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Changing strings (type, not gauge)

GuiTuber

GuiTuber

Feb 19, 2015
381
494
67
San Antonio, TX
#1
I've been contemplating going to flat wounds on my Squier VM Jazz. I'm currently using D'Addario EXL170 Nickel round wounds (100-45). I would want to use the same gauge in the flat wounds.

My question is, would there be any aspect of the setup that I would need to pay close attention to?
 
#2
GuiTuber said:
I've been contemplating going to flat wounds on my Squier VM Jazz. I'm currently using D'Addario EXL170 Nickel round wounds (100-45). I would want to use the same gauge in the flat wounds.

My question is, would there be any aspect of the setup that I would need to pay close attention to?
Click to expand...
You need to check your relief at least. Most flats have a higher tension than the same gauge of rounds, so they will tend to increase the bow in the neck a bit. A truss rod twerk will take care of that.
 
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#5
GuiTuber said:
Cool. Thanks. Those are the things I was wanting to know.

RSBBass, are you suggesting the intonation issues would be related to the change in relief caused by the tension?
Click to expand...
A higher tension string goes slightly more sharp than a low tension string when it is fretted at the same relief. How much of a difference depends on a lot of things and may or may not be an issue.
 
#6
Depending on which flats you decide to use; yes, they can have a higher - slightly higher - tension than the strings you have now. On the other hand, they could have the same, or even less, tension. Thomastik-Infield's flats are notoriously low tension, for example; and the La Bella Low Tension Flats are just that. So, yes, you might require a slight truss rod adjustment; and it's SOP to check your intonation after a string change, anyway. What the flats probably will do is feel stiffer; but that's not necessarily from higher tension. Flats, simply because of how they're made, actually are usually stiffer than rounds. The usual way around that extra stiffness is to go down a gauge; 40 - 100's vs. the 45-105's you're used to, for example. They'll sound just as thumpy, and won't feel like you're trying to play bridge cables...:thumbsup:
 

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