Breaking D strings

[Aussie Mark]

my head is saying trust Aussie Mark, but my fingers say no way are they the same strings.
maybe I learnt somfin new today.

Buy a set of EB Flats and a set of Chromes in the same guage and do a side by side comparison. I've even bought EB Flats one time that had the multi coloured D'Addario type ball ends - that might have been a packaging error at the factory though.

I'm not trying to start a debate here or tip anything on EBMM - but I believe it is not a secret - it's just not advertised as such. The product descriptions that used to be on the EBMM website for their various strings gave some very clear insight into this arrangement as well. It's all good though.

 

[Holdsg]

Funny thing, I have only ever used Group III flats, because i fell in love with first handle. Those feel like TIs or the Labellas I once had on another brand bass. Very unlike Chromes, which i have also Spent much time with. So i still have the two types of flats i like, and i don't really care who makes them as long as they keep making them and I know where to buy them. Carry on, I'm just confused, people, but that's not the first or last time that has happened.

 

[Microbaroms]

Quote: "My educated guess is - it's the strings. For technical reasons that I once knew but have since forgotten, the outer wrap of flatwounds can and sometimes does separate from the core when the strings are trimmed. The common failure point is simply where the stress is greatest, there at the tuner. Once the core and wrap are separated, that's about it for that string. The solution is either (a) don't trim the string until it's at tension and snug against the post or (b) put a 90 degree crimp in the string just above where you plan to trim it. I use plan B and it generally works like a champ."



I agree with Jack's thoughts, diagnosis and solution.

The one additional factor I might add is this. Whereas many Strings feature an hexagonal core, which has multiple edges which tend to act to grip the outer layer of material in the String wrapped around it all along its entire length.

Certain Strings however, have a round core instead. The distinguishing feature of these, is that the only points at which the Strings are actually fixed is at either end of the Strings. At their absolute extremities. On such Strings, if you have a breakage at either end Tailpiece/Bridge or Machine Heads, the tension that adheres the outer wrapping layer of material to the core, is lost completely, and (although it might look ok to the eye) the String will increasingly unravel along its entire length, or just as bad, look ok, but loosen and become increasingly "rubber band like" in Feel and Tonality.

This unwanted phenomenon could happen as an spontaneous and instantaneous occurrence along the entire Strings length which is simple to detect, or indeed as a gradual loosening effect which occurs over a period of time, particularly with more and more use, which will understandably be harder to detect than the former, depending upon how diligently observant the Player is, but will definitely emerge over time. The String will feel and sound different, and this is usually what has happened, unless its fret wear gouging out wrapping from the String creating a similar effect, and also affect intonation.

But I'm sure no one here plays with their Strings "that" long, or allows them to recede to such a deleterious state. I always use Ernie Ball Strings, as the Bass is designed and Set up for them and I've proven over many years the Quality is High, what is more they are Consistently High.

Finding a Manufacturer or Service that is Consistent is a Really Big Deal!



P

 

[1954bassman]

The DR are supposed to be Hex core.

 

[Golem]

my head is saying trust Aussie Mark, but my fingers say no way
are they the same strings. maybe I learnt somfin new today.

It does make sense to contract out for a low volume product,
such as flats. As to what your fingers tell you ... the EB flats
might NOT be the EXACT same strings as D'A Chromes even if
D'A is making them. When you contract for a product, you can
usually set your own specs, not merely choosing an existing
in-stock product to go into your own packaging.

I have one set of EB flats in play, and I find them very much
alike to Chromes, of which I have many sets in play. Are they
EXACTLY alike ? I'd need to string up identical basses to feel
a difference, something I don't bother with. My only set of EB
Flats is on a bass of which I have only one example, and it's
also a 35" [XL scale], so it's not gonna feel much like any of
my Chrome sets that are on 34" scales with different profile
necks than the one with the EBs.


`

 

[Golem]

..........

But I'm sure no one here plays with their Strings
"that" long, or allows them to recede to such a
deleterious state. I always use Ernie Ball Strings,
..........

I play 10 year old strings, cuz I likem like that
Not unraveled, I mean, just waaaayy broken in !
Aftrawl, we're talking flats here. 10 years ? Meh.


`

 

[LawDaddy]

Funny thing, I have only ever used Group III flats, because i fell in love with first handle. Those feel like TIs or the Labellas I once had on another brand bass. Very unlike Chromes, which i have also Spent much time with. So i still have the two types of flats i like, and i don't really care who makes them as long as they keep making them and I know where to buy them. Carry on, I'm just confused, people, but that's not the first or last time that has happened.

+1, I love my Group III flats, and can't stand Chromes, they have a zippy thing in there that just won't go away.

 

[1954bassman]

Okay, got the replacement string today. I was almost afraid to put it on. I did not trim it at all, and after sticking the end of the string into the hole on the tuner, I sort of "figure eighted" around the top of the machine post, then started winding it. So far, it has tuned up to pitch and has not broken.

 

[five7]

keeping my fingers crossed for you.

 

[1954bassman]

"hanging in there"

Well, I worked up the nerve to take the bass to church this morning, and so far, so good. The strings sound great, and I think I am going to prefer them to Chromes on this bass.

I also got the custom Chandler pickguard (Candy Crush Purple) and the Q Knobs Natural Abalone Shell knobs, and they look killer on the Gold Sterling. I will try to post some photos of my "pimped-out" ride when I get time. The pickguard is not got any purple in it at all, I think they may have sent me the wrong color, but the guard looks great on the bass, so I am happy.