string rattle at nut end

You answered your own question...

"Other than leaving the string longer next time so it will wrap farther down the nut what can I do?"

That's all you can do. It's the only solution.

 

If you are comfortable with doing your own setups you might try increasing the relief just a little. It will make your action a little higher but you can easily readjust it when you change strings.

Since you went to heavier guage strings, an adjustment is probably in order anyway.

 

It increases the distance between the fret and the string in the first four or five frets. The extra distance gives the string more room to vibrate without rattling on the frets.

What I suggested wont put more "tension" on the nut. It may allow you to make a compromise, though.

You understsnd that I'm addressing the "it rattles a little" part of your question. The " it doesn't feel right " part. You're on your own. I don't know what it felt like before.

The fact that you put a piece of paper under the string and the problem was improved tells the whole story. If the problem was a simply a lack of break angle, how did the paper improve it? The paper changed the string angle an extremely small amount. It did increase the distance between fret and string enough to make a noticeable difference.

Short of that, Jimmy made the better suggestion.

P.S. Don't confuse tension with mass. They don't react the same.

 

A. Leave string longer
B. Make sure it's as far down the peg as possible, to max break angle
C. Check the nut to make sure the larger-gauge string is seated properly
D. Incread neck relief or heighten bridge, as needed
E. Consider aftermarket all-string string tree from AllParts if none of the above work

Think those are your choices, there.