When's the last time you broke a string?

[JazzyJacuzzi]

I remember breaking strings the first four or five years I started playing bass, but I can't recall ever breaking a string in the past 10 years.

When's the last time you broke a string? How did it happen?

 

[tindrum]

1985. And I did it on purpose to see what it would be like (I was 16). I can’t ever imagine breaking one otherwise.

 

[Reedt2000]

Maybe as a kid trying to slap the living crap out of a poor defenseless bass, but not in the last several decades

 

[Staccato]

Bass? Never.

 

[juggahnaught]

I've never broken a string.

 

[cmcbass]

I broke a string probably 2 years ago. It was a new string and the core broke at the bridge while tuning it up. Other than that its probably been 10+ years.

 

[Lowendchamp]

First time ever just a few weeks ago. Got a used Spector and the Low B wouldnt intonate quite right and instead of checking the bridge ( where the end of the string was not seated all the way) I just attempted to tune it and it snapped. Didnt matter though I was changing to flats anyway.

 

[BLDavis]

1984, Palatka Fla. A place called Moccasin Creek. We were the opening act for Dan Seals. I was young and stupid, trying to show-off in front of the big crowd there to see him. Snapped a G trying to play the bass solo in Thug by ZZ Top. I remember just standing there, frozen in place. Didn't know what to do. I wanted to crawl under the drum riser and hide. A very sobering experience. I haven't played that song, or broken a string since.
B.

 

[DirtDog]

On a gig (of course) about 5 or 6 years ago. And for whatever reason I neglected to bring a backup (was a crap gig for crap pay). No extra strings. Played out the set without an E string, guitarist’s father brought me a spare but it didn’t have a strap and my bass was set up with strap locks. So I took the E off the spare bass and put it on mine. Not optimum but the gig went on.

That learned me. Always bring a backup bass no matter the size of the gig. Up to that point I usually did bring a backup. Since then I ALWAYS brought a backup….

 

[Element Zero]

2000? 2001? I remember it being the A string and I’m pretty sure it was a set of Dean Markley Blue Steels. I can’t recall if it was a gig or at practice but I know there were other people there.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Never, playing since about 1978.

However, when I change strings, I keep the old set in the case, just in case a string goes.

 

[Low Commotion]

Only once and that was several years ago. I removed a set of TI's off a Precision to try on a Jazz bass, and when I restrung them on the Jazz, the E string broke at the bridge. I think it was because the string was on the Precision for several years and the string was stressed differently on the Jazz.

 

[MNAirHead]

I went for decades with never breaking a string... then for some reason all a sudden - the strings on my 7 string all shattered the same day

 

[Jefus]

I broke 3 of them last week. I wound up filing some sharp edges on a tuning post and filing out an under-sized nut-slot before I could get the string to pitch.

 

[Ggaa]

1978, Fender branded flat, D I think. Middle of a set.

 

[Liam Wald]

Haven't broken a bass string even once in 55 years.

 

[Stewie]

I broke the G string of a very old set of GHS flats when I swapped my old fretless neck from my old Jazz Bass to a P body. They had been on and off the bass several times in their 20 year lifespan

 

[JRA]

When's the last time you broke a string?

~mid 1990s, on a jazz gig, at a well-known jazz joint in indy. it was either the A string or maybe the D string. i don't remember breaking other strings, ever, but if i did: it wasn't at a gig!

How did it happen?

i'm not sure --- i don't remember the details, but i want to say it broke in the middle someplace (not at the bridge, not at the tuner) --- i do remember that finishing that tune was a PITA. i also remember chalking it up to a bum string (vs. playing too hard, super old strings, etc.)

why do you ask?

 

[Bass4Brkfast]

I'm in the never camp for bass strings.
Not even ultra cheap chinese ones.

 

[Amano]

None in 30 years.