Switch to flats = new setup?

rjs6700 · #1 02-01-2008, 05:43 PM

Kickin around trying some flats on my Am. Dlx Jazz for tomorrow nights gig.

If I switch to flats is that going to totally mess with my setup or would I just have to check intonation?

I really want to try them on this bass (I used to play only flats 5 years ago) but won't have much time to give it a proper setup.

Thanks for the advice.

kevinmoore73 · #2 02-01-2008, 05:49 PM

Yeah, you probably need to perform a full setup after you get the new strings on there. I needed to do it after putting Chromes on my Squier and my Lakland, as well as when I put Labella's on my Turser.

dbcandle · #3 02-01-2008, 09:45 PM

You'll almost definitely need a setup. I just took LaBella flats off my 6-string, and put-on TI. Definitely needed a hefty truss-rod tweak, some intonation, and still need saddle-height adjustment, which I'm deferring until the neck settles down a bit (overnight).

Note: I know intonation should be last, but I wanted to "rough-in" the intonation since an intonation problem is one of the reasons I took off my old flats (B string problem).

nortonrider · #4 02-01-2008, 09:49 PM

Yeah, I too had to do the entire thing when I put the D'Chromes on my Jazz.

Surly · #5 02-01-2008, 09:59 PM

What if you go to new strings and keep the same guage?

BigSwami · #6 02-01-2008, 10:03 PM

Generally your rule of thumb ought to be that if you change your gauge, brand, or wind, you need to get a new setup.

I'm going from D'Addario Nickel Rounds to La Bella flats as soon as they come in the mail, so feel sorry for me.

dbcandle · #7 02-01-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigSwami

Generally your rule of thumb ought to be that if you change your gauge, brand, or wind, you need to get a new setup.

I'm going from D'Addario Nickel Rounds to La Bella flats as soon as they come in the mail, so feel sorry for me.

I just took off my La Bellas (put TIs back on). GREAT flats, but I was looking for a little more "articulation" and the B string was giving me trouble. If you have a 5 or 6 string, watch that low B. With the taper and very stiff nature, I found it impossible to intonate on my 34" 6-string. I recently saw a Yamaha with a bridge that allowed a wider intonation/compensation adjustment for the B. I see why, now...

WayneS · #8 02-01-2008, 10:07 PM

I put flats on my Fender P and it needed no extra setup at all. None whatsoever. I thought it would, but it didnt.

I used the Steve Harris sig by Rotosound and they sounded freaking great! For a few shows. Then they started sounding like flats. No amount of cleaning would restore that beautiful tone.