Mikeg Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 (edited) i just had another string break on me, twice in the last 4 months now. And im starting to wonder what the cause may be. i dont play that hard on the strings, although i do slap. Both times the string didnt snap, it uncoiled at the bridge. The strings were DR highbeams, not cheap strings. And on my pathetic students budget i dont fancy another breakage i know this is a long shot but any help will be much apreciated. Mike Edited June 6, 2011 by Mikeg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Change brands? DR have had some quality control issues recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Check the bridge for sharp edges, but you might just have been unlucky with suspect batches of strings. In fact the only set of HiBeams i used did this after about 20 minutes play (i followed the instructions on the packet) and there has been another thread recently: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=131134&hl=dr+hi+beams"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...;hl=dr+hi+beams[/url] Also Geoffbyrne has an the A and E strings for sale if one you broke one of those: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=134902&hl=dr+hibeams"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;hl=dr+hibeams[/url] For 2+2 headstocks but that shouldn't matter on the lower strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikeg Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 [quote name='lemmywinks' post='1258787' date='Jun 6 2011, 07:11 PM']Check the bridge for sharp edges, but you might just have been unlucky with suspect batches of strings. In fact the only set of HiBeams i used did this after about 20 minutes play (i followed the instructions on the packet) and there has been another thread recently: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=131134&hl=dr+hi+beams"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...;hl=dr+hi+beams[/url] Also Geoffbyrne has an the A and E strings for sale if one you broke one of those: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=134902&hl=dr+hibeams"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;hl=dr+hibeams[/url] For 2+2 headstocks but that shouldn't matter on the lower strings.[/quote] That thread was also me i'll check the bridge for sharp edges, but i'll be glad to try another brand of strings, Hibeams arent cheap Thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Oh yeah, didn't realise that was you! I'm pretty sure i've heard of more HiBeams breaking though, as said the quality control has been iffy. Tbh my favourite strings are Elites Stadium which can still be had for about £15, also check some of the Warwick ones out. Even the really cheap ones are decent. Hartke ones are also well liked on here but not to my taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Tell me if you find anything about the bridge, as the same thing happened to me on my BTB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I broke a DR Lo Rider A string in about a week. When I break strings it's usually the same way-the core snaps near the bridge and the windings unravel. It probably won't be a sharp edge on the bridge saddle-you might play them harder than you think.I know that I don't have a light touch and sometimes strings break..it happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Leaving aside possibly bad strings, I just can't imagine breaking a bass string. Not once in 40+ years... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 (edited) Did you break 2 D strings? The problem might be the way you string the bass. If you fix the end of the string in the bridge, twist it around the machine head and then tighten you can get a twist in the core of the string which can make a weak point, which will probably be at the bridge. Try to leave the bridge end of the string loose so that it can turn and straighten out before you tighten via the machine head. Edited June 7, 2011 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I'd also contact the manufacturer, they may be far more helpful than you might think. I once found a dead A string in a set of Rotos. I emailed them and got a reply the same day from Jason Howe (the boss I think), apologising profusely and offered to send me a whole new pack free of charge. No return of the defective string needed, no proof of purchase, nothing. I was very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Would a sharp saddle really cause a string break on a bass? I can't imagine it ever getting anywhere near the core, I could believe (and have seen it) on guitar, especially the higher 3 strings but I can't see it happening on bass. I'd suspect it was a dodgy set. I've only broken 2 strings in 10 years and I really hammer them. Of course both times were real pigs, first time was the only time I hadn't brought a backup bass to (and I played 6 string bass at the time) so lots of panicing as I tried to transpose down a string for anything on the C and the second time was on a Dingwall the day before I sold it, luckily it was the G string so I stuck on a spare string I had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheldon Dingwall Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Unless you see an obvious burr on the saddle under the strings, I don't see anything mechanical that looks to be contributing. So could be a bad batch of strings or it could be stage volume. If you're having trouble hearing yourself on stage or at rehearsal you'll unconsciously compensate by playing harder. The result will be greater potential for broken strings. The solution - crazy as it seems is to turn up your amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 DR seems to go through patches of having fragile strings, though usually for guitar, every couple of years. They would also work-harden and fatigue around the machine heads, so that loosening a string would cause breakage at the fold point. Definitely worth complaining - I did this with stringbusters and got a free replacement pack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' post='1259667' date='Jun 7 2011, 01:44 PM']I'd also contact the manufacturer, they may be far more helpful than you might think. I once found a dead A string in a set of Rotos. I emailed them and got a reply the same day from Jason Howe (the boss I think), apologising profusely and offered to send me a whole new pack free of charge. No return of the defective string needed, no proof of purchase, nothing. I was very impressed. [/quote] +1 to that The D on my 5 month old Roto flats felt like the wraps were coming loose as the string felt rough ( for a flat anyway ) I emailed rotosound and after a couple of emails I had a brand new D in the post wrapped in about 12 layers of bubblewrap. Edited June 8, 2011 by Delberthot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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