When's the last time you broke a string?

[shadven]

Once every ten years.

 

[marchone]

Once around 1969. Spontaneous pop. Not playing. Rotosound 66s. Thought it was just a bad string. Never happened again.

 

[40Hz]

Never.

 

[Agent0]

20 years ago and that was the only break over 40 years. And I don’t play anything heavy so it must have been defective or I cut it wrong or something. Of course, it was on stage.

 

[sonic 7]

1984

 

[DwaynieAD]

When I restrung my schecter I just bought. Never did that before. Only ever broke one string while playing and that was year ago

 

[dave64o]

I've never broken bass string.

Of course, saying probably guarantees that I'll break one in my first post-pandemic gig...

 

[fauxtoe]

It's been at least 15 or more years ago since I last broke one and it was only on one specific 5 string bass. It was a two-piece bridge design and I think the break angle was too extreme because I managed to break every string within the time I owned it.

 

[juancaminos]

I'm thinking that it was 1999 at the Tequila Country Club in Ahwatukee.

 

[electracoyote]

Even more surprising than breaking a string, I have had string sets with a slightly fatigued or stress-cracked core right out of the brand new package that seemed fine when I strung it up, and then at the most inopportune time decided to snap into a floppy buzzy mess.

I seem to remember also breaking one from poor technique or attack (maybe I couldn't hear myself and started playing heavier).

So that's around twice, three times in 40 years?

An admittedly rare event, but in live settings I've always had a backup on the stand, tuned up, plugged in to an A/B box or fitted with a wireless TX, ready to roll within seconds.

 

[Corigan]

I've broken a ton of guitar strings, ecspecially on a floyd rose bridge.

Never broken a bass string.

 

[dave hope]

Never, that wasn’t my fault. (strap slips, drops bass, pinch string )

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Never broke a string playing in the 1st 30 + years.
Used and abused mostly boomers during that time.
Boiled / re-used / rinse / repeat.

The past 5 years I've tried strings from at least 9 different manufactures.
I've had strings break at the post from Ernie Ball (cobalt flats) and a couple DR.
Also, a few bad E strings from Rotosound.
In every instance, the manufacture provided a replacement.

They usually break when bringing them back up to tension after performing some kind of maintenance, swapping pickups, etc.
"you're not supposed to do that" was the typical response.
Apparently, now you're supposed to replace your strings every-time you have to slacken them for some reason?

 

[fishdude101101]

I've never broken a bass string

 

[Keger Jupti]

Re-stringing with brand new Billy Sheehan signature Rotosounds...when they were first introduced...like, 1993?

 

[Nebadon2000]

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?

Mid 70's A string; only time, crowd bought band lots of Tequila Shots got a little carried away on impromptu Bass Solo

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

Only once at a gig - re-tuned and played though with three strings. At home , once with Flats that unwrapped and probably because I messed something up. It’s a rare occasion as far as I know. Worst case scenario, play on one string - washtub evening and I don’t think in most cases, the audience will even know (sad, yes, but that’s just the way it is).

 

[BasEd]

Once. When restringing a bass. Was probably a faulty (G) string.

 

[JW56789]

Back in the 80's. Then I realized to let that big knob on a big amp do the work: Problem solved.

 

[Marcury]

Two weeks ago at a rehearsal. Expensive too it was the E string from TI Jazz Flats.