Loose Strings?

[LittleFish]

Hey y'all. About 2~3 weeks ago, I sent my bass to a local bass tech to replace my stock bass bridge with a Gotoh 201-B bridge (and get a complete setup as well).

When I got my bass back, it seems as though the strings were somewhat looser than before and I was also getting more fret buzz.

What might be the problem here? Do you think they did something with the nut? or is that just to be expected of the Gotoh bridge?

I do not think my playing style has drastically changed, from the time before I sent the bass. However, I do tend to pluck the strings pretty hard.

Thanks in advance for your help

[spaz21387]

The tech probably just took off your strings. popped the bridge in and re strung it. And didnt do a proper set up... Learn to do the work yourself its cheaper and not hard. Pull 5 screws drop in the new bridge restring it and tune it. Adjust the bridge saddles to the height you like. Set the innotation and your set.

[elgecko]

^ That, or he did a setup and it's too low for your playing style, which you've said was aggresive.

Tension wise...I have to ask. It's in tune, right? If so, and if he didn't put lighter strings on your bass, then you're probably just "perceiving" them as having less tension since they're closer to the frets and therefore "easier" to press down.

[LittleFish]

I remember telling my tech that I wanted a complete setup done on my bass and requested that I didn't want my action any lower than before. As stated earlier, I did not have the "loose strings" before.

Yes, the strings are in tune. If I'm not mistaken, I think he put in medium gauge ernie ball stainless steel strings. Before this, I used Cleartones coated medium gauge strings.

I thought that for the price I paid, (>$70), my bass would be set up correctly. I guessed wrong.

[Eric Moesle]

Wait, you're saying that the tech put on new strings, a different brand than before? There's your answer.

Despite both calling themselves "medium" guage strings, there are lots of differences between brands. A hex core string is going to feel tighter than a round core string for example.

Before you go off blaming the tech, I suggest you swap back to the same brand and guage of string you used before.

[LittleFish]

Originally Posted by Eric Moesle

Wait, you're saying that the tech put on new strings, a different brand than before? There's your answer.

Despite both calling themselves "medium" guage strings, there are lots of differences between brands. A hex core string is going to feel tighter than a round core string for example.

Before you go off blaming the tech, I suggest you swap back to the same brand and guage of string you used before.

Ah. Ok2. Thanks for the advice. I'll try that out and see whether there's any improvement

Note: I am not rich by any means. I was expecting something in the neighborhood of $50 MAX and was surprised by the price tag myself. I sent my bass to the tech because I was afraid of screwing up my bass by doing my own repairs/setups. Hopefully, after this pricey little incident, I'll be able to summon up enough courage to do my own setups. We'll see. :P

[JLS]

Originally Posted by LittleFish

Ah. Ok2. Thanks for the advice. I'll try that out and see whether there's any improvement

Note: I am not rich by any means. I was expecting something in the neighborhood of $50 MAX and was surprised by the price tag myself. I sent my bass to the tech because I was afraid of screwing up my bass by doing my own repairs/setups. Hopefully, after this pricey little incident, I'll be able to summon up enough courage to do my own setups. We'll see. :P

A bridge replacement & setup for $70 is a good deal.

Learning to do it yourself, is a better one.

[mech]

^^^^^Can't say enough for this.

Originally Posted by LittleFish

Hopefully, after this pricey little incident, I'll be able to summon up enough courage to do my own setups. We'll see. :P

How about reading the SET UP stickey and then try raising the saddles on the bridge by a half or whole turn of each screw to see if it affects the buzz. Be consistent with how much you turn the screws and remember how much you turned them so you can put it back as it was, if necessary.

This won't increase the tension of the strings but may help with the buzz. The less tension there is on a string, the more it will move and be likely to contact the frets and buzz.

The first step is always the biggest.

mech

[Staccato]

Have you taken a crash course in string tension to understand the differences? There's a noticeable difference between the 'looser' feel of Hi Beams, compared to Lo Riders. That said, Hi Beams are the top choice of many TB'rs (as are Lo Riders).

[LittleFish]

I'm going to get myself a set of hex core strings today, and we'll see how that'll turn out.

And from the responses written above, I think I'm also going to personally set the action on my bass. Hopefully, I won't fail too badly.

Thanks again guys.