Author Topic: Why the 'A' string??? (Read 388 times)

David Houck · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2006, 02:36:20 PM »

Hartmut; now that I think about it, mine probably broke at the core too. That's what I get for trying to rely on my memory. Thanks for setting me straight!

bigredbass · « **Reply #16 on:** May 20, 2006, 04:39:20 PM »

Back in the day when yours truly frammed the **** out of my basses with Fender heavy picks (this was CERTAINLY before my low-action present day) I'd routinely break Roto and Boomer E's and A's just from the torque I was inputting! They always broke at the saddle, I'm guessing from the side to side slamming they were getting. Nothing ever flew across the room, except the bandleader at me!

I did however have a G below middle C break on a baby grand I was playing. It popped at the far end and whipped a chunk out of the music stand and threw the score in my lap. Scared the hell out of me. That really proved the worth of learning to read music! If the stand had been laying flat . . . . You know in the old days when metallurgy was a fairly crude science and before XRay inspection, the harps on pianos would break against the tension. On a concert grand, this totals around 60,000#, and was quite terrifying and even deadly on occasion.

J o e y

David Houck · « **Reply #17 on:** May 20, 2006, 04:50:05 PM »

You broke a string playing piano!!!???

Did you have a backup piano with you at the gig?

bigredbass · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2006, 08:56:12 PM »

I was playing at home when I was a kid.

Those of us who remember the CP70/80 portable Yamaha grands remember they ran a close race breaking stings with the Rhodes' breaking tines!

J o e y

sluggo · « **Reply #19 on:** May 21, 2006, 05:41:05 AM »

In my expirience...strings, as a rule, do tend to break at the saddle. This due to the fact that the saddle is the fulcrum of the lever(string). That is the are a of most strain is, plus ...we are constantly pulling, slapping, picking, thumping, hitting, flicking, striking, plucking, strumming, and delicately finesing the strings nearest that point. It is probably not your bass since you've had it inspected...stuff happens!
Take Care
SLUGGO

bsee · « **Reply #20 on:** May 21, 2006, 07:57:30 AM »

Scott, I would contact the manufacturer. If you keep buying your strings from the same dealer, particularly if they are a local shop, you could be getting set after set from the same manufacturing lot. If there was any sort of problem with that group, you're just buying faulty string after faulty string.

I had a problem with some La Bella strings last year and the company replaced them within a couple weeks.

keurosix · « **Reply #21 on:** June 19, 2006, 08:21:58 PM »

Scott,
I haven't broke an A string for decades now. However, when I was real young, stronger, and easily excitable, I broke a bunch. Like the time our band opened for Johnny Winter at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT and I was playing REAL hard! I was pumped! That was a B.C. Rich bass with a similar bridge saddle like the Alembic: A sharp edge to intonate correctly. This sharp edge works like a knife on the string and forces a wedge between wraps. eventually it will weaken the core as you flex the string back and forth. The tension on the string helps to degrade the string quickly too. The more aggressive playing style, the quicker you snap the core. The wrap can break too and usually will because the bridge saddle takes a bite into it. Of all the strings I broke, only one did not break the wrap. It acted like a loose spring and took twice as long to extract through the string hole on the bridge (BC Rich). If only I had the Alembic then. I would have played with a much lighter touch having the electronics to take up where I could not get with my fingers alone. I used to use Dean Markley stst strings, stst Rotos, stst Ken Smith Rock Masters, and now the Alembics. While the Alembic string is not as flexible as a true roundwound stst string, the slightly flattened wrap sounds refined and has a depth to it. They seem to last a long time too. Of course with Alembic electronics, even dead strings can singe your nose hairs off! I really believe it is mostly your technique that is breaking strings. I have seen certain aftermarket bridges (ABM, etc,) that have fat saddles front to back which cradle the string and won't allow much lateral movement. I bet that would keep your strings lasting longer. If your bass is an Alembic, see if they can make a special set of Fat saddles to try. If it's not an Alembic, sell it - it's the bass' fault! Get you an Alembic NOW! P.S. Bob is right - contact the string manufacturer and they will replace them for you. The cost of one string is far less than a customer who says I love your strings except for the funky little habit they have of breaking.
Keurosix