Are these things gonna hurt my bass?

#24
Yes, you should do a setup whenever you change strings.

As for a helpful guide on doing setups, you can find everything you need online, but it can be annoying going back and forth between the workbench and the computer in mid-task. So when I am doing setups and such, I have a book called Guitar: A Complete Guide for the Player which I keep handy. I got it from a bookstore bargain bin years ago; not sure if it's still in print. It's about six-string things, but it has a lot of good info applicable to bass, including how to do setups, how instruments are built, musical history, and so forth. It's been very useful for me.
 
#25
Great information, folks. I really appreciate the input.
Still unnerved about trying it myself until I can see it done and have someone to let me know I'm doin it the right way, but I'm definitely gonna do some research on instrument setup. As someone said before, it's pretty important to know how to do that, myself. Just gotta be sure of myself after the first flub. Plannin to make that pro setup happen on my next day off. Gonna request to watch em do it.

Thanks again.
 
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#27
I've got the Rotosound 88 black nylon wrapped flats on my 70s CV and I haven't noticed the tension being any higher than before, they actually feel pretty relaxed on the bass. I love them, my first set of flats and my first P bass.
They feel very "slinky" on the neck.

If you're perceiving high tension on the strings, it's not that your action is higher making it harder work to fret is it?
 
#28
Gorn said:
The heavy stringed can hurt a bass neck that's not structurally sound. And sometimes you won't know if a bass neck is or isn't structurally sound until it's irreparably damaged. Your classic vibe is an excellent bass and can very likely stand up to the tension just fine.

But those strings and that bass aside, learning how to do a basic setup is important.
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This, pretty much. People always seem to forget that Jamerson's bass wore these strings for decades, and did just fine. If your bass's neck was really skinny and narrow, and screwed onto a balsawood body with only 3 screws? Yeah, I'd pass on those strings; but, unless your Squier is actually broken, you should be fine. Just get it properly set up (regardless of who does it); and if you're worried, keep a close eye on it for a while - until your worry subsides...:thumbsup:
 
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#29
I put a set of Rotosound 77s on a relatively new Squier Jag I have, and pulled them about a week later because I was worried about the tension. After about the tenth truss rod adjustment and the action still being painfully high, I decided to switch strings. YMMV.

(And to anticipate the inevitable comment, I actually do know how to do a proper setup, so it's not just me being timid.)
 
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#33
A bow in the neck does not equal damage, usually just means you need have the bass set up. First thing the tech is going to do is use the truss rod to achieve the correct/desired bow. It's completely normal, happens when you change to strings with different tension than the current ones. The truss rod in the neck is designed so that the neck bow can be adjusted for that. It's a P Bass neck we are talking about here, you will be fine with a set up, no reason to suspect damage to the neck.

Classic Vibes are great basses. I have a Squier CV, a Jazz, so it is a skinnier neck than the P. Used heavy flats on it for some time with no problems, the neck set up fine. Then went back to lighter strings, again the neck set up fine. It is stable, the truss rod (5mm nut) works as smoothly as ever, no worries. Changed types of strings almost a dozen times in 3 years (wanted to experience different strings), every time, the neck set up correctly and stayed there. No issues.

Take your Precision to a tech, get it sorted, enjoy the bass (and flats). :bassist:
 
#35
40Hz said:
I put a set of Rotosound 77s on a relatively new Squier Jag I have, and pulled them about a week later because I was worried about the tension. After about the tenth truss rod adjustment and the action still being painfully high, I decided to switch strings. YMMV.

(And to anticipate the inevitable comment, I actually do know how to do a proper setup, so it's not just me being timid.)
Click to expand...
You're not the only one to ditch the Roto 77's due to extremely high tension and constant truss rod adjustments. I'll never play them.
 
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