beely Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 ….which one would annoy/inconvenience you the most? The reason I ask is I went to see a band last night, in a barber’s shop of all places, and the bass player broke a string in the second-last song. (A string on a P-bass) That’s actually two firsts in one evening. Never been to a gig in a barber’s shop and have never seen a bass player break a string. The bass player decided to finish the set on the three remaining strings, which he accomplished very well indeed, mostly involving visiting parts of the fret-board he didn’t use very often. Anyway, it got me thinking. What string would you miss the most, assuming a four-string? For me it would likely be the A or D string. Something to do with the gap between strings I suppose. Anyone have a string they would least like to lose? Having actually seen a bass player break a string, I was expecting to see a Unicorn on the way home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gs_triumph Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I think the E is the most obvious inconvenience since it's probably the string I start most of my licks from but its probably the easiest (except the G) to do without as I can quite easily transpose to the A string. Like you say, missing A or D would be hardest to compensate for. I don't often go near the G string... On my bass ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 (edited) The A or D would probably mess up my technique the most, but losing the E would be detrimental to the whole band. I might just about be able transpose E-G# up an octave on the fly but it would cost the overall sound a lot of it's low end. Edited December 3, 2017 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I'd really miss the E string, because I don't use the others. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 It'd be interesting to see how many we've collectively broken in all our years of playing - me? never.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 The A is the one I use most, but for obvious reasons the E would be the most awkward seeing as anything lower than an A would be, well just not possible. When recording our 2nd album I noticed that many of the songs were played on the A string only. But this topic is why I take a backup bass to all gigs. Don`t want the mind-altering hassle of havin to transpose fret positions etc, too difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 1 minute ago, TheGreek said: It'd be interesting to see how many we've collectively broken in all our years of playing - me? never.. Me never, either. Doesn't mean it won't happen, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 (edited) 7 minutes ago, TheGreek said: It'd be interesting to see how many we've collectively broken in all our years of playing - me? never.. I got through them when I first started, I reckon I'd be well in to double figures. I had a very vigorous pick technique before I switched to fingerstyle. It must be close to 25 years since I broke the last one though Edited December 3, 2017 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gs_triumph Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Nil broken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I broke a string at rehearsal once and once at home. So twice. I guess I'd miss the B string for the same reason as people have said E string - although I can't imagine breaking one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Never broken one but the E would be the killer. I always take a spare bass ‘just in case’ , in case of what I am not sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 1 minute ago, discreet said: Me never, either. Doesn't mean it won't happen, though. Youve missed one of the bass players coming of age rituals, the comedy 'flobbadobbadobba' sound you get after the core breaks and the windings unwind and rapidly lose tension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJpullchord Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Surely your lowest string is the most obvious as you can’t find the notes elsewhere? Unless anyone goes super high up on the g..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Just now, Cato said: Youve missed one of the bass players coming of age rituals, the comedy 'flobbadobbadobba' sound you get after the core breaks and the windings unwind and rapidly lose tension. 'Coming of age'?? Bloody hell, if it doesn't happen very soon I'll be dead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Which string is which? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I had a D string break where it goes over the bridge saddle years ago, I found a meccano nut and let out enough to tie it on and tune it up, it stayed on the bass for about 6 years like that no problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 (edited) 11 hours ago, discreet said: 'Coming of age'?? Bloody hell, if it doesn't happen very soon I'll be dead! You could try rehearsing through a 30 watt no brand transistor amp while the guitarist plays through a 50 watt Marshall and you attempt to make up the shortfall in volume by hitting the strings like you hate them. That's what did for most of mine Edited December 4, 2017 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 11 minutes ago, Cato said: You could try reharsing through a 30 watt no brand transistor amp while the guitarist plays through a 50 watt Marshall and you attempt to make up the shortfall in volume by hitting the strings like you hate them. It's very tempting, but...no. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 15 minutes ago, Cato said: You could try reharsing through a 30 watt no brand transistor amp while the guitarist plays through a 50 watt Marshall and you attempt to make up the shortfall in volume by hitting the strings like you hate them. That's what did for most of mine That`s pretty much my introduction to playing live, though different wattages on each amp - 150 watt solid state amp v Marshall 100 watt 2x12 combo. It`s a cert that that`s what`s shaped my playing, as I now have more than enough power with my amps, but still set them so that I have to hit hard to get the volume. Well, I play punk, it`s what`s expected 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I’ve broke loads of em, not so much recently as my amp has lots of power so I don’t need to dig in so hard,I broke the E string on my mm Stingray, moved over to the A string and broke that as well, had to quickly swap over to my spare mid song as I was totally lost.. beat that then, 2 strings same gig, same bass, same song.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 I saw Chris Squire break a string & he sang the bass line . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 32 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: That`s pretty much my introduction to playing live, though different wattages on each amp - 150 watt solid state amp v Marshall 100 watt 2x12 combo. It`s a cert that that`s what`s shaped my playing, as I now have more than enough power with my amps, but still set them so that I have to hit hard to get the volume. Well, I play punk, it`s what`s expected I'm the same, I'd be much better if used the headroom of the amp but I'm a ham fisted thumper now after that introduction to jamming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 My F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted December 3, 2017 Share Posted December 3, 2017 The A really. The E can be covered by the B easily enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzbass Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Only time I ever broke a string was years ago when D'Addario brought out copper strings. I think it was the G string. Made my fingertips turn green too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.