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will I ruin my bass?


lowdowner
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So... for christmas (yes, that long ago) my folks were kind enough to buy me a spanking new set of strings. Thing is, they're Rotobass 40-60-80-100 gauge, and my bass came with standard 45-105's. I'm guessing that the truss rod is set for the standards, so will I need to have it looked at if I put the thicker strings on?

Is there a significant difference in tension?

Can I do it myself, or do I need a bass specialist, or any old guitar shop?

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The strings you want to put on are lighter (40-100) than the ones you've got on there now (45-105), not heavier.

The truss rod might need a tweak, but it all depends on the individual bass - I've had basses where I've never needed to adjust the neck & ones that needed adjusting all the time. It's easy to do, but if you've never tried it before you'll probably be a bit nervous about doing it.
There are probably other forum members in your area, why not see if somebody can go through what you need to do with you so you can learn to do it yourself? It's much cheaper than paying for a set up every time you get new strings.

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[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1344630436' post='1767462']
The strings you want to put on are lighter (40-100) than the ones you've got on there now (45-105), not heavier.
[/quote]

*doh* of course! :(

thanks for the advice - i'll see if i can track someone down for some help

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Have a go, Ask somebody to sit with you if you can, or read up on the interweb, fender sites good, even if its not a fender, it explains it well.

Make sure you get a quality allen key that fits properly, and push it fully home, so as not to damage the socket. You shouldnt need more than a quarter of a turn, absolute maximum.

Edited by BRANCINI
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Main things to remember....

1) right size allen key. If it's american it's likely to be an imperial size, if not metric.
2) As you tighten, pull back on the headstock (gently but firmly) so that you're not trying to use the thread of the truss as the tightening tool.
3) don't do too much in one go.

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I chopped and changed strings, of different gauges, for years before I knew what a truss rod was. You'll probably find the lighter strings sit a little closer to the frets because they sit lower in the nut but it's unlikely you'll need to adjust the truss rod if they still feel comfortable to play and they're not rattling off the frets.

But if you do this will help http://basschat.co.uk/topic/138152-how-to-give-your-bass-the-best-set-up/

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[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1344642899' post='1767635']
I chopped and changed strings, of different gauges, for years before I knew what a truss rod was. You'll probably find the lighter strings sit a little closer to the frets because they sit lower in the nut but it's unlikely you'll need to adjust the truss rod if they still feel comfortable to play and they're not rattling off the frets.

But if you do this will help [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/138152-how-to-give-your-bass-the-best-set-up/"]http://basschat.co.u...he-best-set-up/[/url]
[/quote]

Yep, and, as lighter gauge, they`ll probably feel easier to play as well. I noticed this the other day, recording on a bass strung with 90s. I use 110s, so these were a doddle under finger, so to speak.

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