heavy gauge strings and neck bow

torza · #1 07-05-2010, 08:32 AM

Hello all. So I use a set of strings (Fender 8250's) with a 110 gauge taperwound E string (the rest are medium 85, 65, 45). The string is really thick and I love the sound. However, I feel like the heaviness of this string could be bowing my neck faster than if I had regular 105-45. I just got a set up a couple of months ago and I can already see the difference.

Now if this is the case, would it be smart for me to detune the E string a bit when I'm not playing (in order to ease the tension)? New strings? Any suggestions?

Thanks for reading!

JLS · #2 07-05-2010, 08:43 AM

Adjust the trussrod.

torza · #3 07-05-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

There's nothing wrong with using a 110 for an E. Typically the E is the lowest tension of any of the strings, so by going with a 110 you're bringing it closer to the tension of the other strings. It will have more tension than a 105 though, so a truss rod adjustment could be in order.

I don't know where you live, but I've adjusted the truss rods on most of my basses in the last month b/c of the big changes in humidity.

I actually live in NY... and yes it's been VERY humid here. I'm confused about how you're saying that the E string has the least tension when it's the thickest string? Also, would detuning the string help my situation? I don't feel comfortable doing a truss rod adjustment

darkstorm · #4 07-05-2010, 02:38 PM

Learning to do truss rod adjustment is one of the basic things every bass and guitar players needs to be able to do for themself along with the rest of action setup. Theres two very simple reasons for this. 1st a bass or guitar will typically need minor truss rod adjustment in summer and winter due to weather change even when insgtrument is kept indoors in n ice ac/heated enviroment for the most part. 2nd no one will be able to do a setup as well as you can for yourself once youve become good at it. Only you will be able to do the little final tweaks for best for you action since no one else is exactly like you. If you prefer very low action and so does the tech whose done your setups in the past. He'll get it close, but not quite there for you individually. This can include minor tweak to just one or two strings bridge saddles in some cases. Learn to do your own setups as a basic part of being a guitar or bass player. Its not only fun its also fairly easy. Its also normal to do minor retweaking of setup to get it perfect a few days after initial setup for many peeps. You'll play better and enjoy being a bass/guitar player more once your doing your own setups. You'll also be richer money wise since you wont be paying someone else to do something you can learn to do better then another person can.

JLS · #5 07-05-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torza

I actually live in NY... and yes it's been VERY humid here. I'm confused about how you're saying that the E string has the least tension when it's the thickest string? Also, would detuning the string help my situation? I don't feel comfortable doing a truss rod adjustment

The E string isn't the highest tension string, though many think so, because of it's mass.

Detuning-no. Adjust your trussrod. It's not rocket science; read the stickies above. As darkstorm said, this is part of being a musician.

JTE · #6 07-06-2010, 08:07 AM

Detuning only causes the neck to keep moving. Set up the bass with the tuning you're going to use with the strings you're going to use, then leave it there. It'll take a while to settle in, but after it does it'll be much more stable than if you're altering the tension on the neck all the time (which is what detuing the E will cause).

Learn to do a truss rod adjustment yourself. If you're smart enough to:

A. Play even when the drummer thinks "time" is a magazine
B. Make music with a guitarist who thinks he's gotta sound like Blue Cheer every time he opens the guitar case...

Then you're smart enough to learn how to adjust the truss rod, the saddle height, and the intonation on you bass yourself. In my opinion (as a long-time local guitar tech and managing a guitar store for 11 years) there's no reason to pay a guitar tech to do those things for you.

John