D'Addario EXL180

Omnipharious · #1 01-02-2011, 12:49 PM

I have two questions about them, for anyone that can help.

I have a bass that has fret buzz on the first frets of E, A, and D strings, and the G string broke, so I need new strings. I was thinking of getting lighter gauge strings, because I would think since they're thinner, the buzz would be lessened, or gone, right? (The truss rod nut is completely {and I mean completely} stripped, and it can't be turned, and the neck is bowed back slightly, that's why they buzz. The action is already a bit high, so I'm not raising it anymore; I was hoping different gauge strings would be an okay fix)

And how do extra light gauge strings sound, and feel (especially D'Addario's light gauge strings, for those who have used them)? The gauges are .30-.95, so they would have to be pretty loose to be tuned standard, wouldn't they? The bass has a kind of metal/funky sound to it right now, but the strings are factory, so I don't know the gauge/manufacturer, but I like the sound of them.

Omnipharious · #2 01-02-2011, 03:55 PM

Does anyone even have an opinion on whether a different gauge string would help me? I just don't want to spend money on strings that might not help, or even exacerbate the problem.

Mikhail1 · #3 01-02-2011, 04:13 PM

Well, take this as speculation on my part, but I don't think it would work. Seems to me that if your neck is back bowed, you would need heavier, not lighter, gauge strings to pull the neck back forward. Lighter would make it worse. What kind of bass do you have?

mdogs · #4 01-02-2011, 05:24 PM

Well, I think the reality is that most of the tension comes from the lighter strings not the heavier ones. Regardless, trying to get a neck properly adjusted with strings is a losing battle. Have you taken the bass to a pro and getting an opinion on the repair? New neck? Truss rod replacement?

Omnipharious · #5 01-02-2011, 08:48 PM

Well, if the bass had costed me more than $70, and I had the money to replace the neck, or anything in it, or take it to someone to fix it, I most likely wouldn't be looking for strings to fix a problem.

I was more thinking that the simple fact that the strings are thinner would help the buzz because there would be less string to actually touch the frets... Do you think though that getting heavier gauge strings would make it bow somewhat more forward and help the buzz? For some reason, that didn't even occur to me to consider that.

Oh, and she's a Silvertone Revolver (P-Bass knock off).

Mikhail1 · #6 01-03-2011, 10:58 AM

You need to find a decent tech in your area. Take it to them and tell them to check it out but explain to them your problem. It won't cost too much to have them eyeball it for you and then go from there. More techs around my area are pretty honest and will tell you if it's even worth repairing.

Omnipharious · #7 01-03-2011, 01:06 PM

We've pretty much already gone over this: the neck is bowed backwards, the truss rod nut is completely stripped, and cannot be turned. There isn't anything anyone could do to it without taking off the fretboard and replacing the truss rod.

As I asked, does anyone think that the tension needed for heavier gauge strings would help it bow somewhat (even if it's a hardly noticeable amount) more forward?

ixlramp · #8 01-03-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnipharious

I was more thinking that the simple fact that the strings are thinner would help the buzz because there would be less string to actually touch the frets

No. Thinner strings have less tension, therefore the neck would backbow even more, causing more buzz.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnipharious

As I asked, does anyone think that the tension needed for heavier gauge strings would help it bow somewhat (even if it's a hardly noticeable amount) more forward?

Yes, change to heavier strings, the extra tension will pull the neck forward, then you can lower the action too. If you know the gauges of your current set just add .005 to each gauge or buy the next heavier set available.

dune2k · #9 01-03-2011, 03:05 PM

Yes higher tension strings will do that.
I'd still recommend to at least have a luthier or whomever check your bass out. It might turn out cheaper than trying lots of strings to find those with the right tension (plus whenever you want to change string brands you have to do such a "shootout" again).

Omnipharious · #10 01-03-2011, 04:44 PM

Okay, because now I'm looking at two different heavy gauge strings that could do that. Since this thread has gone to a completely different subject, I'm going to make a new thread about which strings to choose.

Thanks for all of your help, guys. I hope you can give your respective opinions to me in the next thread.