I currently have a set of 45-65-80-100 light gauge roundwounds on my '61 Fender Jazz. I would like slightly more relief than I have now but the truss rod is already fully loosened. Would switching to a heavier gauge add more relief and how much heavier should I go without affecting tone and playability too much?
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If you are opposed to flats, try some DR Lo-Riders. That's what I use on my standard four strings. I use Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings on my BEAD basses (135, 105, 85, 70, and 50). I only use those because I got a ton of them as a gift, but they must be manufactured in Tension City. That said, you might wanna get your neck checked out by a tech when you get a chance. I'm not saying there's anything wrong, but if your neck has no relief with a loose truss rod, maybe they can tell you why.
I refuse to put flatwounds on it. I had a luthier work on it and he said the neck would have to be put in a press to gain more relief. He doesn't have the equipment to do so, just trying to see if there's easier/cheaper options before I go that route.
A 115 E string? Yikes! My luthier cut a new nut for the bass for the gauges I typically use which I posted above. Pretty sure I need to keep the gauge in the same ballpark so they seat in the nut slots properly, I just need more tension.
Dunlop has strings from 0.05" - 0.11", which is a more balanced tension than your 0.045" - 0.100"
Find a luthier who does have the equipment. A '61 Fender Jazz is worth it.
I have a guitar that had the same problem. I tried putting really heavy strings on for a week or two hoping it would train the neck into more relief. But as soon as I put my desired strings back on, it went right back where it was before. i.e. waste of time.
I ended up having a luthier fix it. He explained that he put heat on the neck and very carefully bent it into more relief. Worked great. I try to do stuff on my own, but that was definitely out of my league and definitely best for a pro.
I ended up having a luthier fix it. He explained that he put heat on the neck and very carefully bent it into more relief. Worked great. I try to do stuff on my own, but that was definitely out of my league and definitely best for a pro.
A)This get a little technical but will give you the information you want
//www.talkbass.com/threads/ghs-tension-chart-is-available.1039565/
You can then go here to find the strings you need.
String Tension Pro or;
B) You could go to String Tension Pro find your strings and adjust from there or;
C) You could just go up one size.
//www.talkbass.com/threads/ghs-tension-chart-is-available.1039565/
You can then go here to find the strings you need.
String Tension Pro or;
B) You could go to String Tension Pro find your strings and adjust from there or;
C) You could just go up one size.
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Interesting website. Didn't realize that the G/D strings have more tension than the E/A strings. Yet the tension increases when you increase each individual string's gauge, hmmm. . .
Yeah, it still amazes me how unbalanced most string sets are.
What is really laughable is how Ernie's Balls say "Custom Gauge" right on the packet...
custom sized to be completely unbalanced
GC threw in a pack of these recently when I bought a bass, and even though I told the joker on the phone that I wanted 0.045" - 0.105", this is what I got:
I gave them away immediately, because the 0.1" string is crap, especially for Drop D.
What is really laughable is how Ernie's Balls say "Custom Gauge" right on the packet...
custom sized to be completely unbalanced
GC threw in a pack of these recently when I bought a bass, and even though I told the joker on the phone that I wanted 0.045" - 0.105", this is what I got:
I gave them away immediately, because the 0.1" string is crap, especially for Drop D.
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I bought a 1975 Rickenbacker 4001 years ago and the neck was perfectly flat, after trying many different strings with loosened truss rods to get a little relief in it, it wouldn't budge so I finally put some heavy gauge Fender flatwounds on it and left it for a few weeks (months? forget) in a stand and checked it often. It very gradually acquired a little relief, I put my normal strings on it tightened up the truss rods snug and it was fine after that. Sometimes it is difficult to change the relief in necks that have been a certain way for a very long time especially if they are a very strong piece of wood in the first place. But I would try putting some very heavy strings on it for a while and leave the nut alone and play another bass, just make sure you check it often. Incidentally Labella Deep Talkin' flats sound great on Jazz basses, got them on mine.
What is your current relief measurement wise? One thing you could try is perhaps getting a higher nut cut or maybe get some longer bridge saddle screws or maybe switching to a bridge with a thicker base plate. All extreme recommendations, but leaving your truss fully backed off is pretty extreme! I wouldn't recommend leaving your truss rod fully slackened. You should be able to get as much relief as you could possibly want with the truss fully backed off, but maybe you have a neck that was just designed too well 
I'd recommend standard gauge Daddario Chromes or heavy gauge Daddario XL's if you just want to give stiffer strings a try. GHS Boomers 45-105 or Rotosound heavy might also do the trick.
I'd recommend standard gauge Daddario Chromes or heavy gauge Daddario XL's if you just want to give stiffer strings a try. GHS Boomers 45-105 or Rotosound heavy might also do the trick.
There is only one correct nut height for any given bass. Replacing the nut with a higher one is asking for trouble.What is your current relief measurement wise? One thing you could try is perhaps getting a higher nut cut or maybe get some longer bridge saddle screws or maybe switching to a bridge with a thicker base plate. All extreme recommendations, but leaving your truss fully backed off is pretty extreme! I wouldn't recommend leaving your truss rod fully slackened. You should be able to get as much relief as you could possibly want with the truss fully backed off, but maybe you have a neck that was just designed too well
I'd recommend standard gauge Daddario Chromes or heavy gauge Daddario XL's if you just want to give stiffer strings a try. GHS Boomers 45-105 or Rotosound heavy might also do the trick.
I don't know if I necessarily agree with that, I know there is an optimum height for me but don't know if another person would like it, some people like them a little higher or a little lower depends on the sound they're looking for and how hard they play.
According to some pro luthiers on here, it's not about preference, but about getting the notes right at the first fret. If your nut isn't cut deep enough, your notes will be sharp on the first fret.