Help with string tension

[Bass_masta16]

I know if you look at my other threads, I'm looking for ways to loosen my tension to do better bends, but I've noticed lately, and after playing my friends MIJ '78 Jazz Bass, that the tension on my strings isn't alot; I get alot of rattling. And when playing unplugged, it doesn't make much of a sound.
Its almost like my strings are really loose, like there is no tension on them, and they're in standard E A D G tuning.

They're Ernie Ball Hybrids on a Squier P Bass.

So my final question is: How do I increase my string tension (if possible), maybe something to do with the bridge?

[JustJeffJr.]

This probably belongs in Setup and Repair but....

It sounds as though the answer lies in your truss rod.
You can do it yourself, or if you prefer, take it in for a setup, and you should be able to fix this with a few turns of an allen wrench. Just make sure you know what you're doing before attempting this yourself though.
ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

[lonote]

Originally Posted by JustJeffJr.

This probably belongs in Setup and Repair but....

It sounds as though the answer lies in your truss rod.
You can do it yourself, or if you prefer, take it in for a setup, and you should be able to fix this with a few turns of an allen wrench. Just make sure you know what you're doing before attempting this yourself though.
ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

That may be true, you may not have enough relief in the neck. If you want to increase tension, use heavier strings. You can't argue with the laws of physics.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by Bass_masta16

I know if you look at my other threads, I'm looking for ways to loosen my tension to do better bends, but I've noticed lately, and after playing my friends MIJ '78 Jazz Bass, that the tension on my strings isn't alot; I get alot of rattling.

Your strings may just be lower than your friend's. That can make them feel a lot different. After making sure the truss rod is right, you can mess with the bridge saddles to see if raising them a little makes it play better for you.

[XylemBassGuitar]

Bass_masta16,

Here are a few things to try:

1) Check the relief of your neck, if it has a lot of relief, adjusting the truss rod may help a bit (only adjust the rod yourself if you already know how to do so!). If it only has about a business card's thickness worth of relief however, tightening the rod further probably won't do much and may cause fret buzz.

2) Raise your action at the saddles (like lemur says, this will make them feel different, but it won't put more tension on the strings at a given tuning). This may help improve the "rattling" problem you are having as well.

3) Get heavier strings. All things being equal, the thicker the string, the more tension it takes to get it up to a certain pitch. Keep in mind that you might have to re-adjust relief, intonation, action and possibly nut slot widths, but this is not true in every case, some basses take heavier strings with no adjustments required.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out!

[Parabolic Box]

Originally Posted by XylemBassGuitar

(only adjust the rod yourself if you already know how to do so!)

Of course, it might be interesting to note that you probably won't know how to until you try it.