.50-.105 gauge strings question

[joeman583]

Hi,

I have a Squier P-Bass that is set up for .45-.105 gauge roundwound strings. However, I recently just put on a set of .50-.105 gauge roundwound strings. Both sets are nickel. I was wondering if it even would be necessary to reset the bass by adjusting the neck and checking the intonation because of the little bit of added tension on the D and G strings? What does anyone think?

Thanks for your help!

[FunkMetalBass]

If I were a paid tech, I'd check action and intonation after every string change (and at various other times for one reason or another). It depends on how it feels to you. Some necks are beefy and up to the task of handling an additional 5-8 lbs of tension with almost no change.

You can check your neck's relief pretty easily. Using one hand, press down the string at the first fret, and with the other, press it down around the 17th fret. Now look at your fretboard - the gap between the strings and your frets is the relief. How much relief you have is totally personal preference.


tl;dr. I would, but how it feels to you is most important.

[tjh]

Any time strings are changed, set-up should be revisited, in fact I will do it every couple weeks or so, even with the same strings on (weather changes, strings aging, etc) ... a sight down/up the neck, and then playing several positions will tell you if there is something to be addressed with relief or string height, but that is pretty much a preference thing ...intonation is not something based on taste, and needs to be accurate, and should be checked ...you will probably never get it set perfect, but as close as possible, with a "happy medium" in all areas of the neck is what I opt for ...

if you are uncomfortable with any of this, have it done for you, or better yet, learn the process (or have the person teach you) as it will put your mind at ease, and actually in some ways may improve your playing, help your ear, and give you confidence ... its not rocket science, but the right set-up makes a big difference and not everyone is as good at it as others ... but if you do your own, you will at least know who to blame, if you have a complaint ...JMHO

[SLaPiNFuNK]

You changed the two highest tension strings.

Its best to check the intonation at least. You may or may not need to tweek the action / neck, but since you are going higher, you can get away with it more than releasing tension on the neck.

Either way, the amount of change will be slight. If you have a tuner, do the 12th fret harmonic / fretted check.

[Stingray89]

I'd check the intonation of the G string but other than that I wouldn't worry to much about it.