action?

warwick87 · Tadpole Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 23

when you change what kind of strings you use (ie highs to lows)do you have to change the action? im changing from using dr lows to rotoound tru bass (or at least trying em out)

bassmaniac50 · Rattlesnake Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 430 Location: Ohio

If the gauges of the new strings aren't different from the ones you have on your bass now then you might not have a problem, but there can be a big difference in tension from one brand to another.
Changing to a different gauge of strings will almost always require truss rod adjustment, etc., so try to play a bass at a store that has thicker or thinner strings on it to see if you think it would be worth the adjusting hassles to put them on your bass. Question

If you notice any fretbuzz or string height change then you'll need to adjust the truss rod and bridge height, and more than likely the intonation will go out of whack, so you'll have to adjust for that also.
Just be careful with any truss rod adjusting and you'll be fine , ok?
Once you find a type and brand of strings that really satisfies you then you'll never have to worry about it again, but until then you'll have these kinds of aggravations with almost any new string brand or type, or gauge change.

warwick87 · Tadpole Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 23

how do you adjust the truss rod and do all that stuff?

bassmaniac50 · Rattlesnake Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 430 Location: Ohio

There's a feww sites on the internet that can tell or show you how to make the truss rod adjustments, and how to set it up right.
Here's a couple of them, and there are more you can find with the old search engines.
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/trussrods.htm
http://www.petersontuners.com/news/ttopics/results.cfm?this_topic=2
http://www.hotwire-bass.com/clinic/clinic_eng.html
http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/relief.html
http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/bass/1778/how_to_adjust.txt
http://members.rogers.com/dbl-bass/setups.htm