JapanAxe Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 I've never bust a bass string, and only once broke an electric guitar string (at a rehearsal). I have had a couple of guitars fail mid-rehearsal - one a bad solder joint came undone; the other the pickup selector switch died. IMO the most likely failure mode is for the electronics to die, so both my active basses have a passive mode. I always take two electric guitars to a gig, but have generally winged (wung?) it with one bass. The requirement for a 'spare' is my justification for the GAS referred to below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom skool Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 I used to often break the E and A strings which I put down to bad technique and my amp not being loud enough. I finally found somewhere I could buy single strings as I was hating having to buy whole sets to replace 1 string (and acquired a large collection of D and G strings) and I've not broken one since! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Only broken a string once. The E string, on the first note of the first song. Thankfully a kind member of another band saw my predicament and handed me his bass without any prompting whatsoever. A true gent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon. Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Years ago I went through a phase of breaking strings - all E's & A's. Fortunately it only ever happened at rehearsals and never on a gig. The particular brand of strings in question had step-down windings at the ball end, and all the breaks occurred at the bridge. Quickly moved on to another manufacturer, and have never broken another one since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Only ever broke one string gigging - at Jillys rock club in Manchester in the 80s - the core went on the A and I tried to pull the thing off, which lacerated the palm of my right hand; blood everywhere, very rock 'n roll, but it friggin hurt... I take two basses to every gig, not broken a string since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Thought Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Broken a couple, but only on my old noodler which I only change the strings on once a decade. I've seen a bottom E go mid-gig on a Gibson Explorer, which took the bloke ages to change. I was within earshot of JJ Burnel once, as he was telling Jason How, CEO of Rotosound, that if he doesn't change his strings after every gig, he will break a bottom E for certain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Nearly all the string breakages I've had have occurred when they were new which leads me to believe that in my case it is mainly down manufacturing flaws rather than set-up or technique issues. Generally if a string lasts through 2 or 3 gigs or rehearsals then it will last me until I think it's time to change them all due to them sounding too dull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 I play 6 string basses and I've snapped all strings at one time or another. I always took a spare to gigs. I think I just play hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 This isn't string related but I did have the 9v battery die on 2 basses at the one time within 5 minutes of each other at a rehearsal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulconnolly Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Haven't broken a string for many a year. But here's an anecdote that I think on the subconscious level led to me being a bass player (may have posted it on BC before but I can't remember): My first ever proper concert was Rod Stewart at Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester in about 1975. Support act was Liverpool Express. IIRC their bass player/singer, Billy Kinsley, broke both an E and an A string during the opening number . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Never broken one in 40+ years. The blues guitarist Russell Sinclair who I am plying with now uses 13-56 on a Les Paul Studio and gets through several wound strings every gig! He is a) very grateful for a string endorsement, and in need of a Graphtech String Saver saddle set! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Never broken one yet in over 30 years. I normally have a spare set of strings with me just in case though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 I take a spare set to gigs but at present have stopped carrying a spare bass despite having perfectly capable backups at home. Never broken a string whilst playing though I vaguely recall one breaking on me when I was fitting a new set (probably Rotos) years ago, retailer replaced it with no quibbles as I recall. Had no issues with the cheap as chips ones I've been gigging with regularly this year. If anyone else fancies a dabble with them they are these; [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-Strings-DCG3-45-105-Coban-Deluxe-Range-Wonderful-Reviews-/161085017849?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item25816a4ef9#ht_3856wt_1077"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-Strings-DCG3-45-105-Coban-Deluxe-Range-Wonderful-Reviews-/161085017849?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item25816a4ef9#ht_3856wt_1077[/url] At that price its worth having them in the bag just as back-ups I reckon but I get at least 6 months regular gigging from these and I like some 'zing' in my strings. Anyone happy with a less 'edgy' sound could probably get a lot longer out of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 3 years, 6 months and 16 days since I last broke a string, which was just as we were going to start our set at a pub festival. Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krysh Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 I never broke a string on bass within the past 30 years but always have a spare set with me. on guitar I only had a few string breaks on rehearsals and I believe only 1 at a gig in the past 30 years, but usually I use 2 guitars on a gig and have some sets with me anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PauBass Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 I have never broken a string but I always carry a spare set with me just in case...there's always a first time for everything and you never know when it might happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immo Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Never broken a single string while playing/tuning. Makes me wonder, being a disaster prone person and all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapiro Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 I used to have one bass that used to chew through low B strings .... turns out the bridge was a bit sharp and a little bit of filing down solved it permanently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigd1 Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Been playing bass for about 40yrs, never broken a string, and never taken a spare Bass, Amp etc to a gig. Although I do use 110 flat wounds, not sure if that makes a difference or not. I do hit the strings quite hard in some of my playing style but, no problems as of yet. I do take a spare set of strings, lead & battery to gigs though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Think I broke a g string once 5 or so years ago. Even so I'd always have spare strings and usually a spare bass on stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bankai Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Not even once! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odysseus Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Only ever broke a string once, and that when I was using superwounds and tried a mad bend on the G. Pinnnggg!!. Haven't used (or even seen) superwounds for years..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=^..^= Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I broke lots when I started out but I couldn't afford good strings then. As I could afford better and could afford to replace them more frequently I stopped breaking them. That said I broke a string about three years ago - an 'A' string on a double bass. That's full on psychobilly for you though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Broke one today. Thrashing away through rehearsal and my A string suddenly got a lot floppier… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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