Going to up the string gauge on my bass...issues?

Jaymz

Jaymz

Stymphalian Productions
May 20, 2006
7,425
11
38
York
www.facebook.com
Personally I find the E and low B to be a bit "sagging" too my tastes (esp the B) with a regular pack of strings (130 B) so I think im gonna whack a slightly thicker pack on, Namely Warwick Black Label's that being to a 135, im just wondering if anybody has had any issues with the bass after this has happend, eg, truss rod adjustments, I know fuck all about basses and wouldnt know how to sort one out anyway so im curious about anything I may need to know before I place the order.

Perhaps some nut filing will need to take place. :mad:

I like having bright/tight feel on my strings and the low B is more "boom" than "note" as it stands, hoping a new pack slightly thicker will sort it out. Its a Spector Q5 btw.

Cheeers!:rock:
 
The nut may need a bit of filing, and keep an eye on the neck. Change might not be instantaneous, it might take a day or two to notice anything, so don't relax if everything looks fine right off the bat. If it starts to bow a bit more than you like, give the truss rod a bit more tension. It's not as scary as it sounds. Just remember to adjust in small increments, like maybe a quarter turn, if that, and that results aren't instantaneous. You might need to snug it up a bit and check it the next day to see the results. I'm sure a tech could do things faster, but in my limited experience on guitars and making minor adjustments on my bass thats how things work.

Also you might need to raise the saddles a bit on those strings, as the heavier gauge might need more clearance to not rattle as much, but then the extra tension might make up for it, I dunno. Intonation might need a slight adjustment as well. Throw those fuckers on and just go through standard setup procedures. If you don't go, you'll never know.
 
Uladyne said:
The nut may need a bit of filing, and keep an eye on the neck. Change might not be instantaneous, it might take a day or two to notice anything, so don't relax if everything looks fine right off the bat. If it starts to bow a bit more than you like, give the truss rod a bit more tension. It's not as scary as it sounds. Just remember to adjust in small increments, like maybe a quarter turn, if that, and that results aren't instantaneous. You might need to snug it up a bit and check it the next day to see the results. I'm sure a tech could do things faster, but in my limited experience on guitars and making minor adjustments on my bass thats how things work.

Also you might need to raise the saddles a bit on those strings, as the heavier gauge might need more clearance to not rattle as much, but then the extra tension might make up for it, I dunno. Intonation might need a slight adjustment as well. Throw those fuckers on and just go through standard setup procedures. If you don't go, you'll never know.
Click to expand...

Yeah I think yolur right, the action should be alright afterwards just see how the neck copes :P Not like its going up a massive gauage amount but still I was curious.

Im guessing your a bass player? If so what gauge strings do you prefer?
 
Don't consider gauge as your only option for stiffer strings. I've found that steels are a bit stiffer in the same gauge as nickels.
There just isn't much tension on the B regardless-- roughly 35lbs of pressure for a .130 B string vs 50 on your average .65 D string.
The problem is a .135 will only get you to around 36 lbs of pressure so it is a pretty small difference unfortunately.
 
egan. said:
Don't consider gauge as your only option for stiffer strings. I've found that steels are a bit stiffer in the same gauge as nickels.
There just isn't much tension on the B regardless-- roughly 35lbs of pressure for a .130 B string vs 50 on your average .65 D string.
The problem is a .135 will only get you to around 36 lbs of pressure so it is a pretty small difference unfortunately.
Click to expand...

Ah right...all I know is the ones on the bass when I bought it (Which are the ones currently on) are Ernie Ball's not sure what gauge, I assume its just regular gauge.

Do you think the Warwick strings will improve tension by themselves being steels?
 
egan. said:
possibly....it sucks but there is only one way to find out. I haven't used the warwicks but I think there is a pretty big difference between steel and nickel.
Click to expand...

Well I shall try them out and hope for the best!

Any other tips you can tell me to increase tension/clarity? :rock:
 
Think I know what im gonna do, just buy the regular gauge set, if its not gonna make much difference id settle for moving to the steels with a regular gauge. Thanks for the info guys!!
 
Just a quick update, got myself a pack of the Warwicks Black's and damn has it sorted the problem! I went with the standard gauge but it sounds great, even better than when I first got the bass. Can get on recording some 7 string stuff soon now :):)
 
I run power slinky 5's (50-135) on my 'wick and am in the process of upping the guage as the tension isn't enough. I'm tuning ADGCF so the tension on the .135 is just 28.6, considering I like my tenstion around the 42 mark (what it is on the .50) it's just not working out!!

I'm glad the 'wick strings are working for you, I didn't like them very much when I had them on my bass. Went to Elixir first and settled on EB's last Feb, looking for a brand that can produce the guage I need atm and it's proving a hard task!!
 
Thanks guys,

Razor,

Ahh right, ive never tried many brands at all but I heard these had a nice crunch and I really like the tone and feel. I know Elixirs on guitar rule but I bet they run you back a small fortune for a pack of bass strings!

Dosen't D'addario have the suitable gauges your after?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

AD Chaos
What's your favorite string gauge(s) and tuning on bass guitar?
Replies
3
Views
666
Backline
Max Morton
M
M
bass string gauge
Replies
8
Views
2K
Andy Sneap
Loren Littlejohn
L
pifos_2
Setting-up a 4 string bass to BEAD
Replies
6
Views
868
Practice Room
doclegion
D
Ermz
Problems with my 7-string
Replies
22
Views
2K
Backline
JBroll
J
Erkan
<-- Guitarnoob wants to know about low tuning..
Replies
33
Views
3K
Backline
Erkan
E
Top Bottom