Questions related to changing string gauges and setup

[bunkaroo]

Couldn't find a suitable thread to bump so here goes....

I have a Stingray 5 currently tuned standard BEADG and strung with D'Addario XL gauges 45-65-85-105-135.

I'm planning to start tuning this bass ADGCF and will be using the EB Power Slinky 5 set with gauges 50-70-85-105-135.

I'm not sure how the tension compares between D'Addario and EB, but I seem to recall hearing EB's tend to have a little less tension.

While it would be nice to have the lower tuning and heavier strings offset each other, I'm going to assume the bass will need some setup work. Am I correct in assuming adjusting the neck would be the most likely adjustment needed? Is there any reason this could throw off the intonation?

I'm basically trying to decide if I should do this now on the fly or hold off until I have more time to work it in a couple weeks.

[AmadeusXeno]

IMO any time you change tuning, gauge, or string brand you should do a full setup. Adjusting the truss rod, checking action, and intonation. Changing the tuning alone is gonna throw your intonation off and the set of strings you plan on switching to aren't much different in the gauge. To me EB's do feel lower in tension then D'addario. Hope this helps.

[bunkaroo]

Thanks for the reply.

Curious as to why the intonation would be off. I thought that was affected by the where the saddle sits. If I don't move the saddles, wouldn't the length of the string from nut to saddle be the same?

I probably will wind up getting the full setup done though. It's a piece of mind thing, and I am no good at these things myself.

[bunkaroo]

Did a little more searching and now I'm thinking I may go with the DR DDT 55-75-95-115-135 set.

[251]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

Couldn't find a suitable thread to bump so here goes....

I have a Stingray 5 currently tuned standard BEADG and strung with D'Addario XL gauges 45-65-85-105-135.

I'm planning to start tuning this bass ADGCF and will be using the EB Power Slinky 5 set with gauges 50-70-85-105-135.

I'm not sure how the tension compares between D'Addario and EB, but I seem to recall hearing EB's tend to have a little less tension.

While it would be nice to have the lower tuning and heavier strings offset each other, I'm going to assume the bass will need some setup work. Am I correct in assuming adjusting the neck would be the most likely adjustment needed? Is there any reason this could throw off the intonation?

I'm basically trying to decide if I should do this now on the fly or hold off until I have more time to work it in a couple weeks.

I suggest you read this
Circle K Strings - Before You Buy

then, look at this
http://circlekstrings.com/CKSIMAGES/...nsionChart.pdf

Then call & talk to the people at Circle K. In particular tell them about what you want to hear playing high notes with fat strings. There's nothing bad about what you're doing. It's unconventional & I think you will get better results talking to a string manufacturer who already has what you need & knows how to apply it.

FWIW, a string set with balanced tension is easier, for me, to play. A string set for that tuning range, with enough tension to set up the neck is gonna take some thought & experimentation. Good luck 8-)

[bunkaroo]

Thanks - I am aware of Circle K but I'm not interested in going that direction at this time. I am looking at the tension chart now, but that just relates to tensions on their strings I would imagine. Different brands have different tensions, no?

[bunkaroo]

Sheesh - I guess I should have done more reading first. Seems like the DDT's have problem wrapping the B on a 34" scale bass.

Gotta do some more research for this. FWIW I have nothing against Circle K I just wasn't sure I wanted to get into custom ordering strings.

[bunkaroo]

Well after even more research I've decided to try my luck with a pieced together D'Addario XL set. I used the D'Addario tension chart as a guide. While the tuning will be ADGCF I will likely drop D to C fairly off making ACGCF. I'm going with the following gauges:

145-125-95-70-50

Currently I've been using D'Addario XL 135-105-85-65-45 on this bass. By my math the total tension of all the strings came out to about 218 lbs. THis custom set I am ordering adds up to about 216 lbs. so I'm hoping when I string it up the neck will stay about the same but we'll see.

The good news is I had an older 145 laying around and was able to fit it through the bridge and it sits in the nut fine so I don't think I'll need to modify the bass for these gauges.

[AmadeusXeno]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

Thanks for the reply.

Curious as to why the intonation would be off. I thought that was affected by the where the saddle sits. If I don't move the saddles, wouldn't the length of the string from nut to saddle be the same?

I probably will wind up getting the full setup done though. It's a piece of mind thing, and I am no good at these things myself.

When you change the tension of the strings it throws the intonation off. If it was just a matter of measurment from the frets we wouldn't need adjustable bridges. Different brands use different size core and wrap wires which is why the same gauge from a different manufacturer will have a different tension. As I'm sure you already know a larger gauge = higher tension, and of corse down tuning = lower tension. Hope this explains it a little better for you. If not maybe someone else can explain it better.

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by AmadeusXeno

When you change the tension of the strings it throws the intonation off. If it was just a matter of measurment from the frets we wouldn't need adjustable bridges. Different brands use different size core and wrap wires which is why the same gauge from a different manufacturer will have a different tension. As I'm sure you already know a larger gauge = higher tension, and of corse down tuning = lower tension. Hope this explains it a little better for you. If not maybe someone else can explain it better.

Thanks for the info. I am admittedly deficient in this area of knowledge.

In this case I will be using the same brand and make as before so hopefully that keeps things from being too bad. I still don't feel comfortable enough to do my own setups on my valuable instruments so this one will likely see a trip to my regular guy.

[dmusic148]

Do be aware that the new, fatter strings will most likely not fit in the nut slots without modification. Don't try to force them or you'll probably break the nut. EDIT: just reread post #8.

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Do be aware that the new, fatter strings will most likely not fit in the nut slots without modification. Don't try to force them or you'll probably break the nut.

I intend to be careful with that. I've been using a 135 B and the 145 I tried out seemed to sit in there fine. I would think the 50 and 70 will be fine in the existing nut. The 95 and 125 I'm not so sure about.

Sounds like if I do have to get the nut cut I'll need to figure out how to get another nut in case I ever want to go back to standard tuning and light gauges.

[bunkaroo]

OK follow up question regarding intonation.

I've been reading some of the threads here as well as Fender's guide linked at the top of the forum, and while I understand how intonation adjustment is done, I guess I'm still fuzzy on why heavier gauge strings would affect the length of the string. Does it have more to do with the nut than the saddle, or is it both? When you measure the length from the nut to the saddle, where exactly are you taking the measurement at the saddle?

I really need to get myself a bass to practice this stuff on.

[grendle]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

OK follow up question regarding intonation.

I've been reading some of the threads here as well as Fender's guide linked at the top of the forum, and while I understand how intonation adjustment is done, I guess I'm still fuzzy on why heavier gauge strings would affect the length of the string. Does it have more to do with the nut than the saddle, or is it both? When you measure the length from the nut to the saddle, where exactly are you taking the measurement at the saddle?

I really need to get myself a bass to practice this stuff on.

Don't over think it, all strings even a new set of the same gauge from the same brand will throw off the intonation. Check / Adjust your intonation everytime you change strings.

[bunkaroo]

Yeah it sounds like I need to get used to doing that more often.

I feel like I'm ready to try adjusting intonation so at this point the nut is my only real concern. I don't have filing tools and I'm not sure how to measure if the string is OK at the nut.