When's the last time you broke a string?

[Cave Puppy]

Never in almost 43 years of playing bass. I have, however, had an entire bridge rip right out of a very cheap bass early on. Man, I haven't though of that in years.

 

[rtslinger]

Christmas 2020 changing strings
Playing not in a very very long time

 

[TheReceder]

I never used to bring a back up.... after more than 40 years I hadn't broke a string, then played an outdoor gig about 3 years ago and broke a d string on a brand new (used) bass. My emergency kit was in the trailer, that a cop made us move to a lot 6 blocks away... I ended out playing the gig without a d string, the only thing the band noticed was that I wasn't doing any talking (normally it was my job to fill spaces with pointless babble...) All but the drummer didn't realize that I was spending every moment trying to figure out how to play around songs without using the d string. The drummer thought it was hilarious, the rest of the band was blown away that they didn't even notice. In my opinion,,, it was the worst string I could have broke.

 

[Bullitt5135]

The only time I've broken a string was when I was putting a fresh set on. No matter how much I turned the G-string tuner, the D-String wouldn't change pitch.

 

[GreyBeard]

It has been so long ago that I remember it happening but I have no idea how long ago it was.

 

[Ewo]

About three or four years ago I snapped a roundwound G string I was taking off the bass. I was being absent-minded, and was tightening it rather than loosening it. Duh!

Last time I had one break while playing was 1971...

 

[3bc]

Probably 25 years ago when I was young and in a grind band and playing with a pick. Can’t imagine breaking a string playing with my fingers.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

About 4 years in and I haven't broken one yet. I use a pick about 40-50% of the time also. Now, since I just stated that, I plan on breaking one soon!

 

[muggsy]

Never

 

[smurfco]

I think I popped one on a Hofner bass at rehearsal once, I guess this would have been about 12 or so years ago at this point. I can't remember if they were brand new or very, very old but it was one of the two.

 

[MCS4]

I broke a low E string (tuned down to D) at gig sometime around 2007-2008 or so. Luckily it was on the very last note of our last song, during a big rock tune that ended on a low D with typical big rock tune closing fanfare (guitar shredding, drum fills, singer thanking the bar and crowd, etc.), so it largely went unnoticed and possibly even sounded appropriate in the moment.

 

[MonetBass]

Never in over 40 years of playing.

 

[stigbeve]

Never in 20 years of playing.

 

[wango55]

At a Christmas party like 10 years ago. The musicians at my job were asked to form a band to provide some entertainment for the annual Holiday Party. I only brought one bass since I figured it was only an hour set. Broke the low E on the next to last song. I played the final song - which I think was "American Girl" with just the remaining three. I switched to D'Addario strings (was using GHS Boomers) and fortunately have yet to break another string. I've broken several GHS Low E's in my day.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

In the 80's or 90's when I was using a trem

 

[Gaolee]

Never in more than 40 years of bass playing. Famous last words.

 

[Fernando Costa]

Never.

 

[Nashrakh]

In nearly twenty years of playing, I've never broken a string on a bass guitar. I have however lost parts of a bridge on multiple occasions. Like screws and springs. That always has me looking for them in a panic!

 

[rtav]

1979.

 

[JazzyJacuzzi]

why do you ask?

I recently noticed whenever an interviewer asks a bass player if they change their flatwounds they always say "only when one breaks." Got me wondering when does that ever happen? I can actually only remember breaking a string once, during rehearsal, when I was like 15, trying to slap...