What is a "bad string"?

[getBAK]

For only the second time in my entire life, I got a 'bad string' out of the box last weekend. It was a D'Addario Tapewound, "G" that simply would not intonate. After an hour of tweaking and having a luthier buddy look at the bass to determine there was nothing wrong with it, we determined it had to be a bad string.
A set of dykes and a new string later (I always keep a spare set) the bass slid into intonation in about 30 seconds of adjusting.
This got me thinking: What constitutes a 'bad' string? It comes up to pitch, holds pitch, and has no outward flaws (which is what makes it so frustrating). So what's gone wrong?

 

[GIBrat51]

In your case? I'd bet that, if you performed an autopsy on that "bad string", under the plastic you'd find that either there was a break in the outer wrap, or that it had parted company with the core wire. Sometimes - and while it isn't too common, it does happen - the string was simply made wrong in the factory. And, by the way; having the outer wrap come loose from the core is one of the reasons that putting a 90 degree bend in the string before you cut it to length, is usually a good idea. Watching the outer wrap go "Sproing!!" and unravel right where you cut it, is... kind of a bummer (2 guesses how I know...). Some string makers actually recommend "bend before you cut", for that very reason...

 

[two fingers]

Years ago I used Ernie Ball strings. Every now and then I would get an A or E string that was just dull and lifeless. No new string zing whatsoever.

 

[Grinderman]

For only the second time in my entire life, I got a 'bad string' out of the box last weekend. It was a D'Addario Tapewound, "G" that simply would not intonate. After an hour of tweaking and having a luthier buddy look at the bass to determine there was nothing wrong with it, we determined it had to be a bad string.
A set of dykes and a new string later (I always keep a spare set) the bass slid into intonation in about 30 seconds of adjusting.
This got me thinking: What constitutes a 'bad' string? It comes up to pitch, holds pitch, and has no outward flaws (which is what makes it so frustrating). So what's gone wrong?

I'm going through exactly the same problem right now with three sets of recently purchased Dunlop stainless flats right now. The G strings will not intonate, probably due to a problem with the cores. I've tried all three G strings on two different bass guitars.

Waiting for replacements, frustrated and considering switching to something else.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Years ago I used Ernie Ball strings. Every now and then I would get an A or E string that was just dull and lifeless. No new string zing whatsoever.

I’ve experienced the same thing a handful of times when I used D’Addario XLs.

Luckily for me, the people that I talked with at D’Addario immediately shipped me replacements.

To me, that’s a “Bad” string.
Another time while using XLs, I found that the rosewood fretboard on the bass I was playing a lot developed a divot in it. I looked closely at the string above the divot, and it’s wind had a pronounced “Hump” in it’s outer winding that was rubbing against the fretboard. It didn’t make an audible sound, it just carved into my fingerboard. D’Addario promptly sent me a new set when I called them.

They also got specific numbers from the set the weird string came in.

 

[getBAK]

I'm going through exactly the same problem right now with three sets of recently purchased Dunlop stainless flats right now. The G strings will not intonate, probably due to a problem with the cores. I've tried all three G strings on two different bass guitars.

Waiting for replacements, frustrated and considering switching to something else.

FWIW, I've never had good luck with Dunlop strings in general... I've really tried as they are a local company. They always just felt... off. Very dark sounding and non-responsive.

For the record, I always bend before cutting. It's how I was taught when I started playing in the 80's and I've never done it differently

 

[Grinderman]

FWIW, I've never had good luck with Dunlop strings in general... I've really tried as they are a local company. They always just felt... off. Very dark sounding and non-responsive.

For the record, I always bend before cutting. It's how I was taught when I started playing in the 80's and I've never done it differently

You mean 90 degree crimp, trim/cut, complete bend to 180? I do that with all bass strings as a habit, regardless of whether the core is round or hex.

That can't be the cause of the problem with these bad Dunlop stainless flats, which also have hex cores.

 

[PDW30]

I'd put LaBella white tapes on an Ibby MiKro and the G strings buzzed every time I plucked it. Looked along it and found a place where the winds under the tape were noticeably spaced out compared with everywhere else. A photo to Bass Direct forwarded to the US and a replacement string was on the way from the factory.