Truss Rod Alterations

[Higgie]

I'm thinking of getting a new (cheapish) bass, replacing the nut (or filing out the original) and re-stringing it B,E,A,D from low to high. Will I need to alter the tension in the neck at all?

Thanks,
James.

 

[fourstringdrums]

Yes. Anytime you change string guages you have to adjust the neck for the tension differences. Most likely you will have to straighten out the neck a bit to make up for the higher tension putting bow in the neck.

 

[AGCurry]

Yes. Anytime you change string guages you have to adjust the neck for the tension differences. Most likely you will have to straighten out the neck a bit to make up for the higher tension putting bow in the neck.

BEAD is not necessarily higher tension than EADG.

 

[PaleMelanesian]

What he said ^

If you read the published specs for most strings, you'll find that the B is much lighter tension than the rest of the strings. Sometimes the E is a bit lighter as well. Overall, you'd end up with less tension on your neck, so you might have to LOOSEN the rod, rather than tighten it.

You'll have to make some kind of adjustment, for sure.

update:
Example of tension specs here:
[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[Higgie]

Thanks guys. A friend of mine said he had put BEAD on a bass with no alterations and said it was fine, but I wanted a second opinion from more "experienced" people like yourselves. Thanks again guys