Heavy Strings on a Vintage P Bass?

[D Bopp]

Hey guys, can you answer a question for me? I want to put some heavy gauge LaBella flats on my 64 P Bass. Thing is, the bass has always been strung with medium gauge rounds and I'm afraid the heavy strings might mess the neck up. I think the truss rod is still fine but it always scares me to put extra strain on a neck this old. Would the strings hurt the neck? Thanks

[CrimsonGhost]

should be fine, except the trussrod nut can sink into the wood from the tension, However Fender sells washers to fix this, It can get a little scary if it sinks too much however,

I was running Rotosound Steve harris flats on my brand new 50's classic precision these are high tension 50-110s

I like a very flat neck, and the truss rod took like a full 1 and a half turns, to finally get out all the relief, but the neck kept bowing back, ( i guess the nut sinking more each day.) until it was just about maxed out.

I started getting very concerned since the bass was only 4 days old and eventully exchanged it. Big "C" width p bass necks are about the strongest out there. So i suspect i had a bum neck on that bass.

[ErikP.Bass]

I was just having as similar thought but with the tension going the other way, from medium gauge rounds to TI flats. Not on a vintage instrument however. I figured with a truss rod adjustment all would be well.

[DavePlaysBass]

I get nervous everytime I tough the truss rod on my 61 J. LaBella makes a 45-105 set.

[D Bopp]

I think I have a laBella 49-109 set. But it just scares me. I know Jamerson used the heavy labellas, like 50-115 or something, but that was back in the 60s. I wonder what that bass's neck looks like today if those strings have been on it that long

[mccartneyman]

I used to run LaBella flats, 55 - 110 on my 59 P bass with no problem. This is close to the gauge that Jamerson used as well.

[D Bopp]

Ok, I'll give it a shot. Thanks for your input everyone

[rakirksey]

I just got a '79 P and I put the Jamerson Set (52 - 110) and I didn't notice a bit of change on the neck. I did notice the phat tone though.