Why the 'A' string???

[sstillwell]

I have been breaking A strings like you would not believe...always the A string...never anything else.  Always in the same spot...right at the bridge saddle.  They never last more than a couple of weeks of twice-a-week or three times playing.
 
This is an Epic 4-string, 45-65-80-105 gauges, I play with a heavy pick (Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm), and I play hard, but not THAT hard....jeez.
 
I thought maybe it was a burr that was weakening the strings...I could feel one with my fingernail on the flat face of the saddle closest to the pickups.  I took it to a VERY reputable repair shop here in town to have them look at it.  They filed and polished the groove.  Took it out to a gig last night...boing.  Broken A string...at the saddle.
 
What is up with this?  I use Dean Markley Blue Steel strings...has anybody else had problems with them?  It's never been a problem before now.  I LOVE Alembic strings, but finding them here in town (Kansas City) is always a problem.  Maybe I should just order them online and be done with it.
 
I'm open to suggestions...thanks!
 
Scott Stillwell

[David Houck]

Do you have a magnifying glass?

[811952]

I have been using Blue Steels of late as well, and several months ago I broke an A string.  I haven't broken a string in forever, and back in the day only ever broke E strings.  Check to see that it's firm in the saddle, as wiggling there makes the windings chafe/nick the core, leading to breakage.  Were you using another brand previously that wasn't as prone to breakage?  Also, I think Dave is leading up to having you check for burrs and such on the saddle, or evidence that the string is rubbing the back rail of the bridge.  There have been a few threads on this topic, so you may want to search a bit on it here.
 
John

[bumhucker]

have you tried an .85 A string?

[smokin_dave]

You might want to try using a little graphite in the groove on the saddle also.

[sstillwell]

I don't know if I have a glass offhand, but I'll find one somewhere...can always go buy one for cheap...less expensive than strings, that's for sure!
 
I'm wondering if there might be a QC problem with those strings.
 
I'm pretty sure that the bridge was initially grooved for those gauge strings, but I'll check to see if there's more play in the A slot.
 
re: back rail of the bridge...the string is breaking exactly at the saddle...not behind it.
 
I'll do some more searching.  In the meantime I'll either drag out my Epic 6 or my trusty old Precision.  The Epic will sound better, but my hands are kinda small for the 6...I start to cramp up after a few songs, much less an entire night.

[David Houck]

Here is a previous thread that may or may not be helpful.  The follow up to that thread is that using a large self supported magnifying glass and a needle file, I carefully and thoroughly smoothed the saddle.  It turns out that in my case, the problem is that I use light tension small gauge strings and I play hard.  But I'm not breaking strings every two weeks like you are.

[sstillwell]

Thanks, but the point to be noted here is that I've already taken the bass to the shop and had that done...and these guys are VERY good.
 
I will get a glass and inspect, but I think I'll also change brands of strings and see what happens.

[haddimudd]

I had the problem not with an Alembic bass, but many years ago on a Fender Jazz clone and a Squier Jazz respectively when I played Rotosound string. The braking strings where not limited to only the A-string but also a lot of D and G strings due to excessive pulling of slap style playing. I don't remember at which time the brakage stopped but I stopped using Rotosounds for that particular reason and maybe that changed the situation. Anyway, I also changed basses at one point so that also may have helped, but that is surely not your option.

[rami]

I've never broken a string ever - on any of my Basses.  Frankly, the thought scares the HELL out of me! That .105 E string or .130 B string whipping by.  I'm sure that thought has subconsciously influenced the development of my technique.  I'm gentle with my Basses so they don't bite back.
 
Good luck - I have no useful advice to offer.  Perhaps a set of safety glasses might be in order?
 
Rami

[olieoliver]

Rami,Ive broken several strings (not in a few years though)and have never had a bass string fly at me. I have had guitar strings do this but never a bass string. I assume this is because they are not pulled as tight as a guitar.
 
(Message edited by olieoliver on May 18, 2006)

[David Houck]

In my case, the string always break at the saddle.  It is the wrap that breaks; the core stays intact.  Thus, the string always remains in the saddle and doesn't go flying off anywhere.

[olieoliver]

Same here Dave. I've never had one break any place but the saddle. Even on my Kubickis, and the have a very smooth surface at the bridge/tuner. I used to think this was because I played too hard and this may be so, but I've never broke a string that was newer than 3 or 4 weeks old anyway. So I never really worried about too much.

[haddimudd]

Funny, when my strings broke it was the core, never the wrap. Same here though, they would brake at the saddle. And since the wrap was still intact the string was kept from flying anywhere. Indeed, the effect of braking would show in a sudden loss of tension, not the opposite like a whipping effect.  
 
Dave, with the intact core I would guess you could continue playing, couldn't you? In the 80s there was a UK string brand using this concept where the wrap would stop before the saddle so the core alone would lie on the saddle. The result was said to give more of a piano string sound. Mark King was endorsing them at that time.  
 
So I guess you would be in good company with your intact unwrapped core...

[olieoliver]

My strings always broke at the saddle like Daves, but mine too was the core not the wrap that broke.