String tree or bar setup...

[LightGroove]

Greetings,

I recently acquired a used Peavey GV 5 string. The bass is all but new. The bass has a "bar" style string tree just after the nut to assist with tension. This is my first experience with a tree and had a few questions.

1st...Does it matter how tight I tighten the 2 screws holding it down..ie can I loosen strings and tighten thus putting more pressure on the strings? I know I physically can but am i doing more bad than good.

2nd...Will this have an impact on anything outside of intonation?. Im prepared to do a setup if necessary but most concerned about the B string. It seems like the odd ball of the bunch...kind of floppy with no real distinction and curious if a tighter tree will tighten it up. Also im finding it a challenge to intonate it properly.The rest of the strings feel and sound very balanced overall.

Sorry for the ignorance and thanks for the time

[Turnaround]

The string hold down will affect neither the string tension nor the ability to intonate. It is simply there to ensure the strings break over the nut properly - otherwise they might rattle a bit in the nut.

[AmadeusXeno]

If the B string is seeming floppy to you then you might just perfer a heavier gauge then what you have at the moment.

[JLS]

Agree w/both responses.

Consider Circle K strings, if you use roundwounds.

[96tbird]

If you have no rattling behind the nut, you don't need to touch your tree. As said above, the tree has no effect on intonation or tension whatsoever. Sure if you screw it down tension goes up but you will be sharp, then you remove tension to tune and you're back to pitch tension. Look at the angle the b string takes from the nut to the tuner, as long as the other strings are in a similar angle you should be good to go.

[LightGroove]

Thanks guys..cool to rule out the smallest factors 1st..will def. look into string options..

I will say Im switching to Peavey from a Roscoe so I think there may be differences in build as well.