guitar. The question is why. If you just want guitar ranges why not just get gauges appropriate for E2A2D3G3 and do piccolo bass and call it a day.

 

[GwenOnBass]

That sounds like a recipe for strings so stiff to be unplayable.

 

[GC34]

So you are wanting to tune a 4 string bass with C2 E2 G2 B2. So an open C maj 7th chord or open Emin/C. And in ranges more akin to a guitar. Question is why. If you just want guitar ranges why not just get gauges appropriate for E2A2D3G3 and do piccolo bass and call it a day

To see how far past standard I can tune them.