GHS Boomers .. What?

IsThisIt · #1 07-13-2009, 09:34 PM

So I played with GHS Boomers (40) on my Squire (first bass) for about half a year and I was content with them. Just a few months ago I bought an American Fender J and it came up with the standard Fender strings (not sure of the exact name), and they honestly played pretty well.

I just recently restrung the bass and put some GHS Boomers (40 again) on the thing and it seems to rattle a lot and is WAY too sharp without enough bottom. But really its the rattling that's getting me, I didn't notice hardly any rattling with the Fender strings before.

Anyways here's my question. Is this a string problem, or did my amateur re-stringing job have something to do with it? Is it possible I adjusted the action some how, I'm really at a loss here but my hammers and pull offs, and even any strong plucking really lets a rattle loose. It's not my first time stringing a bass, and to my knowledge, have done it correctly on my Squire before.

Thanks for your help, again. You guys are awesome.

SUNNydayr. · #2 07-13-2009, 09:42 PM

The .40 set is very light. You may have to have higher action to not get the rattle and buzzes. The Fender probably just had a larger gauge set of strings on it. I like lighter strings but all basses are different and react to different gauges of strings in their own way. You didn't bust anything so no worries.

KPAX · #3 07-13-2009, 10:01 PM

Is it possible you're just not used to new strings? New strings are bright and you'll notice rattle and buzz more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IsThisIt

So I played with GHS Boomers (40) on my Squire (first bass) for about half a year and I was content with them. Just a few months ago I bought an American Fender J and it came up with the standard Fender strings (not sure of the exact name), and they honestly played pretty well.

I just recently restrung the bass and put some GHS Boomers (40 again) on the thing and it seems to rattle a lot and is WAY too sharp without enough bottom. But really its the rattling that's getting me, I didn't notice hardly any rattling with the Fender strings before.

Anyways here's my question. Is this a string problem, or did my amateur re-stringing job have something to do with it? Is it possible I adjusted the action some how, I'm really at a loss here but my hammers and pull offs, and even any strong plucking really lets a rattle loose. It's not my first time stringing a bass, and to my knowledge, have done it correctly on my Squire before.

Thanks for your help, again. You guys are awesome.

BassieMike · #4 07-13-2009, 10:10 PM

The lighter strings are probably not pulling the neck over as far. If there is no relief in the neck, loosen the truss rod until there is just a tiny bit of bow.

IsThisIt · #5 07-13-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassieMike

The lighter strings are probably not pulling the neck over as far. If there is no relief in the neck, loosen the truss rod until there is just a tiny bit of bow.

Can you elaborate on this for me? I've always just taken my bass into a shop when I need the action adjusted.

lowregister · #6 07-14-2009, 08:09 AM

I experience something like this nearly every time I change strings on my Warwick. I play with my action as low as possible without fret buzz so the tolerance of different strings is small.

I'm not familiar with Fender basses, but I recommend you just figure out how to raise the bridge and get some clearance. By the photos of the precission it looks like there's an individual string height that you can adjust with an allen wrench set.

You really can't hurt your bass by playing with the bridge, the truss rod however, is a different story.

fretlessguy · #7 07-16-2009, 05:21 AM

If you are not comfortable with adjusting the truss rod, I would go ahead and take it to your guitar tech and have him to a proper set-up. Chances are it will need to be intonated since there appears to be a change in gauge anyway, and adjusting the neck relief is tricky under the best of circumstances.

FG