Do flatwound strings warrant the need for a higher action compared to normal roundwound strings.

[vacatio]

A week ago I got my action of my MIJ Fender Vintera 60's Jass Bass professionally lowered. At the time I was using roundwound strings and I believed the action to be way to high. The man at the repair shop lowered the action to my liking and I thought the action to be perfect.

Yesterday I bought roundwound strings to replicate a Jaco tone and while I was restringing my E string I noticed that the string was resting on the fretboard and the action was too low. After I had tightened and then tuned the E string I played it and there was an incredible amount of fret buzz, that wasn't there with the roundwounds had before these new strings. I stringed the next string and it also had lots of fretbuzz. I got frustrated (because the strings had costed USD35 and I was looking forward to playing with flatwounds) and accidentally tightened the A string too much (because i thought it was still too loose, because of the fretbuzz) and it snapped.

So my question is, is it normal to have to adjust your action when switching from roundwound strings to flatwounds? if not, why did this happen to me?

 

[Zooberwerx]

Yes, it is normal.

Riis

 

[JGbassman]

Each string set is different, with flats seeming to generally hold more tension than roundwounds.

Anytime you change a string type, you should do a set up, to include adjusting truss rod, bridge action, check clearance at the nut, set pickup height, and adjust intonation. I do anytime I switch different brands or styles of strings.

If you don’t know how to do these adjustments, I recommend going to YouTube and watch Dave Curruther’s videos being hosted by Elixir Strings. They are very easy to follow, show you the tools and process needed to do these.

 

[el murdoque]

Each string set is different, with flats seeming to generally hold more tension than roundwounds.

Anytime you change a string type, you should do a set up, to include adjusting truss rod, bridge action, check clearance at the nut, set pickup height, and adjust intonation. I do anytime I switch different brands or styles of strings.

If you don’t know how to do these adjustments, I recommend going to YouTube and watch Dave Curruther’s videos being hosted by Elixir Strings. They are very easy to follow, show you the tools and process needed to do these.

This. [ /THREAD ]

 

[DrThumpenstein]

It's normal to have to change the set up a bit when switching between different brands/types of strings. Different string sets have different tensions. It is well worth learning basic setup skills and there are some nice videos available that can show you how to make these sorts of adjustments using inexpensive, widely available tools.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

If I read your initial post right it sounded like only the E string was on and at tension the others were at least loose? If so, then the symptoms you describe were perfectly normal. The truss rod should have been set to counteract the tension of all the strings so if only one of them was at pitch then your neck probably had excessive back bow causing the one string to be “resting on the fretboard.”

Also, welcome to TB!

 

[BossOnBass]

What brands and gauges did you have in rounds and flats? As others have mentioned, action relates more to string tension than type of string. Some flats are higher tension, with which you can get pretty low action without fret buzz. Other flats are lower tension so you can expect some buzz without adjusting the action.

Btw, you should have had to put some serious tension on a new A string to cause it to snap. Maybe the set of flats was defective?

 

[Root 5]

I would say you can have your action lower. Flats tend to be higher tension ( comparing 45-105 flats & rounds let’s say ) and they don’t make as much fret noise.

 

[vacatio]

If I read your initial post right it sounded like only the E string was on and at tension the others were at least loose? If so, then the symptoms you describe were perfectly normal. The truss rod should have been set to counteract the tension of all the strings so if only one of them was at pitch then your neck probably had excessive back bow causing the one string to be “resting on the fretboard.”

Also, welcome to TB!

Hey Matt!
It turns out I was being an idiot and this is exactly what happened. I noticed a few hours after my post and had an a-ha moment. I proceeded to spend money on another set of flatwounds the next day, restrung my bass, and everything went perfectly. The funny thing is, I know that that is how the truss rod works and how all strings need to be on it for the action to be what it was adjusted to yet I didn't think of this. Anyways, I'm happy with my new tone (finally starting to sound like Joe Dart, on his Fender Jazz (not his stingray)). Thanks for the help anyways. I'm sorry for posting such as stupid question!

 

[vacatio]

A week ago I got my action of my MIJ Fender Vintera 60's Jass Bass professionally lowered. At the time I was using roundwound strings and I believed the action to be way to high. The man at the repair shop lowered the action to my liking and I thought the action to be perfect.

Yesterday I bought roundwound strings to replicate a Jaco tone and while I was restringing my E string I noticed that the string was resting on the fretboard and the action was too low. After I had tightened and then tuned the E string I played it and there was an incredible amount of fret buzz, that wasn't there with the roundwounds had before these new strings. I stringed the next string and it also had lots of fretbuzz. I got frustrated (because the strings had costed USD35 and I was looking forward to playing with flatwounds) and accidentally tightened the A string too much (because i thought it was still too loose, because of the fretbuzz) and it snapped.

So my question is, is it normal to have to adjust your action when switching from roundwound strings to flatwounds? if not, why did this happen to me?

Solved the problem! No more replies neccesary!

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Hey Matt!
It turns out I was being an idiot and this is exactly what happened. I noticed a few hours after my post and had an a-ha moment. I proceeded to spend money on another set of flatwounds the next day, restrung my bass, and everything went perfectly. The funny thing is, I know that that is how the truss rod works and how all strings need to be on it for the action to be what it was adjusted to yet I didn't think of this. Anyways, I'm happy with my new tone (finally starting to sound like Joe Dart, on his Fender Jazz (not his stingray)). Thanks for the help anyways. I'm sorry for posting such as stupid question!

Happens to all of us. I’ve had times of being ready to pound my head on the wall because I can’t figure something out at work and I’ll ask our other tech or call tech support and they’ll say to check something basic that I know.... Dang it! How did I forget that!?

 

[Turnaround]

No more replies neccesary!

Awwww...... I wanted to add something.



But I don't remember what it was.