string gauge/tension question

[ilovenofrets]

Seeking any help/info/advice on this-
Changed the strings on my Ray 34. I know they're strung with .045-.100 from the factory. Thinking that any string with the same gauge would do, I went with my fave's(D'Addario EXL 170 .045-.100). Well, after a few days, I'm getting some fretbuzz. Nothing about the temperature or humidity has changed in my studio. Is the core wire making a difference? Do the D'Addarios not need as much neck tension as the EB strings?

[knuckle_head]

If it took days to manifest there has to be at least a slight difference between the gauges/sets you swapped out.

[yellofury]

theres a few things to take into consideration

different companies can have different amounts of tension even with the same string guage

and at times even the same company can have different tension with the same guage

for example on my headless I went from
Status light guage nylon wounds (40-100)
to Status light guage hexcores (40-100)
there was a bit more tightness to the strings even though they are listed as 40-100
the core wind added more tension
I then went to DR Extralife light gauge and they felt more like the nylons in terms of tightness

[Toneman]

I would think both string sets are hex core and should have very similar tension. Possibly the strings being new are below pitch until they stretch out so keep checking that there tuned to pitch. When I change strings and tune them and stretch them out the next day I go to play it it's down a half step and that will definitely effect tension and the amount of relief on the neck

[ixlramp]

Tension at a particular pitch and scale, is determined by the unit mass of the string (mass of a one inch length). See the daddario tension chart pdf.

Strings of the same gauge but from different brands have variations in mass due to differences in string construction.

For example a Circle K Strings nickelplated roundwound .130 has 4.3% more mass than a D'Addario XL nickelplated roundwound .130, and therefore 4.3% more tension. Circle K .100 has 5.6% more mass than D'Addario XL .100.

[ilovenofrets]

Thanks for all the info thus far. I am assuming I would need to give the neck a bit of relief to resolve this? Switching back to EB strings is the easy solution, but not at the cost of "my tone".

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by ilovenofrets

Thanks for all the info thus far. I am assuming I would need to give the neck a bit of relief to resolve this? Switching back to EB strings is the easy solution, but not at the cost of "my tone".

Sure, just turn the truss rod a bit.

Sometimes it takes the neck a few days to settle too, especially if the tension difference is only slight. It's quite common with new strings to require at least a little bit of a setup.

[ixlramp]

Yeah loosen the truss rod a tiny bit ... like a 1/12th turn. Leave on a stand overnight to settle. After 24 hours repeat if needed until heavy-technique-fretbuzz is equally distributed up & down the neck. Since the strings are slightly looser might need to raise the saddles slightly

[ilovenofrets]

Well, I did it. Truss rod has been turned just a bit, and WAHLAH!!! I will check it tomorrow to see if any further adjustment is needed, but that did fix the problem. I guess I kinda knew it from the start, but I've never attempted any setup work on my own. After 20+ years playing, I guess it's time I learn at least the basics of setting up my own axes. The tech I have relied on for years is still happy to do my work, but if I can save myself a half-a-tank of gas's worth of money for basic adjustments, why shouldn't I. Thanks to all for your help and advice.