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What's your string break story?
- Thread starter Mytt88
- Start date
My strings used to break only on one bass - Pearl japanese jazz bass copy, which was my only bass at that time. No string breaking since I switched to other basses and my bass family expanded. However, my story:
Year 1993, me age of 23, we toured as the support of the no. 1 national act at that time. I got hired to the band one week before tour, they handed me a cassette tape to learn the songs..
Week later we are on the road. Venue - sports hall, approx. 5-8 ths. audience. Huge P.A. First couple of rows full of 13-15 yo girls screaming and wanting the main act, not us Drummer hits the sticks to count off the first song in a key of A. First note on the bass - open A string. Baaamm. A-string broken on that very first note. Song stopped. Well, having no backup bass, I kneeled down and changed the A string - the longest 2 minutes in my life 
You can imagine.. .
Year 1993, me age of 23, we toured as the support of the no. 1 national act at that time. I got hired to the band one week before tour, they handed me a cassette tape to learn the songs..
Week later we are on the road. Venue - sports hall, approx. 5-8 ths. audience. Huge P.A. First couple of rows full of 13-15 yo girls screaming and wanting the main act, not us Drummer hits the sticks to count off the first song in a key of A. First note on the bass - open A string. Baaamm. A-string broken on that very first note. Song stopped. Well, having no backup bass, I kneeled down and changed the A string - the longest 2 minutes in my life You can imagine.. .
I personally have never broken one ... But just this last Friday night on our second set break a guy comes straight up to me and ask me if I have an A string "Mike across the street just broke his" ... It didn't even connect with me WHO Mike was but I reached in my gig bag and just gave him a whole set ... I always have pre-cut spares
I have broke maybe 5 guitar strings in 30 years of playing never a bass string. But do I have a backup instrument and extra strings in my gig bag? Yep and yep. Unprofessional to do otherwise.
Out at the Kerrville Folk Festival I let a guy play my Thunderchief (I know, I know, but that's another discussion) at a campsite jam and he broke my A string right at the bridge. I used a trick that I hadn't used in years; I pulled the bridge pin out and retrieved the rivet, ran the broken end through the rivet and twisted it up, unwrapped two of the three wraps from around the tuning peg, shoved the rivet back in the hole, put the bridge pin in, and brought it up to pitch. It held for the rest of the weekend. And yes, after that no one but me played my bass.
Come to think of it, it's still that way. I'd better change strings before I need that bass again.
Bassist4Eris
Frat-Pack Sympathizer
'Twas our first "big" NYC gig, and promoter was kind of uptight and intimidating. I was told not to bring an amp; one would be provided. I brought a head anyway. During the first song, the provided head fried. Promoter comes running at the soundman, screaming at him to put on some music. I set my bass down, jumped off the stage, grabbed my head, jumped back up, set it on top of the junky one, switched the cables, and was back up and running in about 30 seconds.
Second song, my guitarist breaks a string halfway through. Same thing. Promoter runs at soundguy, screaming. Guitarist jumps off stage, grabs backup axe and is back in business in 30 seconds.
So we were thinking the show was a bit of a disaster, and we'd never get asked to play again.
The promoter came up to us later and said "I was really impressed with the way you guys handled those gremlins. I got some other dates: you interested?"
Second song, my guitarist breaks a string halfway through. Same thing. Promoter runs at soundguy, screaming. Guitarist jumps off stage, grabs backup axe and is back in business in 30 seconds.
So we were thinking the show was a bit of a disaster, and we'd never get asked to play again.
The promoter came up to us later and said "I was really impressed with the way you guys handled those gremlins. I got some other dates: you interested?"
- Oct 18, 2012
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- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
Broke a string in the early 1980s. I have played close to 3,000 gigs and it hasn't happened since then.
once in a while it happens, but I always have extra strings, and the gigs are usually relaxed enough to where we can just finish the song and take a break.
although, one time, in Germany I think about 7-8 years ago, we were playing a small outdoor festival thing, about 2 - 3 thousand crazy metal heads.
bout halfway through our set, E string pops. I somehow unrangle the string from the post, and finish the song.
as soon as the last note on that song, I see dude from previous band, bass in hand, motioning me to the side of the stage.
He says, "use my bass, finish your set."
I smiled, grabbed it, plugged in, started to tune, and the guy says, "I know you are in E-flat, I tuned it for you."
drummer counted off the next song, finished the set, nobody knew what happened.
guitar player turns around during the next song, says, "how did you get a new bass?"
good times.
although, one time, in Germany I think about 7-8 years ago, we were playing a small outdoor festival thing, about 2 - 3 thousand crazy metal heads.
bout halfway through our set, E string pops. I somehow unrangle the string from the post, and finish the song.
as soon as the last note on that song, I see dude from previous band, bass in hand, motioning me to the side of the stage.
He says, "use my bass, finish your set."
I smiled, grabbed it, plugged in, started to tune, and the guy says, "I know you are in E-flat, I tuned it for you."
drummer counted off the next song, finished the set, nobody knew what happened.
guitar player turns around during the next song, says, "how did you get a new bass?"
good times.
I once broke THREE BRAND NEW STRINGS at a gig.
But we were a noise rock duo so it didn't matter a lot.
And they were DR strings, and I wasn't even playing that hard.
For other gigs, I either have a backup bass or backup strings (hint: you can use old ones) but even if I lacked them I'd still try to finish the gig regardless. Ending the set like that would be definitely pitiful.
But we were a noise rock duo so it didn't matter a lot.
And they were DR strings, and I wasn't even playing that hard.
For other gigs, I either have a backup bass or backup strings (hint: you can use old ones) but even if I lacked them I'd still try to finish the gig regardless. Ending the set like that would be definitely pitiful.
I must be doing something wrong - in over 25 years I've never broke one yet ... could it be because I use a pick?
In fifty years of playing, I recall only one broken string. I don't remember the exact details, but I know it was a G string, and I'm fairly sure I was changing strings. Whatever the actual cause was, it was certainly due to something stupid that I did.
Not exactly a string break story...but a great "string" story...
I was on my way to a gig in the late 70's driving our equipment vehicle...a '67 Dodge van (man I loved that van). I just filled up the gas tank and was pulling out onto the highway and all of a sudden the accelerator cable snapped. Of course we were already late, and we weren't sure what to do...and then I had an idea. I grabbed a D string out of my guitar player's case and I was able to jerry rig something using the string as a replacement cable. It worked great and we made it to the gig without a problem. I even sent a letter to Ernie Ball Strings with the story (this was WAY before the internet), thinking it would be a great marketing idea for them. All I got back was a "thanks for inquiring about Ernie Ball strings" letter. I still think they missed out....
I was on my way to a gig in the late 70's driving our equipment vehicle...a '67 Dodge van (man I loved that van). I just filled up the gas tank and was pulling out onto the highway and all of a sudden the accelerator cable snapped. Of course we were already late, and we weren't sure what to do...and then I had an idea. I grabbed a D string out of my guitar player's case and I was able to jerry rig something using the string as a replacement cable. It worked great and we made it to the gig without a problem. I even sent a letter to Ernie Ball Strings with the story (this was WAY before the internet), thinking it would be a great marketing idea for them. All I got back was a "thanks for inquiring about Ernie Ball strings" letter. I still think they missed out....
In 22 years of playing i never break a string.I use Dean Markleys,Ernie balls and Elixirs strings with my 4,5 and 6ers basses,always round woods nickel and steel.Standard tuning and i play finger style and little slap.And i don't change very often.Keep them months,and some of them 1 year.I think is something to do with the way someone change the strings.I always keep the strings with my left hand tight just under the nut and this makes the rest of the string twist freely when i strung my basses.Twisting (rolling on its self) strings brakes easily.
You can see in that video what i mean.Go to 3:35 - 4:00.
You can see in that video what i mean.Go to 3:35 - 4:00.
