Rubbery.

[ErikP.Bass]

This is a very difficult one to describe but I am hoping that someone may know what I am talking about. When I have had my bass set up professionally the strings seem to have this really loose, almost rubbery feel..tension wise which is extremely comfortable to play. When I do my own set ups I can never seem to replicate this. The strings always seem to be fighting back a little.

Does anyone gave any idea what I might be doing wrong or what helps creates the "rubbery" (for lack of a better term) feel?

For reference I am using a CruzTools bass set up kit purchased from BBG as a guide. Below are some specifics that might be helpful.

Relief - 0.015" @ 6th fret w/1st and last frets depressed

String Height - 3/32" at 17th fret roughly for all strings

Strings - D'Addario Chromes 50 to 105

4-string bass w/jazz neck

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[ThrashMaster]

too much relief

action should be lower on treble side

 

[ErikP.Bass]

too much relief

action should be lower on treble side

Thanks for the response Thrash Master.

I guess I should have been more specific. The relief measurement I provided was for the E string. I do have the strings on the treble side a bit closer.

Any other suggestions?

 

[PutnamGuitars]

May be that the shop you take your bass to is putting light guage strings on your bass... like 45-100 set.
I'm sure you could call them to find out.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Putnam, it is funny you should say that. I just got back from rehearsal and I really felt like I was really fighting with the bass. I usually use TI flats which are nickel and gauged 0.043 to 0.100. Do you think this switch could make that much of a difference? When I played rounds I used D'Addario EXL medium nickels and i don't recall having an issue. I guess it has been a while though.

 

[PutnamGuitars]

Absolutely- that would make a huge difference, especially the combination of the guage difference plus the flat/round difference. I bet you noticed a difference in the sound as well from the flats to rounds.
You should also check/adjust the intonation especially when changing guages as well as changing from same guage flats to rounds.
I hope that helps you!
Cheers.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Thinking about it now...I guess the fact that I had to tighten the truss rod would be an indication that the strings I put on were higher tension and caused the neck to bow more. Thanks again for the input Putnam, seem these strings might not be for me.

I do really like flats and have them on almost all my basses. Like I said I used TI jazz flats but for some reason was moved to try D'Addario chrome flats this time.

 

[PutnamGuitars]

I have used 10-45 chromes on one of my guitars for 20+ yrs and have Thomastik 12-50 on another guitar. I love the chromes!

D'Adario makes light guages of the bass chromes in 40-100 and 40-95 if you like the lighter guages.
Have fun with it!
Bye for now.

 

[nutdog]

Haven't used chromes but I would describe the TI's as rubbery feeling. The chromes are described differently so this is probably the issue.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Thanks for the input guys. Guess I should have stuck with what I knew. As far as trying a lighter gauge of Chromes, do you think the material, Nickel vs. Chrome, makes much of a difference? Or is it more the gauge? Probably both.