sorry if this isn't the right place to post. I'm new to bass guitar and just bought a squire jazz bass a few days ago. I got some new strings to put on and learned some tutorials online. After I put in all the strings all I had to do was tune it. As I was tuning the E string I accidentally tightened too much and the string snapped and broke off. I'm freaking out because I don't know if I broken my guitar too. Everything seems ok and nothing seem chipped or cracked. I was wondering if my bass is alright and the string snapping off is a fail safe?
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Messed Up While Putting New Strings
- Thread starter 4stringsquire
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You won't know for sure if your bass is okay until you put a new string on it to replace the one that snapped.
But if everything looks okay, it probably is. A short-term case of high tension isn't going to break a neck, but the tuner might have gotten stressed a bit. Or it's mounting screws.
Try not to lose any sleep over it.
Strings aren't designed to break at a certain point as a fail-safe--it just happens when you take them too far outside their normal parameters, whether from tuning too high or playing way too hard.
But if everything looks okay, it probably is. A short-term case of high tension isn't going to break a neck, but the tuner might have gotten stressed a bit. Or it's mounting screws.
Try not to lose any sleep over it.
Strings aren't designed to break at a certain point as a fail-safe--it just happens when you take them too far outside their normal parameters, whether from tuning too high or playing way too hard.
More than likely it was just a bad string, or you wound too tightly, it happens. Go slower next time.
Make sure when you install new strings, that you allow at least 2 complete wraps around the tuner post to support the tension. If you cut one too short, and all the tension falls on the "crimp" where the string travels down into the tuner post, it can break. I think we've all been there.
I did this same exact thing a couple of months ago: I was carrying on a conversation with my wife and not paying attention to what I was doing while replacing a set of strings, and I over-tightened and snapped the new E string. First time in 17 years I've broken a string in any way. After giving myself a good dope-slap and stern talking-to, I just put away the three other new strings to use as emergency replacements if I ever need them, and bought and installed a new set of strings. The bass was fine, and I'm sure yours is too.
You might be surprised to find that bass says "Squier" on the headstock.
You can still be a 4 string squire:
The bass is probably fine, but you won't really know until you put another string on it.
You can still be a 4 string squire:
The bass is probably fine, but you won't really know until you put another string on it.
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This same post was up a day or so ago, from a self proclaimed rookie, trying to tune to DROP D, but tuned the E up about 10 semitones.
It happens, and it's a learning experience.
It happens, and it's a learning experience.
In addition to the advice already given, be very careful that the string wraps lie neatly next to each other. Never let the string wraps cross--it's possible for the wrap on top to cut through (or at least weaken) the wrap beneath it. And even if that doesn't happen, overwraps will tend to cause tuning instability due to the string rolling and shifting position.
Oh, and make sure the wraps go down the tuning post, not up, so as to increase down pressure on the nut. Too little pressure on the nut can cause buzzes and/or tone issues.
Oh, and make sure the wraps go down the tuning post, not up, so as to increase down pressure on the nut. Too little pressure on the nut can cause buzzes and/or tone issues.
Every time I type "squier" my computer autocorrects to "squire." Give a brother a break.
4stringsquire, if you're at all unsure how to re-string, visit your local guitar shop. I'm sure they'd walk you through the process. I've never heard of a string break damaging a bass, but it could take out your eye if you're not careful.
I've done it, heck, probably everyone has. Check your tuner and see if it looks like it is deflected in any way. Mostly you're just double checking that it didn't get pulled to an extreme angle as a result of over tensioning. If the little screws that hold it onto the headstock are where they are supposed to be, and don't look like they were partially uprooted or anything you are probably just fine. Also, it's pretty unlikely that this happened. Next thing to check is that the post the string wraps around looks straight, as compared to the others. It should, because, my money says you didn't hurt your bass. Check the nut. the part at the very end of your neck where the fretboard starts. The string goes thru it like a little channel or something. If that is intact and not cracked or anything, you (again) should be fine. Last thing. Tune the string in question with a good bass guitar, tuner to open and then play the same string at the 12th fret. If you have a polytune pedal, or a turbo tuner, korg pitchblack, TU-3, etc. that would be best. If they both are spot on (or at least reasonably close) You are golden.
You didn't hear a loud crack or anything that sounded like the neck splitting did you? Kidding... Probably...
Hope this helps!!
You didn't hear a loud crack or anything that sounded like the neck splitting did you? Kidding... Probably...
Hope this helps!!
- Jan 26, 2014
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- I teach lessons and perform live music in and around San Diego CA. Sometimes I even make money doing it!
Everyone has done something like that at some point. Even just a couple years ago, I was carelessly tuning up a guitar and turning the wrong peg, snap.
The bad news is, if you had very bad tuners on your bass, as is the case with many low-end brands, you may have damaged the tuner. The gears are not made of tough enough material to handle that much tension, and the core of a low E string is very stout. When you try a new string, the tuner may be uneven or sticky at a point, it may still work though. In the worst case, you may have actually broken or bent a tooth to the point where the tuner won't move, in which case it's trash. Not a big deal or great expense to replace, just annoying, and a lesson learned.
Next time you're tuning, use an audible reference to get yourself close, a YouTube video of someone tuning a bass should do the trick. Use the tuner in conjunction with that. Good luck!
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Mine did that once & I added "Squier" to the dictionary.
I would explain how, but depending on which browser you use, the procedure could be different.
Yeah I wonder who that might have been
Rite of passage. Barring some serious factory defects, your bass will probably be as fine as as Squier could ever be. Don't stress. This is probably not going to be your "lifetime" bass. You practice more than just notes on these things.
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Hmm, I guess I'm lucky I got that rite of passage taken care of on a guitar, with only a 0.026" string.
right of passage, as in he's allowed to break a string or two to learn how not to.
Welcome to Talkbass! Don't change the spelling of your name either, even though Squier doesn't have an e at the end.
Two wraps around the post but no more than three. For a Fender, I don't cut the G strings and get three wraps. In fact I get 2 wraps around the post on the E and A, and 3 around the G.
Two wraps around the post but no more than three. For a Fender, I don't cut the G strings and get three wraps. In fact I get 2 wraps around the post on the E and A, and 3 around the G.
