Replace 1 string or all 6?

ewal

Opinions please on a fairly dull subject. I recently broke a string, however the set was relatively new. I haven't as yet replaced the string because I can't decide whether to replace just the one or the whole set. I always replace the set but seems wasteful in this case.

What do others do?

viz

I replace them one by one if it’s due to early breakage, or en masse if it’s because they’re old. 

MikeS

One goes, they all go.

roberty

If they're newish I'll pop a single on, sometimes different brand.  I only tend to break them when I'm detuning a lot for setup etc

Cols

Which string, and where did it break?  Is it possible there might be a burr somewhere that needs filed down?

ewal

E string at the tuner. It's on a guitar that's quite new to me, so if it happens again I'll definitely be looking for a sharp edge.

Roland

viz said:

I replace them one by one if it’s due to early breakage, or en masse if it’s because they’re old. 

This. If the top E is going to break early then it’s usually within an hour. Certainly within 48. I keep a couple of spare 10s. 

When I’m adjusting a neck, and have to loosen or take off the strings, then the G or B can fracture at the tuning peg. I’ve got some spare of them too.

Aside from these two situations I rarely get a breakage. One string breaking is a sign that they’re old, and all need replacing.

Lestratcaster

I rarely break strings but it will depend on how long the existing set has been on. If old I'd change them all.

Fez

Unless it's a new set I replace the lot